UPDATE - August 26, 2026
Earlier this year, we started this petition demanding No Oil Export Tax.
Unfortunately, the threat hasn’t gone away.
If anything, the pressure to use Alberta’s energy exports as a bargaining chip has grown.
With the latest round of trade talks collapsing, Prime Minister Mark Carney says retaliatory tariffs are coming next month.
And while he initially made it sound like these counter-tariffs would be limited and strategic, other politicians are now suggesting that Alberta’s oil should be used as leverage in this fight.
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford has suggested Canada could use Alberta’s oil and other resources as leverage.
- Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said that the possibility of an export tax on oil should be kept on the table.
- And Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says that Premier Danielle Smith is wrong to rule out using Alberta’s energy exports as leverage.
We still think this is a terrible idea, and here's why.
First, any economist will tell you that retaliatory tariffs don't work - they hurt the country imposing them far more than they hurt the country they're imposed on.
But even if you support the general idea of retaliating, doing so with oil and gas is insane.
Many products made elsewhere in Canada can be re-routed to Asia or Europe with only minimal disruption to supply chains.
But Alberta's natural resources flow to the US not by choice but by necessity.
For decades Alberta has been begging for alternative export routes via pipelines east, west, and north.
But even with the opening of the TransMountain pipeline in 2024, 85% of Alberta's oil export capacity is to the US.
Ottawa spent years shutting down opportunities for Alberta to diversify its export markets, blocking pipeline projects and catering to anti-energy activists.
Instead of allowing Alberta to sell its resources to the world, they forced our province into near-total reliance on the US market.
And now they want to put yet another tax on our oil exports when we try to send them to the only market they’ve allowed us to have.
If Ottawa wants to get serious about diversifying Alberta's trade, they could start building more pipelines east, west, and north today.
But until then, they can keep their hands off our resources.
No export tax.
No shutting off Alberta’s oil.
If you agree, and you haven't signed our petition yet, please do so now.
No Oil Export Tax
Just for a moment, it looked like sanity had been restored.
The threat of US tariffs had led to the Liberals supporting oil and gas, the NDP supporting free trade, and even Quebec Premier François Legault supporting an LNG pipeline through Quebec!
But Mark Carney blew up all that progress in just two answers to the media.
Two answers in French, of course.
He wouldn’t dare say what he said in English.
Speaking to Radio-Canada (CBC in Quebec), Carney, who is now the clear frontrunner in the Liberal leadership race and so likely our next Prime Minister, perfectly encapsulated the divide his party has created in Canada.
When asked about whether he would retaliate to US tariffs by slapping an export tax on Alberta’s oil, Carney confirmed that was an option for him:
Interviewer: “If the (Alberta) Premier opposes imposing a surtax on oil, would you still impose a surtax on oil?
Carney: “Well, it’s an option.”
That’s right - Carney now wants to add yet another tax on Alberta’s oil.
(Remember - this is something that even Justin Trudeau categorically ruled out!)
But Mark Carney is now ruling it back in.
In fact, compare how dismissive he was of Alberta’s rights with how categorically he ruled out building a pipeline if the Quebec Premier opposed it:
Carney: “Poilievre spoke yesterday about Energy East, the pipeline project. He never mentioned Quebec, never mentioned the First Nations, never mentioned other provinces. He’s like an emperor, he decides everything.”
Interviewer: “So, you would never impose a pipeline on Quebec or other provinces?
Carney: “I would never impose it.”
Interviewer: “Never?”
Carney: “Never.”
Interviewer: “So, if the provinces say no, you won’t push through a pipeline?
Carney: “Absolutely!”
Interviewer: “You wouldn’t impose it?”
Carney: “Never in Quebec.”
In short - Carney thinks it’s totally fine for the federal government to infringe on Alberta’s jurisdiction.
But, not only will he never step on Quebec’s jurisdiction, he’ll actually let Quebec take over his, by giving them a veto on pipelines - something that’s clearly federal.
This is completely unacceptable.
Ottawa spent years shutting down opportunities for Alberta to diversify its export markets, blocking pipeline projects and catering to anti-energy activists.
Instead of allowing Alberta to sell its resources to the world, they forced our province into near-total reliance on the US market.
And now they want to put yet another tax on our oil exports when we try to send them to the only market they’ve allowed us to have.
Enough is enough.
We need to send a strong message: No Oil Export Tax!
So, please sign this petition to tell Mark Carney and the Liberals that they must disavow any plan to impose an export tax on Alberta’s energy exports.
Once you've signed, please forward this petition to your friends, family, and every Albertan!
Thank you,
- The Alberta Institute Team
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