Enbridge's Northern Gateway proposal may not be the best way to get Alberta's bitumen to the west coast, said Danielle Smith, the libertarian-leaning leader of Alberta's official opposition.

"I've heard that there are options that would go to the West Coast on a different route that might make more sense," the Wildrose Party leader told reporters earlier this week. "Something's changed in the last five years. Landowners are far more active and concerned, environmental groups are more active and concerned. First Nations are more active and vocal about it."

Alternative options touted by Smith included building a pipeline along existing rail lines, potentially terminating at Prince Rupert or Valdez, Alaska.

Smith's comments came a week after U.S. regulators released a scathing indictment of Enbridge's response to its 2010 Michigan oil spill, claiming the company tolerated "a culture of deviance" and "took advantage of weak regulations."

Outgoing Enbridge CEO Pat Daniel said recently that report makes it harder to sell his company's Northern Gateway project to British Columbians. But he disagreed with its characterization of Enbridge employees as "Keystone Kops."

That report won't change the opinion of Stephen Harper's Conservative government, which still contends that Gateway is in Canada's national interest.

"Pipelines are still, by far, the safest way to transport petrochemicals in any form," federal environment minister Peter Kent told the Canadian Press.

Official B.C. opposition leader Adrian Dix, meanwhile, reportedly said he would oppose an alternate pipeline route to Prince Rupert if elected premier next spring.

Premier Christy Clark hasn't made it clear whether she supports Enbridge's Northern Gateway project. But she recently questioned the pipeline company's competence.

Geoff Dembicki reports on energy and climate change issues for The Tyee.