OTTAWA — After a first ministers’ meeting, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced a “grand bargain” involving oil sands access to coastal waters in exchange for investments in decarbonization technologies. While Smith is optimistic about endorsing the movement of “decarbonized Canadian oil and gas” through pipelines, experts like Tim McMillan caution that carbon capture may hinder future investments in Canada’s oil sector. The Pathways Alliance’s $16.5-billion decarbonization project faces challenges, with analyses suggesting it may struggle financially without significant government support.