Danielle Smith: You can't build Canada without a pipeline

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces plans to submit an application for a new oil pipeline to northwestern British Columbia, in Calgary, on Oct. 1. Photo by Todd Korol/The Canadian Press files

Without question, a new bitumen pipeline to the northwest British Columbia coast has the greatest potential economic benefit of any new nation-building project in Canada.

Had we completed the Northern Gateway , Energy East and Keystone XL pipelines , Canada’s gross domestic product today would be $55 billion stronger.

We cannot let another opportunity of this economic magnitude pass us by again and Canada stands at a critical crossroads.

Alberta ’s oil reserves are valued at more than $9 trillion. This resource wealth presents Canada and Canadians with boundless opportunities.