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Danielle Smith on Mark Carney

Project approval challenger (strong)

TL;DR

Danielle Smith has publicly pressed Prime Minister Mark Carney to significantly accelerate the regulatory review timelines for major energy projects in Alberta.

Key Points

  • She called for approval of a new pipeline application by the fall, with a maximum timeline of six months from submission in June 2026.

  • In a January 2026 letter, she argued that Carney’s Major Projects Office target of two years for regulatory reviews was too long given global energy competition.

  • She supported a draft Co-operation Agreement in March 2026 that introduces a “one project, one review” approach to major infrastructure assessments in Alberta.

Summary

Danielle Smith has voiced direct criticism regarding the pace of federal project approvals under Prime Minister Mark Carney, specifically targeting the two-year target for regulatory reviews set by his major projects office. She contends that timelines of up to two years are excessively long, putting Canadian energy production at risk of ceding market share to competitors like the United States, especially in light of geopolitical shifts involving Venezuela. Smith conveyed this urgency in a letter to Carney, requesting that a major pipeline application be approved within six months.

Despite demanding faster action on projects, Smith also indicated a willingness to engage constructively with the new Prime Minister, contrasting with what she suggested was a period of being ignored by his predecessor. Following a positive meeting regarding the geopolitical situation, Smith sees the federal-provincial agreement-in-principle for streamlined environmental assessments as a meaningful next step. This agreement aims for a “one project, one review” approach, which she stated would remove federal oversight from projects within Alberta's jurisdiction, ultimately accelerating construction and investment certainty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Danielle Smith's position on Prime Minister Mark Carney is largely defined by her efforts to secure faster federal approvals for Alberta's energy projects. She has directly called on him to accelerate the regulatory review process, viewing current timelines as a competitive risk to Canadian oil.

The available information suggests her core stance is consistent: she requires federal support for major projects, but expects speed and efficiency from the current administration under Carney. Her statements show a desire for a more constructive relationship compared to his predecessor on these files.

Danielle Smith stated that the two-year target for regulatory reviews by the Prime Minister's major projects office is 'woefully long' in the current geopolitical context. She explicitly requested that a planned pipeline application be approved by the fall, demanding much faster action.