Ontario Backs Massive New Pipeline to Bring Alberta Oil East

The proposed 3,300-kilometre pipeline would transport Alberta crude oil to Ontario refineries, with the goal of strengthening Canada’s energy security and creating thousands of jobs.

TORONTO, July 7, 2026 — Yesterday, Ontario and Alberta have unveiled the proposed route for the Northern Shield Energy Corridor, a massive new pipeline that would carry crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta, to Sarnia, Ontario, in what the two provinces are calling a nation-building project.

Announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Calgary, the proposed pipeline would stretch approximately 3,300 kilometres, travelling entirely within Canada before ending in Sarnia, home to the country’s largest concentration of oil refineries and petrochemical facilities.

If built, the pipeline would initially transport about 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with the potential to expand its capacity to 800,000 barrels daily. The oil would be refined in Ontario and could eventually be shipped to export markets through Canadian ports.

Why build another pipeline?

Supporters say the project would reduce Canada’s dependence on energy infrastructure that crosses the United States. Currently, a significant amount of oil destined for Ontario travels through pipelines that pass through Michigan, including the controversial Line 5 pipeline, which has faced repeated legal and political challenges.

The proposed corridor would create an entirely Canadian route, giving refineries in Sarnia a more direct supply of western Canadian crude while improving the country’s energy security.

“Our plan to build the Northern Shield Energy Corridor is a plan to protect workers in Ontario, Alberta and every part of the country,” Ford said. “We’re going to keep working to build a more secure, united and resilient Canadian economy.”

Smith said the project would help connect Alberta’s energy resources with Canadian consumers and refineries while creating jobs and supporting future economic growth.

What happens next?

Despite the announcement, the pipeline is still in the proposal stage.

A feasibility study is underway and is expected to determine the project’s cost, construction timeline and financing. No final investment decision has been made, and the project would still require extensive environmental reviews, Indigenous consultation and regulatory approvals before construction could begin.

If approved, the Northern Shield Energy Corridor would become one of the largest energy infrastructure projects in Canada in decades, creating construction jobs across several provinces while providing a new route for Canadian oil from Alberta to Ontario.