West Coast oil pipeline named Canada’s first ‘national interest’ project

The federal government fast-tracks Alberta's $44B Pacific Link oil pipeline under the new Building Canada Act

Published Oct 01, 2026  •  Last updated 6 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith looks on while Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during an announcement that the Pacific Link has been listed as a project of national interest, in Fort McMurray, Alta. on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 Photo by Itoro Umanah /Postmedia Network

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OTTAWA — Alberta’s oil and gas sector scored a big win after a proposed west-coast pipeline was designated as Canada’s first project of national interest.

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That came Thursday morning courtesy of Prime Minister Mark Carney, who announced the news in Fort McMurray alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

“This is an important day for Alberta, and for Canada,” the PM said during the press conference, in the shadow of a Komatsu heavy haul truck draped with a Canadian flag.

“This region holds the fourth-largest largest oil reserve in the world. There’s more than three-and-a-half million barrels of oil that leave here every day to markets around the world, bringing home more than $40 billion to the Canadian economy every year.”

Once complete, the West Coast Pacific Link oil pipeline will transport a million barrels of Alberta oil daily to terminals on the B.C. coast, and according to the federal government it is expected to be a $30 billion boost to Canada’s GDP annually.

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The pipeline is expected to cost between $35.2 and $43.7 billion, with a planned opening of at least 2032.

“Pacific Link has the potential to connect Canadian energy to growing global markets, attract billions in investment, create up to 140,000 jobs in Alberta, British Columbia and across Canada, and help people across the country capture more of the value of our natural resources,” Premier Smith said during the press conference.

“The tens of billions that Alberta’s government will collect in royalty revenue while the pipeline is operational means more revenue to support the schools and hospitals and essential services that Albertans rely on.”

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What does the designation mean?

Thursday’s announcement will list Pacific Link under Schedule 1 of the Building Canada Act, designating it Canada’s first project of national interest.

This will allow the project to proceed through a single regulatory review process, as well as allow for the identification and mitigation of issues before that stage is reached.

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Supported by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), this review process will take place over the next year and consult with stakeholders over the project’s conditions.

Project development will be led by the government-owned Trans Mountain Corporation.

Both the federal and Alberta governments will retain equal (45%) ownership in Pacific Link, with the remaining 10% stake offered to Indigenous communities, financed through government loan guarantee programs.

Ottawa’s Major Projects Office, the government says, is working to finalize project conditions by next September.

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BQ says new rules give Ottawa detour around regulations

In a statement, Bloc Québécois Environment Critic Patrick Bonin said the designation gives Ottawa free rein to bypass existing laws and regulations.

“With this designation, the Liberals will now be able to bypass their own environmental laws to fast-track their pipeline project of over 1,200 km, which could cross more than 1,000 waterways,” the statement said in French.

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In response to Thursday’s announcement, the Tories offered comments made earlier this week by Immigration Critic Michelle Rempel Garner saying her party would push for details on construction timelines and costs.

Goldy Hyder, president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, welcomed Thursday’s news.

“To invest with confidence in Canada, investors need certainty. Today’s announcement delivers it,” he said.

“A new pipeline to the West Coast would attract investment and support wealth creation through employment and higher government revenues. The project would also support the country’s goals to diversify trade, preserve economic security, bolster competitiveness and ensure that Canada receives fair value for its energy products.”

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