The National Post reports in its Tuesday edition that Federal Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson says the decision regarding the business case for a new bitumen pipeline in Canada lies with the private sector. The Post's Stephanie Taylor writes that Mr. Hodgson believes that talks around whether Canada can build a new oil pipeline are overly hypothetical. "Canada can build many things," Mr. Hodgson told the Post, emphasizing the importance of focusing on real proposals. His comments follow Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's push earlier this month to fast-track a proposal for a million-barrel-a-day bitumen pipeline from Edmonton to British Columbia's northern coast. Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to announce the next phase of projects by Nov. 16. Ms. Smith, whose United Conservative Party government will act as the new pipeline proponent, at least for now, has argued the federal government needs to send some kind of signal to attract proponents, including by listing the project as one in the national interest, to show that Mr. Carney's government is serious. Dawn Farrell, head of the Major Projects Office, told a parliamentary committee this month it could take four to five months to evaluate Alberta's project.