Alberta carbon capture MOU raises questions about taxpayer costs and oil sands emissions reductions

A new Memorandum of Understanding between Alberta, Ottawa, and five oil sands producers aims to advance the Pathways carbon capture project. Critics say the deal shifts too much cost to taxpayers while the project's emissions reduction target has shrunk from 22 megatons by 2030 to 6 megatons by 2035. The Pembina Institute warns that additional public support for operating expenses and potential royalty holidays could mean Albertans pay most of the bill. The article highlights that emissions intensity improvements in the oil sands have stalled in recent years. The MOU is non-binding and many details remain unresolved. The core question is whether oil sands companies are being asked to pay enough to clean up their own emissions, or if the public will shoulder the financial burden for a project that has already scaled back its climate ambition.