CALGARY – Prime Minister Mark Carney made a lively return to Canada’s Calgary Stampede on Saturday night, following a recent trip to the Middle East. Clad in a traditional cowboy hat and belt buckle, Carney indulged in mini doughnuts and enjoyed the chuckwagon races while discussing vital pipeline issues with attendees.
“It’s good to be back,” Carney expressed as he strolled through the Stampede grounds, receiving a warm welcome from the crowd. This visit was particularly significant as he had just announced a crucial project alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith—the development of a new oil pipeline leading to the West Coast. The proposed pipeline aims to follow the route of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline, connecting Bruderheim, Alberta, northeast of Edmonton, to a terminal in Delta, British Columbia, south of Vancouver. Alberta, in collaboration with Trans Mountain Corp., a federal Crown corporation, is expected to hold a majority interest in the project.
On the same day as his Stampede visit, Carney, together with British Columbia Premier David Eby, outlined a plan to facilitate the pipeline’s establishment. Many attendees at the Stampede voiced their support for the initiative. One enthusiastic Stampede-goer approached Carney, stating, “Let’s get that pipeline through eh? Thank you for doing this. We need someone like you to push this through.” Another supporter added, “You know where we stand out here right? We’ve got to have that pipeline. It’s good for the country.”
Carney conveyed his optimism regarding the pipeline's progress, noting that national polling indicates a majority of Canadians support the project. “I’m feeling pretty good about it now,” he commented, expressing confidence in the pipeline’s future.
Earlier on Saturday, Carney had shared a compelling 17-minute video on social media, advocating for collaboration across provincial boundaries and a departure from his predecessor's climate strategies. This video, initially released on June 30, addresses what Carney describes as a threefold energy crisis in Canada—characterized by high prices, global instability, and environmental changes. He argues that the solution lies in fostering cooperation nationwide and eliminating barriers that hinder development in the oil and gas sector.
“Addressing energy security means we’re going to produce our conventional oil and gas in the most environmentally sustainable ways and export them to where they will make the biggest difference,” Carney stated in the video. His remarks seem strategically aligned with addressing the concerns of Albertans, especially as the province prepares for an upcoming referendum on separation scheduled for October 19. Carney recalled his youth in Edmonton during the introduction of the national energy program by former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in the 1980s, reflecting on the feelings of resentment that policy created among Albertans. “More recently, we were made to feel like our energy contributions were running against the tides of history,” he remarked.
During his visit to the Stampede, Carney was accompanied by Alberta Liberal Members of Parliament Matt Jeneroux and Corey Hogan, along with Winnipeg’s Terry Duguid. Though he did not deliver a formal address, Carney blended in with the Stampede crowd, donning a cowboy hat as he enjoyed the races at GMC Stadium with his wife, Diana Fox Carney. Respectfully, he removed his hat and placed it over his heart while singing the national anthem, with a rider holding a Canadian flag galloping in the arena.
This vibrant event marked a distinct moment in Carney's efforts to connect with regional concerns and galvanize support for key energy projects, unveiling a future direction for Canadian energy policy that seeks to unite rather than divide.
