Ottawa’s fight for Line 5 not unnoticed in Alberta

CALGARY • Faced with the pending shutdown of the Line 5 oil conduit that serves Ontario’s refineries, the energy minister of that province said he is relieved to hear the federal government deems the pipeline “non-negotiable."

Greg Rickford said Friday he was reassured to hear federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’regan tell a House of Commons committee on Thursday that Ottawa would fight attempts by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to shut down Enbridge Inc.’s Line 5, which delivers just over half of Ontario’s and two-thirds of Quebec’s oil supply.

“I haven’t frankly been aware of the federal government’s involvement in Line 5 between them and Michigan recently, if that’s occurred,” Rickford said in an interview.

“If, in fact, the federal government is giving this full attention now, we’re obviously very relieved to hear that. I’ll request a briefing from Minister O’regan to tell me just what exactly his government has been up to,” Rickford added, noting Ontario

has previously fought proposals to shut the line down in 2019 and 2020.

Ottawa’s concern for Line 5 didn’t go unnoticed in Alberta, which saw its Keystone XL pipeline to the U.S. cancelled when U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January.

Alberta views the difference in the fight for the two pipelines as a reflection of Ottawa’s willingness to go to bat for the interests of Ontario and Quebec.

“Both projects are incredibly important to Alberta and Canada. The only difference is losing Keystone XL disproportionately hurts Western Canada, which Justin Trudeau doesn’t care about, whereas losing Line 5 risks votes amongst Ontarians and Quebecers, who Justin Trudeau needs,” said Jerrica Goodwin, press secretary to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. “Everyone knows this is the difference in Ottawa’s reaction,” Goodwin said.

Ontario, directly dependent on Line 5 for oil, is concerned about the comparison between the existing Line 5 and the now-shelved Keystone XL project.

“I don’t believe any political party or jurisdiction should tie politically charged pipelines like Keystone XL with Line 5,” Rickford said.

Ottawa said it has raised the Line 5 issue with officials in the U.S. through Joseph Comartin, consul general in Detroit, Ambassador Kirsten Hillman and, this week, with U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. “It is a vital part of Canadian energy security and its continued operation is non-negotiable,” said Ian Cameron, O’regan’s spokesperson, in an email, adding federal officials have spoken with counterparts in Queen’s Park and there’s been a working group formed on the issue with multiple provincial governments.

Line 5 runs from Alberta through Michigan under the Straits of Mackinac, which divides lakes Huron and Michigan, to supply refineries in southern Ontario. Refineries in Ohio, Michigan and elsewhere also depend on the line for oil supply.

In November, Michigan revoked an easement from 1953 that allows Enbridge to use the Straits of Mackinac, and demanded the company stop flowing oil through the line by May 12. Enbridge has vowed to fight the order in court, but those court hearing dates are scheduled to begin May 18.

Ottawa has signalled it will defend the pipeline’s operation using the provisions of the 1977 Transit Pipeline Treaty, which researchers at the C.D. Howe Institute say “could prove crucial” to Canada’s efforts to keep Line 5 in operation.