December 9, 2025 – In a stunning display of political duplicity, the House of Commons yesterday delivered a crushing blow to Alberta’s energy ambitions. An opposition motion from the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), crafted using the exact language from the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Alberta and the federal government, was defeated by a vote of 196 nays to 139 yeas. This amendment, aimed at committing to pipeline construction to unlock Alberta’s vast oil and gas resources, saw every party in Parliament – except the Conservatives – line up against it.
The scene in the House was as telling as it was disheartening. As captured in this official footage from the proceedings, the green “YEAS POUR” banner flashed 139 in favour, while the red “NAYS CONTRE” dominated with 196, sealing the fate of the motion. Premier Danielle Smith had touted the MOU as a breakthrough just weeks ago, promising it would “unleash our energy sector.” Yet, in a move that reeks of bad faith, the Liberal caucus – led by Mark Carney – rejected the very commitments they had inked.
This isn’t mere parliamentary gamesmanship; it’s a deliberate sabotage of Alberta’s economic lifeline. The MOU was sold to Albertans as a pathway to building pipelines to the Pacific coast, reducing our reliance on volatile U.S. markets and eastern pipelines that benefit everyone but us. Instead, the federal government’s vote exposes the hollow nature of these accords – precisely as we predicted in our November 28 press release, where Alberta Prosperity Project CEO Mitch Sylvestre called the deal “a useless piece of paper with no binding commitments, no guaranteed pipeline, and no surrender of federal authority over Alberta’s energy sector.” Legal counsel Jeff Rath echoed that sentiment, warning it would give Albertans “a front-row seat to the complete failure of Confederation.” We said it then: this MOU would accelerate the independence movement by proving Confederation is irreparably broken. And here we are – I told you so. Read the full release here.
“a useless piece of paper with no binding commitments, no guaranteed pipeline, and no surrender of federal authority over Alberta’s energy sector.” APP CEO Mitch Sylvestre
As noted by commentator Brian Lilley in his X post sharing the heated exchange between Pierre Poilievre and Carney, the Liberals are now openly opposing the pipeline language they themselves endorsed. Watch the debate unfold here, where Poilievre dismantles Carney’s deflections with pointed questions on why the Liberals won’t stand by their word.
The Conservatives took the language from the MOU between Ottawa and Alberta about supporting a pipeline and made it a motion in the House.
— Brian Lilley (@brianlilley) December 9, 2025
The Liberals now say they oppose this motion.
Watch as Pierre Poilievre and Mark Carney debate it in the House of Commons. pic.twitter.com/dFFtbJyeNs
The fallout has ignited a firestorm on social media, with Albertans voicing long-simmering frustrations. Marty Belanger (@Martyupnorth_2), a Franco-Albertan retired engineer, summed it up bluntly in his widely shared post: “The motion to build a pipeline was defeated… Every party in the House of Commons, except the Conservatives are against building an oil pipeline. The MOU that Smith signed with Ottawa is not even worth the paper it’s written on. Alberta can’t have nice things. Time to admit that Confederation is a failed experiment, and go on our own.” His thread has garnered over 41,000 views, with replies echoing calls for separation – from “As an Albertan, if you weren’t fully for separation you should be now” to reminders that this betrayal proves the MOU was “pure theatre.”
The motion to build a pipeline was defeated by a vote of 196 against vs. 139 for.
— Martyupnorth®- Unacceptable Fact Checker (@Martyupnorth_2) December 9, 2025
Every party in the House of Commons, except the Conservatives are against building an oil pipeline.
The MOU that Smith signed with Ottawa is not even worth the paper its written on.
Alberta… pic.twitter.com/lJTW5Kc5zJ
Gen Z Conservative voice Jinglai He (@JinglaiHe) didn’t mince words either, posting: “BREAKING: Mark Carney and the entire Liberal caucus just voted AGAINST their own MOU and made it clear that they aren’t at all interested in getting pipelines built. Typical Liberal flip-flop and gaslighting. If you want a pipeline to the Pacific, vote Conservative.” Accompanied by screenshots of the vote tally, his post has racked up 7,500 views and hundreds of reposts, underscoring the growing disillusionment among younger Albertans.
BREAKING: Mark Carney and the entire Liberal caucus just voted AGAINST their own MOU and made it clear that they aren't at all interested in getting pipelines built.
— Jinglai He 🇨🇦 (@JinglaiHe) December 9, 2025
Typical Liberal flip-flop and gaslighting. If you want a pipeline to the Pacific, vote Conservative. pic.twitter.com/Biqj5wtFS0
This episode isn’t isolated. It’s the latest chapter in a decades-long saga of federal neglect – from the National Energy Program of the 1980s to endless delays on projects like Energy East and Trans Mountain. Alberta sends billions in equalization payments to Ottawa, only to see our resource sector strangled by carbon taxes, regulatory red tape, and virtue-signalling policies that prioritise “net zero” fantasies over real jobs and prosperity. As constitutional expert Keith Wilson has repeatedly argued, the imbalance in Confederation violates the spirit – if not the letter – of our constitutional compact. “Alberta’s contributions far exceed what we receive in return,” Wilson noted in a recent interview. “It’s time to renegotiate or walk away.”
For the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), this vote is a clarion call. Our policies, outlined here, envision an independent Alberta where we control our resources, set our taxes, and build the infrastructure that benefits our people first. No more begging for scraps from a distant capital that views our oil sands as a climate villain rather than an economic engine. Watch this analysis of Carney’s precarious position post-vote here – it highlights how this flip-flop could unravel the Liberals’ grip, but only if Albertans seize the moment.
The path forward is clear: independence isn’t a radical dream; it’s a pragmatic necessity. Confederation has failed Alberta, time and again. We have the talent, the resources, and the resolve to thrive on our own terms. Come on, let’s go!
Join the Fight: Become a Door Canvasser Today!
The momentum is building, but we need you to turn frustration into action. In late January, APP will launch our signature collection drive across Alberta to advance our independence referendum. Door-to-door canvassing is the heartbeat of this movement – connecting with neighbours, sharing our vision, and gathering the support we need to force real change.
Whether you’re a lifelong Albertan or new to the cause, your voice matters. Sign up now to volunteer as a door canvasser and be part of history: https://nb.albertaprosperity.com/volunteer.
Together, we’ll build the prosperous, sovereign Alberta we deserve – upholding Faith, Family, Freedom. The time for waiting is over – let’s get to work!
For more on APP’s vision, visit www.albertaprosperity.com.