Over the long weekend, the federal government gave notice that it intends to designate the West Coast pipeline proposal for fast-tracking under the Building Canada Act.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith are throwing their weight behind a proposed pipeline to transport oil from Alberta to BC’s coast, following a similar route to that of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline. The project is controversial and seen by some as a compromise between a federal and provincial government that have clashed over all manner of climate policy, particularly the carbon price placed on planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions for large industrial facilities.
The government is legally required to provide 30 days’ notice of such changes, so in one month the pipeline project could be officially designated a project of national interest and be eligible to bypass certain laws and regulations.
The Major Project Office is accepting public comments on the proposal until Sept. 18. Canada and Alberta’s Implementation Agreement targets Oct. 1, 2026 for the actual listing decision.
“It’s hard to imagine how the government can say that it’s meaningfully consulted on whether to designate this project when we’re talking about such short timeframes,” Julia Levin, associate director of national climate at Environmental Defence, said in a phone interview with Canada’s National Observer.
“Over the weekend, while Canadians across the country are dealing with raging wildfires and the aftermath of severe flooding and heatwaves, PM Carney quietly moved forward with his oil pipeline plans.”
Levin said it is “cynical to launch public consultations over a long weekend when no one’s paying attention” and accused Carney of not wanting to hear from the public “which, given the fact that he wants to use our money to finance it, is even more egregious.”
The notice provides new details about the proposed project: an approximately 1,250-kilometer pipeline would transport up to one million barrels of oil per day from Bruderheim, Alberta (approximately 50 km northeast of Edmonton) to a deepwater port near Delta, BC. The project’s port component includes a delivery tanks terminal and an offshore marine loading facility with capacity for massive oil tankers where product will be delivered, stored, and then loaded on to these huge vessels, capable of carrying up to two million barrels of oil.
The project would use approximately 11 pump stations, costing “between $35.2 to $43.7 billion,” according to a submission to the Major Projects Office from the Alberta government.
As President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada, Dominic LeBlanc is the minister responsible for consulting Alberta and BC “in addition to consultation with Indigenous rights-holders that is already underway,” the Canada Gazette webpage reads.
The West coast pipeline proposal still needs a private sector proponent, though Prime Minister Mark Carney said the Trans Mountain Corporation — which is planning and constructing the project — will tap Pembina Pipeline Corp (which has a provisional 10-per cent ownership) for its private sector expertise.
Pembina Pipeline Corp said “would participate as an experienced industry operator able to provide an independent perspective on cost, schedule, and execution — complementing, rather than replacing, the lead Project proponent.”
The company would take a 10 per cent stake in the pipeline as it’s being built with the option of adding another 10 per cent upon completion, according to a July 2 news release.
“We’re encouraged by the Canada Gazette notice, but it is just one step in the process to determine whether the project will be listed as a Project of National Interest,” reads a statement from the office of the Alberta Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean. “Alberta’s government will continue working alongside project partners and remains committed to working with our federal counterparts to facilitate the application, approval and construction of this pipeline.”
The West Coast pipeline will potentially be the first project designated for fast-tracking under the Building Canada Act. This matters, at least symbolically, Levin said, and for the first project to be a fossil fuel pipeline is “so indicative of what this prime minister’s agenda is.”
The same weekend the federal government made this latest move to advance the West Coast pipeline more than 5,000 British Columbians had to flee their homes in 24 hours due to wildfires, federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis said in an emailed statement to Canada’s National Observer.
“This project defies common sense,” Lewis said. “This is corporate welfare on a surreal scale, giving a gift to an industry making $90 billion in excess profits this year, and which still refuses to pay for its own infrastructure.”
Climate change is largely driven by humans burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. Rising global temperatures make already extreme weather events like atmospheric rivers and wildfires more extreme.
This new oil pipeline isn’t in the “national interest,” he said — it’s in Big Oil’s interest.
“It doesn’t do a damn thing for people struggling with the cost of food and housing, increased costs from privatized healthcare, and of course the daily anxiety of climate breakdown.”
He said pushing projects through in such a manner “makes a mockery” of the government’s constitutional duty to consult First Nations.