Weekly Roundup - November 28, 2025
Top Federal Stories
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday, outlining a potential path forward for a new bitumen pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific coast. The agreement marks a significant pivot in Liberal energy policy, with Ottawa making concessions on emissions regulations in exchange for Alberta's commitment to strengthen its industrial carbon pricing regime.
Under the MOU, Alberta commits to raising the effective carbon price under its Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system to $130 per tonne, up from the current $95 per tonne. The province also commits to a 75 percent methane reduction target relative to 2014 levels. In return, the federal government agrees to suspend the Clean Electricity Regulations in Alberta and to forgo implementation of the proposed oil and gas emissions cap.
The agreement also commits both governments to advancing a bitumen pipeline and the Pathways Alliance carbon capture project. The two are structured as mutually dependent: the first phase of Pathways must come online before a new pipeline is built, and pipeline construction is, in turn, required for Pathways to proceed.
The response from British Columbia has been, unsurprisingly, critical. Premier David Eby struck a resigned tone, noting that his government lost its court challenge against Trans Mountain and understands the federal government could impose a pipeline if it wished. With Coastal First Nations vowing to use “every tool in their toolbox” to keep tankers out of the northern coastal waters, Premier Eby’s primary request is that the Prime Minister secure Indigenous support. Eby expressed concern that the pipeline proposal could become an “energy vampire,” threatening the fragile First Nations consent that underpins billions in LNG and mining investments.
Minister Steven Guilbeault resigned from cabinet Thursday, citing the lack of Indigenous consultation and potential ecological impacts in the Great Bear Rainforest region. In his statement, Guilbeault said he understood the Prime Minister's efforts to ensure national unity, but that environmental issues must remain front and centre.
While the MOU repeatedly states the need for collaboration with B.C. and meaningful consultation with Indigenous peoples, Premier Smith has been clear that there is no veto power in the agreement. Many of the details remain to be negotiated, and no private sector proponent has yet stepped forward with a pipeline proposal. There will be significant work required in the coming months to bring the stated goals of the MOU to fruition.
Top Alberta Stories
After a stretch of bruising headlines, the Smith government got a big win this week with the signing of the abovementioned MOU that saw seven of what Premier Danielle Smith has called ‘nine bad laws’ addressed. Even the leader of Alberta’s Official Opposition agreed it was good for the province. In a statement issued after the signing, Naheed Nenshi said, “we have a huge opportunity to unleash new energy investment in this province, and pipelines are a very important component of that.”
The announcement gives Premier Smith momentum heading into the United Conservative Party’s annual general meeting this weekend. Party members will gather in Edmonton to debate policy resolutions. While resolutions are not binding, many have influenced policy in the past. This year’s list includes calls to have temporary residents pay more for provincial services, purchasing RCMP operations in Alberta as a pathway to a provincial police force, and limiting public funding for certain medical procedures.
Healthcare reform has long been a priority for the Premier, and this week the government released details of Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act. The Bill outlines a proposed dual-practice model that would allow physicians to work in both the public system and private clinics. The government says the approach is intended to expand capacity, reduce wait times, and offer more flexibility for providers, with guardrails such as separate record-keeping, limits on which specialties can participate, and requirements for surgeons to complete a defined share of procedures in the public system. Medical organizations say the bill was introduced without prior consultation, and are urging the government to spell out how safeguards will work in practice. The Alberta Medical Association and advocacy groups warn the model could strain the public system if not carefully designed, with some critics arguing it risks creating uneven access without a clear workforce plan.
The bill also includes broader changes to modernize Alberta’s health system, updating legislation related to drug coverage, billing practices, food safety, health-card administration, and information sharing between ministries. Alongside the dual-practice proposal, the government says these updates are intended to create a more integrated, responsive system that better reflects Alberta’s evolving health-care needs. The opposition NDP isn’t so sure, issuing a statement from leader Naheed Nenshi saying, “this is not what Albertans asked for, and it’s certainly not what Danielle Smith promised when she was running for Premier. Albertans deserve a strong, public health care system – and Bill 11 is not it. "
While the week was dominated by healthcare and pipeline news, Alberta also introduced the Utilities Statutes Amendment Act, which proposes updates to the province’s electricity laws as demand grows and new technologies reshape the grid. The legislation would give data centres more flexibility to supply their own power and streamline their path to connect to the system, while requiring proponents, not ratepayers, to cover related transmission upgrades. The bill also advances work on the province’s evolving Restructured Energy Market, building on changes passed earlier this year and aligning with ongoing consultations led by the Alberta Electric System Operator. Government and industry leaders say the reforms are aimed at improving reliability, attracting investment, and preparing Alberta’s power system for emerging technologies as implementation of the new market design moves toward 2027.
