Premier Smith's Address at the Signing of the Historic Agreement

Premier Smith's Remarks:

It is an honor to stand alongside my fellow Premiers, Doug Ford and Scott Moe, as we embark on this pivotal moment in our provinces' histories. The signing of this agreement marks a significant milestone in our collective pursuit of economic growth, opportunity, and prosperity. Today, we take a decisive step towards unity, recognizing that our strength lies in collaboration.

This innovative initiative brings our three provinces together to develop pipelines and expand trade corridors, facilitating the export of our world-class resources, including energy, potash, critical minerals, and agricultural products, to markets both within Canada and globally. By streamlining our efforts and expediting major projects across various industries, we aim to connect our exceptional resources and value-added products with Canada's growing customer base.

As we move forward, we will persist in our collective push for the removal of federal obstacles that hinder nation-building projects. We must work together to advance pipelines, railways, transmission infrastructure, and other critical initiatives. It is imperative that the federal government recognizes the importance of cooperation, and we are confident that our united stance will inspire more provinces and territories to join us.

The repeal of detrimental regulations that impede Canada's growth in sectors like energy, mining, and manufacturing is crucial. We must eliminate harmful legislations, such as Bill C-69, the oil and gas emissions cap, the tanker ban, and the net-zero mandates for vehicles and electricity. By doing so, Alberta and Ontario can attract investments and project partners, paving the way for essential infrastructure development.

Our collaborative approach will ultimately benefit the citizens of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, as well as all Canadians. I am optimistic that the momentum we generate today will inspire more provinces and territories to join us. Thank you.

Follow-up Conversations:

[Premier Ford] Thank you. I want to acknowledge the importance of gathering here in Ontario for our Council of the Federation meeting this year, especially with Prime Minister Carney joining us later today. I am proud to sign this memorandum of understanding because, for too long, our energy and critical mineral sectors—including oil and gas—have been penalized, which has limited our ability to supply these vital products to global markets.

Coming together as provinces, we hope to collaborate with Prime Minister Carney and his government to enhance Canada's economic potential and realize the vision of becoming a global energy superpower. To achieve this, we need to reform our policies, as Premier Smith pointed out. This agreement builds upon previous collaborations, whether for provincial trade or better access to Canadian ports.

Canada produces numerous essential products, including potash, oil, gas, agricultural products, uranium, copper, helium, lithium, and rare earth elements. To ensure our products reach international markets, we need more export options. Canada can play a crucial role in global food and energy security, and I am committed to ensuring that our efforts contribute to economic security at home and abroad.

[Premier Moe] Good morning, everyone! It's a true pleasure to be here with my esteemed colleagues Premier Scott Moe and Premier Danielle Smith. Today marks a significant occasion for our provinces and for the entire nation. As Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario unite, we are not simply signing a memorandum; we are sending a clear message: Canada is poised to build and innovate, and we will do it as a unified team.

For far too long, we've witnessed project after project bogged down by red tape and regulatory delays, only to be canceled. But today, Canada is ready to step up. We need to scale up our critical minerals, natural gas, and energy production to tap into new global markets. This collaboration began earlier this month when I visited Premier Smith during the Calgary Stampede—what a fantastic event! We signed an agreement to work together in building energy and trade infrastructure.

Today, Premier Moe has stepped forward with his unwavering support, which changes the game. This new agreement will facilitate the movement of western oil and gas to both existing and new refineries in southern Ontario and the northern tidewaters, connecting critical minerals from the Ring of Fire region in Ontario to western Canada. This will create a robust supply chain for critical minerals, utilizing Ontario and Saskatchewan-made steel, which will lead to job creation, attract investment, and unlock our economic potential.

Indigenous communities will be integral to all of this work. Canada's premiers are stepping up, and now it's the federal government's turn to take action. We need the federal government to address the broken regulatory environment and streamline approvals. If we don't eliminate these regulations, progress will stall. Our focus is on creating a prosperous future for all Canadians, standing together to shape our own destiny and build unparalleled prosperity.

Media Questions Segment:

[Reporter] Many discussions have revolved around exporting our resources. Given that Alberta's oil is currently transported through the U.S., do we need a pipeline from Alberta to Ontario on Canadian soil for security reasons?

[Premier Smith] Absolutely. We must secure our energy supply. For too long, we've relied on external factors that threaten our access. As Premier Smith has indicated, we need a dedicated pipeline to ensure our energy security and independence. The time to diversify our trade is now, and it is our responsibility to communicate to the world that Canada is open for business.