Earlier this month, Premier Danielle Smith announced that Alberta will commence a study on a new oil pipeline to the northern B.C. coast and apply for a proposal through the Major Projects Office, a move that, if realized, could reshape Canada’s role in global energy trade.
But beyond the political and economic headlines, Alberta’s proposal reopens a deeper question: how ready is Canada’s regulatory system to manage major projects efficiently and transparently in a rapidly changing world?
Economic and Strategic Interests
For Alberta, a westward corridor represents more than an export route — it’s an economic strategy. It could diversify markets, create employment, and attract investment in a period of growing global energy demand.
Yet, every major Canadian infrastructure project now carries an additional layer of scrutiny. Economic potential alone is no longer enough. Success depends equally on regulatory confidence, the belief that Canada can evaluate, approve, and monitor projects in a way that is rigorous, transparent, and timely.
The Regulatory Reality: Comprehensive but Constrained
Canada’s regulatory framework is comprehensive and robust. It reflects decades of public consultation, Indigenous engagement, and environmental protection. But over time, it has also become fragmented. Multiple agencies operate in parallel, each with its own processes, data systems, and timelines.
This fragmentation can lead to duplication, delayed communication, and escalating costs — even when all parties are acting in good faith. As a result, regulatory processes risk being perceived not as enablers of responsible development, but as barriers to it. The challenge is a byproduct of incremental changes designed to improve accountability, but which now collectively slow down decision-making and strain institutional capacity.
Previous projects like Energy East and the ill-fated Northern Gateway continue to direct investors away from the Canadian energy sector.
In short, Canada’s regulatory infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with the digital age.
Why This Matters for Alberta’s New Pipeline
The new pipeline study is an opportunity, not just to connect Alberta to the Pacific, but to demonstrate that Canada can modernize its governance towards complex projects.
Efficient regulation doesn’t mean weaker oversight; it means smarter oversight. The ability to process vast amounts of information, coordinate across jurisdictions, and communicate decisions clearly can strengthen both public trust and investor confidence.
That’s where AI can make a tangible, immediate impact.
AI as a Tool for Smarter Governance
AI is already transforming sectors such as finance, health and urban planning, many of which are far more complex than energy. In regulation, its potential is equally significant. Properly implemented, AI doesn’t replace human expertise or judgment; it amplifies it. AI can also streamline the following processes:
- Integrated Regulatory Mapping: AI can scan multiple jurisdictions’ statutes, permits, and consultation requirements, identifying overlaps and dependencies. This helps agencies coordinate and reduce redundant reviews.
- Automated Analysis of Submissions: Thousands of pages of environmental assessments, technical data, and consultation feedback can be categorized and summarized within hours, allowing reviewers to focus on substance rather than paperwork.
- Predictive Oversight: Machine learning models can analyze patterns from previous projects to anticipate where bottlenecks or legal challenges are most likely to occur — giving regulators a chance to act proactively, not reactively.
- Transparent Engagement: Natural language models can synthesize public and Indigenous feedback into clear, structured insights, making it easier for agencies to demonstrate responsiveness and accountability.
From Process to Partnership
AI’s value isn’t just technical but collaborative. It provides a shared digital foundation for regulators, industry, and Indigenous communities to interact within the same information ecosystem.
Rather than exchanging PDFs and spreadsheets across disconnected systems, AI-powered platforms can enable living regulatory processes where data, feedback, and analysis evolve together. This approach transforms regulation from a linear sequence of reviews into a collaborative, data-driven dialogue.
The goal isn’t to reduce oversight but to make Canada’s regulatory system a model for how technology and governance can reinforce each other.
Conclusion: A Digital Moment for Canadian Regulation
Alberta’s potential pipeline to the B.C. coast may still be in its preliminary phase, but the broader conversation it has started is long overdue. Canada’s regulatory system is comprehensive and principled, but it must now become adaptive and innovative.
Artificial intelligence offers a pathway to that evolution: a means to improve coordination, reduce uncertainty, and build public confidence through transparency and traceability. The question isn’t whether AI will shape the future of regulation; it’s how we choose to apply it. Thoughtful collaboration between governments, Indigenous Nations, and innovators can ensure technology strengthens the values at the core of Canada’s governance.
By equipping regulators and project teams with intelligent tools, Canada can transform its regulatory systems from a source of delay into a strategic advantage, one that helps good projects move forward faster and with greater public trust and accountability.
