Ontario, Alberta premiers pitch Northern Shield pipeline as four-and-a-half-year build

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith outlined an aggressive plan Monday to build the Northern Shield Energy Corridor, a 3,300-kilometre crude oil pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta to refineries in Sarnia, Ontario, with a possible extension to the Port of Churchill, Manitoba.

Ford pledged Ontario would invest public money in the project and said it could be completed in less than four-and-a-half years. Smith called the timeline "a pretty aggressive" but feasible goal, comparing it to historical infrastructure builds. Ford invoked the construction of Canada's first transcontinental railroad under John A. Macdonald: "If John A. Macdonald can build a railroad from one end of our country to the other in four and a half years, why can't we build the pipeline even quicker with the technology we have?"

The pipeline would initially carry about 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day, eventually scaling to 800,000 barrels per day. The announcement came at the Enserva Speaker Series at the TELUS Convention Centre in downtown Calgary.

But substantial questions remain unanswered. Ford did not provide a specific dollar amount for Ontario's investment, and when pressed after the event, he clarified Ontario would not foot the entire bill. "We'll be an investor," Ford said, "but I believe in getting outside investment." The pipeline remains in early stages with no confirmed cost estimate or construction timeline. A feasibility study overseen by Infrastructure Ontario examining estimated costs is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

When asked if he realistically believes the pipeline could be completed in less than four-and-a-half years, Ford said: "I think so. There has to be a will."

The announcement reflects a broader push by both provinces to strengthen east-west economic ties and reduce Canada's dependence on the United States amid ongoing trade tensions.