It’s clear the era of building new energy infrastructure in Canada is upon us — and government ownership will likely play an outsized role to make it happen.

Speaking to a Calgary audience on Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his government wants to see the proposed Northern Shield oil pipeline move ahead, and is prepared to put provincial money on the table for the initiative.

“What I’m talking about is government providing the patient capital needed to invest in our future,” Ford told a luncheon held by Enserva, an industry group that represents energy services, supply and manufacturing firms.

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“Critical infrastructure gets built, tens of thousands of jobs are created. We protect our energy and economic sovereignty, and taxpayers get a return on their investment.”

The idea behind the Northern Shield project was first floated by Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith during Stampede week, with an ambitious pitch to build a 3,300-kilometre corridor and pipeline from Alberta to southern Ontario.

If built, it’s estimated the pipeline would ship half-a-million barrels of oil per day (bpd), and could be expanded to 800,000 bpd. An all-Canadian line would provide help national energy security and spark more domestic production.

Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline ships Alberta oil east, running under the Straits of Mackinac,........

© Calgary Herald