The news broke early yesterday that Alberta and the federal government are getting close to striking an “energy accord” of some variety with a memorandum of understanding that could allow for a bitumen pipeline to the northwest coast of BC with “limited exemptions” to the tanker ban so long as conditions are met, including changes to industrial carbon pricing, carbon capture, and lowering or eliminating the emissions cap. There were also Sources™ who said that it would require a private sector proponent, buy-in from coastal First Nations, and environmental approvals, which could mean it won’t happen at all.

As the day went on and other outlets started to get their own sources to confirm the story, differing details emerged. While Tim Hodgson said in Question Period that the BC government would need to be on-side, his office later said that no, they’re not getting a veto as part of the MOU. And then there are the Liberals themselves, many of whom are deeply opposed and will point out that ending the tanker ban will risk billions in ongoing projects from First Nations in the region. And those First Nations are not going to give consent, which would seem to make this whole thing moot anyway, unless the plan is ultimately to run roughshod over their rights yet again.

So, while we await the details, where the devil will lie, I am once again going to point out that we shouldn’t count on any kind of “grand bargain” with the oil companies or Alberta as a condition because they won’t live up to it. They have proven time and again that they won’t, or that they will lie to claim that they will do all kinds of things to reduce their emissions and to decarbonise when they actually have no intention of doing so. Meanwhile, the market may ultimately prove to be the veto here, because it’s no longer the world from before 2014, and nothing the federal or provincial government will do is going to change that fact.

Ukraine Dispatch

The death toll from the attack on Ternopil early Wednesday has risen to 25, with more than 73 injured. The latest US “peace plan” proposal is just more of the same rehashed Russian propaganda. Ukraine also plans to seek $44 billion in damages from Russia for their carbon emissions as a result of the war.

Good reads:

• Mark Carney is in Abu Dhabi to forge closer economic ties, as the UAE is accused of being a key backer to one of the factions of the civil war in Sudan.
• Government House Leader Steve MacKinnon is claiming that cuts to the civil service will be “minimal,” because of attrition and early retirements.
• Gary Anandasangaree says that they are “analysing” the low-uptake of the gun buyback pilot programme in Cape Breton.
• Clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Sabia, divested his Brookfield shares to better manage Carney’s conflict of interest screen.
• The Federal Victims of Crime Ombudsman put out a report on the poor state of the justice system as it relates to victims of sexual violence.
• US ambassador Pete Hoekstra is threatening that if we don’t buy F-35s that it’ll affect trade talks. (He also wants us to harmonize more, somehow).
• Part of the Swedish trade mission is about the partnership between SAAB and Bombardier regarding surveillance and patrol aircraft on Bombardier airframes.
• The Logic talks to the chair of SAAB about the potential for deeper industrial integration with Sweden if we decide to buy Gripen fighters.
• Provinces have signed a trade agreement to drop more trade barriers on most goods, except for food and alcohol, of course.
• Senators have passed sweeping amendments to the government’s bill to eliminate some gender inequalities in determining First Nations status.
• Conservative MP Jamil Jivani held an event about “ending Liberal racism” (and don’t tell me this party isn’t being run like a frat house).
• Quebec Liberal leader and former federal minister Pablo Rodriguez called for an independent investigation into allegations party members were paid to vote for him.
• Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles was ejected from the legislature for calling Doug Ford’s government corrupt (which to be clear, it absolutely is).
• As Danielle Smith gives more details on her plans to let more doctors work privately, the province’s AG found the province lost $109 million privatising labs.
• Althia Raj wonders if Carney is trying to get a west coast pipeline built, or if he’s putting in the conditions for someone else to say no for him.

Odds and ends:

Hey BSers! Need a copy of my book, for yourself or for a holiday gift? @dundurnpress.bsky.social is having their holiday sale! Use code HOLIDAY25 to save 25% on this, or any Dundurn book. Check out my book #UnbrokenMachine, or the book I contributed a chapter to, #RoyalProgress.

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-11-19T02:01:04.435Z

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