Carney's Pipeline Gamble: West Coast Project Gets National Interest Stamp

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the proposed West Coast pipeline has been designated a project of national interest. The pipeline, named Pacific Link, aims to carry one million barrels of oil per day from Alberta to the West Coast, largely following the route of the Trans Mountain system.

The expected price tag for the project is between $35.2-billion and $43.7-billion, with Canada and Alberta sharing equal ownership. Indigenous communities would be offered a minimum 10-per-cent ownership interest through federal and provincial loan-guarantee programs.

The next step is a federal review process led by Ottawa's Major Projects Office in collaboration with the Canada Energy Regulator. The goal is to finalize conditions for the project by September 1, 2027, allowing construction to begin in 2032.