OTTAWA — Liberal MPs sought to ease worries about divisions within their caucus on Wednesday, just before the anticipated signing of a new energy agreement with Alberta. This deal may provide Prime Minister Mark Carney with a conditional pathway for a new oil pipeline to British Columbia’s coast.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson was scheduled to brief the Liberal B.C. caucus on Wednesday morning. His briefing aimed to address questions and provide updates on the negotiations surrounding a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

Smith has indicated that she wants the agreement to include commitments to repeal or suspend certain environmental policies established under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. These policies are seen as obstacles to the proposed Alberta-B.C. bitumen pipeline, which has faced strong opposition from coastal First Nations and B.C. NDP Premier David Eby.

B.C. Liberal MPs have emphasized that any future pipeline approval would require support from local First Nations and Eby’s government. Carney reiterated these conditions in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Despite this, concerns persist regarding the potential implications of the deal for the Liberals' climate goals, particularly in light of the need to possibly lift the oil tanker ban off B.C.’s coast.

As he entered the weekly caucus meeting, Ontario Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith expressed skepticism about large agreements, recalling a previous deal under Trudeau with then-Alberta Premier Rachel Notley. That agreement involved Trudeau supporting the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in exchange for Alberta's participation in a national carbon pricing plan. Notley later withdrew her support after a court ruling against the project.

“I’m a little skeptical of grand bargains,” Erskine-Smith said. “I’ll look at the overall picture of the deal in the MOU when it’s announced on Thursday, and we’ll see what Prime Minister has to say today.”

Calgary MP Corey Hogan, who previously served as a deputy minister in the Alberta government, noted that the current context is different. He highlighted the ongoing discussions about diversifying Canada’s global market access.

“Before anything concrete comes out, there is always a moment of maximum anxiety,” Hogan told reporters, emphasizing that the specifics of the deal remain unclear. He expressed hope that the agreement would lead to Alberta strengthening its industrial carbon pricing system and enhancing support for carbon capture and storage technology, which Ottawa has requested in exchange for facilitating a new pipeline route.

Hogan added that if Alberta also improved methane regulations, it would be beneficial for the climate. “I think that’s something that my B.C. colleagues would be very excited about,” he said.

Several B.C. Liberal caucus members avoided reporters as they entered the meeting. Only Ernie Klassen, representing South Surrey—White Rock, briefly indicated that he felt reassured after the meeting with Hodgson.

One unnamed Liberal MP acknowledged Hodgson's respect within the caucus but noted that concerns about the Alberta deal are divided among two groups: centre-left members worried about environmental impacts and B.C. caucus members experiencing anxiety.

“There’s real anxiety around this,” the MP said, referencing Will Greaves, who represents Victoria, a riding that typically leans NDP. Greaves has reported receiving numerous emotional messages from constituents opposed to the pipeline proposal.

On Wednesday, Marilyn Slett, president of the Coastal First Nations – Great Bear Initiative and chief of the Heiltsuk Nation, issued a statement rejecting the idea of a new pipeline. She criticized the federal government for its lack of communication regarding the deal with Alberta.

“As the Rights and Title Holders of the Central and North Coast and Haida Gwaii, we are here to remind the Alberta government, the federal government, and any potential private proponent that we will never allow oil tankers on our coast, and that this pipeline project will never happen,” Slett stated.

Ontario MP James Maloney, chair of the Liberal caucus, told reporters he does not believe there are significant divides within the group. He acknowledged that there are various perspectives on any issue but expressed confidence in the caucus's unity.

“We continue to work as a group, and we will come out of this united, as we always do,” Maloney said.