Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announce a proposed pipeline from Alberta to the B.C. coast in Calgary on Thursday, July 02, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol
The federal government is advancing the process to designate a proposed oil pipeline to the West Coast as a “national interest” project.
Naming a project in the national interest under the Building Canada Act allows the government to fast-track approvals and skirt some environmental laws.
A notice published in the Canada Gazette on Aug. 1 sets a Sept. 18 deadline to submit comments on the national interest designation.
The proposed pipeline project has been referred already to the government’s major projects office, with the Alberta government listed as the proponent. The pipeline would be owned by Trans Mountain, the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission and Pembina Pipeline Corporation.
Pembina has a 10 per cent ownership stake in the construction, with an option to purchase an additional 10 per cent once the pipeline is operational.
The government’s notice says Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc will work with the Alberta and B.C. governments on the project while consultations with Indigenous communities are underway.
The Alberta government welcomed the development, but noted this is just one step in the process.
- 0132 UMWA 20260132 UMWA 2026
- 0131 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaig0131 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaig
- 0130 SKTL_Starlink_Ranch_16x9_Clean0130 SKTL_Starlink_Ranch_16x9_Clean
- 0129 Turnbull drivers operators0129 Turnbull drivers operators
- 0128 OSY Rentals updated0128 OSY Rentals updated
- 0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_
- 0125 SASPO-2896_Right of Way_Awareness_20250125 SASPO-2896_Right of Way_Awareness_2025
- 0118 IBEW 30 sec0118 IBEW 30 sec
- 0114 Prospera Bold Vision0114 Prospera Bold Vision
- 0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001
“We’re encouraged by the Canada Gazette notice, but it is just one step in the process to determine whether the project will be listed as a Project of National Interest,” Alberta Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean said in an emailed response.
“Alberta’s government will continue working alongside project partners and remains committed to working with our federal counterparts to facilitate the application, approval and construction of this pipeline.”
Julia Levin, an associate director at Environmental Defence, criticized the government for quietly beginning this process during a long weekend.
“Over the weekend, while Canadians across the country are dealing with raging wildfires and the aftermath of severe flooding and heat waves, Prime Minister (Mark) Carney quietly moved forward with his oil pipeline plans,” Levin said in a statement.
“It’s no wonder he didn’t want to draw attention to this environmentally and economically risky project, and the breakneck speed at which he wants to get it approved without due oversight.”
NDP Leader Avi Lewis called the pipeline project “corporate welfare on a surreal scale” and pointed out that it is not being backed primarily by the private sector.
“For Canadians across this land, it is a kick in the teeth to call this climate bomb of a project ‘in the national interest,'” Lewis said in an emailed statement.
“It is in big oil’s interest, for sure. But it doesn’t do a damn thing for people struggling with the cost of food and housing, increased costs from privatized health care, and of course the daily anxiety of climate breakdown.”
- 0132 UMWA 20260132 UMWA 2026
- 0131 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaig0131 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaig
- 0130 SKTL_Starlink_Ranch_16x9_Clean0130 SKTL_Starlink_Ranch_16x9_Clean
- 0129 Turnbull drivers operators0129 Turnbull drivers operators
- 0128 OSY Rentals updated0128 OSY Rentals updated
- 0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_
- 0125 SASPO-2896_Right of Way_Awareness_20250125 SASPO-2896_Right of Way_Awareness_2025
- 0118 IBEW 30 sec0118 IBEW 30 sec
- 0114 Prospera Bold Vision0114 Prospera Bold Vision
- 0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001
The government’s definition of “national interest” includes projects that can strengthen “Canada’s autonomy, resilience and security,” provide economic benefits, have a high likelihood of success, advance Indigenous interests and contribute to “clean growth” and meeting Canada’s climate change goals.
The proposed pipeline is a central component of an energy agreement between the federal and Alberta governments.
The roughly 1,250-kilometre pipeline would carry upwards of one million barrels of crude oil per day from Bruderheim, Alta. to a port near Delta, B.C. for shipment to international markets.
The Conservatives helped the government pass the Building Canada Act more than a year ago and the government has so far moved three projects toward the national interest designation.
Those projects are the Grays Bay road and port project in Nunavut, the Mackenzie Valley Highway in the Northwest Territories and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s deep geological repository in northern Ontario.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2026.
— with files from Nick Murray in Ottawa.
- 0132 UMWA 20260132 UMWA 2026
- 0131 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaig0131 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaig
- 0130 SKTL_Starlink_Ranch_16x9_Clean0130 SKTL_Starlink_Ranch_16x9_Clean
- 0129 Turnbull drivers operators0129 Turnbull drivers operators
- 0128 OSY Rentals updated0128 OSY Rentals updated
- 0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_0126 Steel_Reef_Promo_
- 0125 SASPO-2896_Right of Way_Awareness_20250125 SASPO-2896_Right of Way_Awareness_2025
- 0118 IBEW 30 sec0118 IBEW 30 sec
- 0114 Prospera Bold Vision0114 Prospera Bold Vision
- 0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer0113 Miller Epic Cinematic Hollywood trailer
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001