Muhammad Amanullah
Date: October 2, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —The federal government of Canada and the Alberta government have declared a proposed pipeline capable of transporting one million barrels of oil per day from Alberta to the coast of British Columbia a project of national interest. The project has now officially been named the Pacific Link Pipeline.
Approval Process to Be Accelerated
Following the inclusion of Pacific Link in Schedule 1 of the Building Canada Act, the federal government will move beyond the principle of approving the project and focus on how it will be constructed.
The move is intended to accelerate and consolidate approvals, environmental assessments and other related stages of the process.
Carney’s Position
Announcing the project in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney said that before the Building Canada Act, proponents of such projects had to spend years and potentially billions of dollars advancing their plans, without knowing what decision the federal government would ultimately make.
According to Carney, this uncertainty prevented many investors and construction projects from moving forward and slowed the pace of construction in Canada.
Economic Benefits
According to a senior federal government official, the Pacific Link Pipeline could increase Canada’s gross domestic product by as much as $30 billion annually. Approximately $20 billion of that benefit would come directly from the pipeline project, the official said.
Reducing Dependence on the United States
One of the project’s key objectives is to diversify Canada’s oil exports away from the US market.
Officials say the new pipeline could provide Canada with an opportunity to secure higher prices for its oil, potentially generating up to an additional $10 billion in annual revenue.
Employment Opportunities
The federal government says the pipeline’s approval could lead to the creation of up to 140,000 jobs through construction and related activities.
Construction Timeline
Dominic LeBlanc has been tasked with completing a document outlining the conditions for the project. The target date for completing this document is September 1, 2027, after which the way would be cleared for construction to begin.
The government’s goal is to have the pipeline completed and operational by 2032 or 2033.
Environmental Protection
According to Prime Minister Carney, the Major Projects Office and the Canada Energy Regulator will also participate in developing the project’s conditions.
The relevant institutions will consult on a range of matters, including environmental protection, oversight, employment opportunities for local residents, and ownership opportunities for Indigenous communities.
Estimated Cost Runs into Billions of Dollars
The Pacific Link Pipeline is expected to cost between $35.2 billion and $43.7 billion. The estimate also includes additional funds for contingencies.
Ownership Structure
The Alberta government and the federal government’s Trans Mountain Corporation will each hold a 45 per cent stake in the pipeline, while Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Corporation will hold a 10 per cent stake during the construction phase.
Once the project is completed and the pipeline becomes operational, Pembina will have the opportunity to purchase an additional 10 per cent stake.
Indigenous Community Participation
Carney said Indigenous communities will also be offered the opportunity to acquire an ownership stake of at least 10 per cent in the project.
According to the government, ownership, environmental protection and local employment will be important considerations in the project’s conditions.
Private Investment
Although the federal and Alberta governments will initially hold 90 per cent of the pipeline’s ownership, a senior government official said private investors are also showing interest in the project.
According to the official, potential investors are assessing how quickly Canada can move forward with the approval and construction of Pacific Link, with the aim of completing the project by 2032 or 2033.
