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Bell: Carney-Smith pipeline deal drags on, Smith to raise hell if Alberta is shafted

Danielle Smith's people say talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney are going well. What happens if they don't get to the finish line?

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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith faces heat Tuesday from some folks who likely voted for her and the UCP in the last provincial election.

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Heat from those who may support Smith and like a lot of what she’s doing but think the deal she inked with Prime Minister Mark Carney to get a pipeline to the west coast is not worth the paper it’s written on.

Heat from those who do not trust Carney or any part of the Liberal Ottawa machine.

Heat from those who could very well vote Yes to Alberta splitting from Canada if Alberta independence comes to a vote in October.

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The story starts with Smith answering questions at a world energy gabfest in Houston, Texas.

On April 1, April Fools’ Day, there was to be a deal with the Carney Liberals on an industrial carbon tax and a carbon capture project.

But the carbon tax deal might not make it to the finish line by April 1 and Smith hopes a deal to work with oilsands outfits to develop the carbon capture project will be wrapped up in a few weeks.

There were people out there saying this showed Carney was stringing Alberta along.

Smith’s comments no doubt provided more doubt to those already doubting minds.

The deal, the Smith-Carney memorandum of understanding, the hope for Alberta, the break for the 10 years of Trudeau, wasn’t all it was cracked up to be for these sorts.

Smith’s office puts out a statement Tuesday.

It is reassuring. It says negotiations with Carney’s crew are ongoing and constructive.

The statement says Smith and the Alberta government will do their best to meet the April 1 deadline, the first of many deadlines on the way to that pipeline to the west coast.

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The statement also says they are working on a pipeline application for June. There is still no private company bankrolling this pipeline though reports say Smith is optimistic investors will show up, cash in hand.

Still, not everybody will believe until they see.

And when Tim Hodgson, Carney’s sidekick, says the Ottawa Liberals really, really, really do want the oilpatch to grow and prosper, some folks figure that comment and the loose change in their pocket will get them some coffee at Tim’s.

Let’s go over to X, what was called Twitter, a full-contact social media playground not for the faint-hearted.

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Cory Morgan is on X. He calls it as he sees it and he was pushing for Alberta independence when few folks rallied around that flag.

On X, Morgan says the deal between Smith and Carney is not worth the paper it is written on and is wasting our time.

Rob Anderson, Smith’s right-hand man, responds.

Anderson says he understands the “healthy skepticism” but adds talks are “proceeding quite well.”

He says they obviously want to get all or most of what needs to be done to the finish line by the April 1 deadline.

But if they need a bit more time to get the right deal for Albertans, then they’ll keep working to get that deal.

It is then Anderson takes us back in time, the recent ugly past and how Alberta got the short end of the stick.

“I know how often Alberta has had the rug pulled out from under us by Ottawa over the years.”

We remember. Boy, do we remember.

Then a sentence catches this scribbler’s eye.

Anderson says he can assure us “this premier will not hesitate to tell Albertans if it happens again on this …”

Happens again on this? Surely there is no chance it will happen again. Alberta getting shafted. There is no way that could happen, right?

Although I understand the healthy skepticism Cory, as someone familiar with these negotiations, I’d say things are actually proceeding quite well.Of the 4 MOU agreements we need to get to, the project approvals one is done, as reported methane is close, and good progress has… https://t.co/ieVpSX89BK— Rob Anderson (@FreeAlbertaRob) March 24, 2026

Although I understand the healthy skepticism Cory, as someone familiar with these negotiations, I’d say things are actually proceeding quite well.Of the 4 MOU agreements we need to get to, the project approvals one is done, as reported methane is close, and good progress has… https://t.co/ieVpSX89BK

To be fair, Anderson is clear to say when it comes to Alberta having the rug pulled out from under us this time: “That’s not the case yet.”

Yet? What does yet mean? Could it be the case?

We’ve been told many times how Carney is not like Justin Trudeau.

We’ve been told many times how he is night and day different than the former prime minister.

We’ve been told Carney wants to build at speeds not seen in generations.

We’ve been told he wants to make Canada work and, if the polls are right, some Albertans are buying it.

Anderson says Smith and her people will “keep on digging in and try to get this incredibly important work.”

We all hope on April Fool’s Day the joke is not on us.

Morgan’s reply? More healthy skepticism.

“We have to see something tangible, not bloody promises,” says Morgan, accusing the Carney Liberals of “ragging the puck.”

On the same day, after Alberta told the Carney Liberals the province wants more say in the federal appointment of judges, the answer from Ottawa was quick and clear.

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