Feds Move to Fast-Track West Coast Pipeline as 'National Interest' Project

The federal government is moving forward with plans to designate a proposed oil pipeline to the West Coast as a 'national interest' project, a move that critics say will skirt environmental laws and prioritize corporate interests.

The proposed Trans Mountain pipeline would carry approximately one million barrels of crude oil from Bruderheim, Alberta to a port near Delta, British Columbia for shipment to international markets. The pipeline is owned by Trans Mountain, the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission, and Pembina Pipeline Corporation, with Pembina holding a 10% ownership stake and an option to purchase an additional 10% once operational.

The government's notice sets a September 18 deadline for comments on the national interest designation, which would allow the project to bypass some environmental regulations. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc will work with the Alberta and British Columbia governments on the project while consultations with Indigenous communities are underway.