The Current Mark Carney’s energy gamble
Dec 1, 2025
Rosemary Barton, CBC's Chief Political Correspondent, joins Stephanie Levitz from the Globe and Mail and Ryan Tumilty of the Toronto Star to dissect Mark Carney's ambitious MOU with Alberta. They explore the surprising exemptions for Alberta and British Columbia's robust objections. The panel debates whether Carney, seen as a pragmatist, can navigate the complexities of pipeline politics while pushing for environmental commitments. They also examine the implications for the Conservatives and possible opportunities for the NDP amid these shifting dynamics.
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Alberta's Unique Regulatory Exemption
- The deal exempts Alberta from clean electricity regulations uniquely, not a blanket delay for all provinces.
- That targeted exemption creates unequal regulatory treatment and political friction with other provinces.
The 'Energy Vampire' Risk
- B.C. warns the pipeline debate could become an "energy vampire" that diverts focus from shovel-ready projects.
- That risk threatens progress on projects with Indigenous proponents and financing already in place.
Carney's Pragmatic Climate Trade
- Mark Carney is acting as a pragmatist, trading political concessions to win Alberta's climate commitments.
- The government hopes Alberta's higher industrial carbon price will produce more emissions action than federal backstops alone.