West Coast oil pipeline designated as national interest project

The federal and Alberta governments have designated a proposed West Coast oil pipeline as the first project under the national interest list, putting it on a faster approval track. The project, now called the Pacific Link pipeline, would move about one million barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the British Columbia coast. The designation under the Building Canada Act is meant to streamline approvals and environmental reviews. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the government is shifting from debating whether the project should proceed to deciding how it will be built. Officials say the pipeline could raise GDP by up to $30 billion a year and create as many as 140,000 jobs once completed. The estimated cost is between $35.2 billion and $43.7 billion, and the current plan includes public ownership by the federal and Alberta governments, with space for private and Indigenous investment. Supporters say the project could help Canada expand exports beyond the U.S. and attract private capital. Critics, including environmental groups and the NDP, argue that new oil infrastructure will increase emissions and undermine climate goals.