By Robb M. Stewart
OTTAWA--Ontario's government is considering new pipelines to carry oil and gas from Western Canada to refineries in the province's south and new ports that could help boost the country's energy exports.
The government said Thursday it awarded a contract to complete a feasibility study to establish a new Canadian East-West pipeline and energy corridor. The study will look at the benefits pipelines, built with Canadian steel, that would carry energy from Alberta and Saskatchewan to new and established refineries and ports on James Bay, Hudson Bay and on the Great Lakes.
Doug Ford, Ontario's premier, said an energy corridor would unite the country and help unlock new markets for Canada's resources that would reduce its dependence on the U.S. An energy corridor also would help protect Ontario's energy security by ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted supply of oil and gas for Canadian homes, he said.
"We are seizing a generational opportunity to bring nation-building infrastructure projects, like the East-West energy corridor, to the forefront of our plan to build Ontario," said Todd McCarthy, the province's acting infrastructure minister.
The feasibility study is scheduled to be completed next year, and will look at corridor and site options and costs. The government said it will also examine complementary development opportunities across Ontario, such as all-season roads to promising minerals deposits in the northern Ring of Fire, mineral exports and a strategic petroleum reserve.
The study will be carried out by a team that includes GHD Ltd., Ernst & Young, Mokwateh, AtkinsRealis, Wood PLC and Turner & Townsend. The province's Infrastructure Ontario who will act as commercial advisor.
In July, the leaders of Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan signed a memorandum of understanding to build new pipelines, rail lines and other energy and trade infrastructure. It is part of a federal and provincial efforts to bolster Canada's economy as they grapple with the Trump administration's trade policies and embrace of tariffs.
The three provinces have said they are ready to get shovels in the ground and move forward on projects. Danielle Smith, the premier of oil-rich Alberta, is leading a push to build a new crude-carrying pipeline to the northwest Pacific coast, though efforts are contingent on getting a tanker ban scrapped and securing support from the neighboring province of British Columbia.
"We are taking bold action to grow our economy, build real infrastructure and get major projects moving again," Smith said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to help drive investment toward major developments in Canada in an effort to strengthen the nation's economic resilience. In September, he unveiled a list of five projects, including increasing liquefied natural gas processing capacity, updates to the Port of Montreal and investments in Ontario's nuclear energy.
Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 30, 2025 10:33 ET (14:33 GMT)
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