Elections Alberta approved new recall petitions this week, bringing the total number of United Conservative MLAs facing active campaigns to 14, almost a third of the government caucus. The latest petitions target cabinet ministers Searle Turton and Nathan Neudorf, as well as backbenchers Jason Stephan, Jackie Lovely and Glenn van Dijken, with petitioners citing concerns ranging from lack of constituency engagement to support for the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause. Several MLAs have rejected the allegations and defended their records, while Premier Danielle Smith and her caucus argue the recall process is being misused for policy disagreements. If any petitions succeed, they could trigger byelections that carry implications for the government’s majority.
The House was scheduled to rise on Thursday, but with legislation still moving through committee and debate, the Assembly passed a motion this week to extend the sitting until December 11.
Top Ontario Stories
The Ford government secured a major breakthrough on its Ring of Fire ambitions this week, signing a $39.5 million community partnership agreement with Marten Falls First Nation to expedite construction of an all-season access road into the mineral-rich region. The deal requires Marten Falls to complete its environmental assessment by February 20, with early construction slated to begin in August 2026, pending federal approvals.
Premier Doug Ford framed the announcement as vital to changing lives in remote communities while unlocking what the province estimates could be $22 billion in GDP growth over 30 years. Chief Bruce Achneepineskum described the deal as bringing "a very big light at the end of the tunnel" for his community, which currently relies on air travel most of the year.
The celebration was tempered by opposition from other First Nations, including Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug and Wapekeka First Nations, which have passed laws declaring three million hectares of their lands as protected from development. Leaders from both communities are warning against the project, while NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa questioned the province's commitment to its duty to consult, noting governments have a history of signing agreements with First Nations when they want access to lands, putting communities at risk of exploitation.
The remaining obstacle is federal regulatory approval, with Ford and Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford calling on Prime Minister Carney to end "duplicative impact assessments" in favour of the province's "One Project, One Review" approach. While Carney has expressed support for streamlined project reviews, changes to the Impact Assessment Agency process have yet to materialize.
Energy infrastructure dominated headlines midweek as the Ford government approved a $26.8 billion refurbishment of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station's four reactors, extending operations for up to 38 more years. According to the government, the project will boost the plant's output to 2,200 megawatts while creating approximately 30,500 construction jobs and sustaining 6,700 ongoing positions. Work is slated to begin in early 2027, with completion expected by the mid-2030s
The provincial government’s manufacturing sector strategy faced fresh scrutiny this week as the Financial Accountability Officer reported that manufacturing jobs, as a share of Ontario's total employment, fell below 10 per cent for the first time since record keeping began in 1976. The FAO's quarterly economic review found manufacturing output declined in seven of the past eight quarters, shedding 20,600 jobs across the auto industry, machinery, and steel production sectors.
The report noted Ontario's employment declined by 1,900 jobs in the third quarter following a 38,000 drop in the previous quarter. Long-term unemployment now accounts for 28.5 per cent of those without jobs. Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy dismissed the report as "old news," though opposition parties seized the data as evidence the government lacks a coherent industrial strategy.
The speed camera replacement saga took another turn this week when municipalities reported the temporary signs the province sent to replace banned cameras were too large to fit on existing poles in school zones, meaning the province will have to pay for new poles and installation. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow confirmed the city received signs for 20 school zones that won't work with the current infrastructure. Ford's response has been dismissive, saying he "broke out laughing" when he heard about the sizing issue, while Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said that cities had been briefed on the dimensions of the signs and should have told Queen’s Park earlier that they needed larger poles.
Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli travelled to Germany this month as part of an aggressive lobbying push to secure defence industry contracts for Ontario. With the navy seeking submarines and Swedish firm Saab pitching fighter jet assembly in Canada, Fedeli visited the TKMS shipyard in Kiel, met with Saab officials in October, and will likely visit Hanwha shipyard in South Korea in the new year. Ontario is positioning itself to capitalize on Carney's pledge to grow defence spending to five per cent of GDP, hoping to bring jobs and investment to the province.
Looking ahead, Auditor General Shelley Spence will release her annual report on December 2, which typically provides fodder for opposition criticism.
Upcoming Events Calendar
November 28-30, 2025: Alberta UCP Annual General Meeting
January 29-31, 2026: Conservative Party of Canada National Convention
March 29, 2026: Federal NDP Leadership Race Results Announcement
