Beamsville – Today, Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, and Hon. Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta, unveiled the proposed route for the Northern Shield Energy Corridor, a proposed crude oil pipeline and energy corridor that would strengthen Canada’s energy security by bringing oil along a 3,300-kilometre primary route from Hardisty, Alberta, to Sarnia, Ontario. This historic nation-building project would be built exclusively through Canada, connecting the country with critical energy infrastructure to reduce Canada’s reliance on foreign markets, provide critical redundancy to existing infrastructure, bring additional capacity to refineries in Sarnia, strengthen national security and domestic supply chains and create new jobs for Canadian workers.
“Today’s unveiling of the Northern Shield Energy Corridor pipeline route is a transformative milestone as our province – under the leadership of Premier Ford – secures our energy future and protects Ontario jobs,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
“As a united country, we need to work together to build the infrastructure that will diversify our trading partners and end our dependence on the United States.”
“Our plan to build the Northern Shield Energy Corridor is a plan to protect workers in Ontario, Alberta and every part of the country,” said Premier Ford.
“We are going to keep working to build a more secure, united and resilient Canadian economy so we can keep Canadian workers on the job, make life more affordable for Canadian families and help get Canadian energy to new markets across the country and around the world.”
The primary route under review would lead to Sarnia, which has refining capacity serving the Ontario market and is directly linked to existing energy and shipping infrastructure. Ontario is also exploring pipeline extensions to new and existing ports, creating new opportunities to bring Canadian oil to new tidewater to reach new markets abroad. The proposed route would also provide the Government of Manitoba and Manitoba-Crown Indigenous Corporation with the opportunity to explore the feasibility of a pipeline extension to the Port of Churchill.
The proposed Northern Shield Energy Corridor would move an estimated 500,000 barrels of oil per day for domestic use and export markets and could expand to up to a total of 800,000 barrels per day. By reducing Canadian reliance on oil imports, the Northern Shield pipeline could help stabilize oil prices across the country and strengthen national security. As part of the new pipeline and port opportunities, Ontario is also exploring a potential strategic petroleum reserve. The pipeline would be built using Canadian steel, supporting Canadian manufacturing and supply chains and creating jobs across the country.
“When Sir John A. Macdonald founded this country, he envisioned a nation connected from sea to sea,” said Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines.
“Ontario fully supports Alberta’s vision of building energy corridors and sovereign pipelines that make Canada self-reliant from the United States. Nation building requires vision and a plan of action. This proposed pipeline will make Canada more energy independent by moving Alberta’s oil to Ontario refineries using steel and workers – keeping Canadian energy in Canadian hands.”
The energy corridor study stems from a Memorandum of Understanding between Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, which commits these provinces to identify areas of collaboration that would protect Canadian workers, including new energy and trade infrastructure and to continue cooperation in advancing the development of nuclear energy to meet growing energy needs.
Ontario is now proceeding to define estimated costs and examine commercial models and related development opportunities for the energy corridor, including grid upgrades and potential strategic petroleum reserves. Ontario has also initiated its duty to consult with Indigenous partners and communities, while supporting Indigenous involvement in nation-building projects with historic funding to help Indigenous Communities become equity partners. The feasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.