Alberta-to-Ontario energy corridor study launched

Key Takeaways:

• The study will explore the potential for new cross-Canada pipelines, a James Bay deep-sea port, and expanded refining capacity to improve domestic energy security and create jobs.
• Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan say the corridor could help protect against supply disruptions, unlock export markets, and support a more self-reliant national economy.
• The study will include an Indigenous engagement roadmap and consider infrastructure opportunities like all-season roads, broadband, and access to Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire region.

The Whole Story:

Ontario has issued a request for proposals to study the feasibility of a new energy and economic corridor stretching from Alberta to Southern Ontario and possibly to tidewater via James Bay.

The project under consideration includes the development of new oil and gas pipelines built entirely within Canada using Canadian and Ontario steel. The proposed corridor could also include a deep-sea port on James Bay and a new or expanded refinery along the route.

Premier Doug Ford said the initiative is a response to growing concerns over Canada’s energy security and reliance on infrastructure outside its borders.

“Canada can no longer rely on energy infrastructure that lies outside of our borders and can be shut down at a moment’s notice by another country,” Ford said in a statement Thursday. “It’s time for us to build cross-Canada infrastructure within our borders.”

The feasibility study will examine the technical and commercial viability of the corridor, as well as potential benefits to domestic energy security, job creation, and export capacity. It will also consider the establishment of a Canadian Strategic Petroleum Reserve — an emergency fuel stockpile that Canada currently lacks, unlike many International Energy Agency member countries.

Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma said the study comes amid geopolitical instability and new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, arguing that cross-provincial collaboration on trade and energy is essential.

“We are seizing a generational opportunity to bring sustainable prosperity to our northern communities and strengthen both Ontario and Canada’s economy,” said Surma.

The governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan — both partners in a memorandum of understanding with Ontario — voiced their support.

“We are securing long-term energy access for families and businesses, creating thousands of jobs, and opening new doors for trade and investment,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said, calling it a “defining moment” for Canadian energy independence.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe added that energy and trade infrastructure like pipelines and rail are key to sustaining jobs and growing exports.

The study will also assess complementary development opportunities, including road access to Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire mineral deposits, broadband infrastructure, and local social facilities.

Ontario says Indigenous consultation will be central to the process. The province will create an Indigenous engagement roadmap aligned with section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, ensuring meaningful consultation and consideration of Indigenous equity participation.

The proposed energy corridor builds on a recent agreement among the three provinces to collaborate on energy development, including nuclear and critical minerals, with the aim of strengthening national infrastructure and workforce resilience.