Alberta considers bowing to producers
The Canadian province's new regime sees a way to pivot from a potentially costly repeal threat
Alberta premier Jason Kenney is not a fan of the province's C$3.7bn ($2.8bn) crude-by-rail contracts with transport firms Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP). But he may have to take an approach more pragmatic than his initial populist rhetoric. Even before former incumbent Rachel Notley had the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission sign the contracts in February, and two months before he won office, Kenney warned he would cancel them, labelling them reckless "corporate welfare". But the Kenney government quickly realised that the two railroad firms would seek penalties from Alberta if it broke the contracts, and, in mid-June, switched gears by indicating plans to offload the c
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
