Ottawa Expected to List West Coast Oil Pipeline by October 1

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith remains confident that Ottawa will list the proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act by October 1. The pipeline, designed to move one million barrels per day of Alberta crude to Pacific tidewater and Asian markets, is expected to be a significant step towards advancing major energy development in the region.

The pipeline's planned capacity is approximately one million barrels per day of heavy crude, substantially expanding Canada's ability to reach overseas customers without relying primarily on the United States. The estimated cost of the project ranges from $35.2 billion to $43.7 billion, with Trans Mountain Corporation, the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission, and Pembina Pipeline Corporation expected to form a jointly owned company.

The provincial government is also preparing a new royalty incentive framework intended to encourage more upstream investment in oil production. The province wants to increase oil and gas output and exports to over eight million barrels per day by 2035. Federal tax changes, including the Productivity Mega Deduction, are expected to improve near-term cash flow for capital-intensive industries like oil and gas.