Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has classified a proposed West Coast pipeline as being in the national interest, a step tied to plans to ship about one million barrels of crude per day from Alberta to Delta, B.C.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has designated a proposed West Coast pipeline project as being in the “national interest,” a move that places it under the Major Projects Office for federal approvals.
Carney made the announcement in Fort McMurray, Alta., on Thursday, flanked by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
The government said the pipeline would transport roughly one million barrels of crude per day from Bruderheim, Alta., to a deepwater port outside Delta, B.C., over about 1,250 kilometres.
After the crude is transported to the port area outside Delta, it would be loaded onto large tanker ships for export to markets in Asia.
A government briefing connected the national-interest designation to the trade war involving U.S. President Donald Trump and the instability associated with it, saying diversifying export markets is a matter of national sovereignty.
Carney’s government also pointed to TD Economics analysis released this summer, saying the potential pipeline would boost oil exports by 20 per cent and more than double what Canada currently sends to Asia by tanker.
Ahead of the announcement, Carney said the federal government would commit $1.2 billion for ocean protection projects in B.C., and referenced a “protect-while-we-build” approach to new investments.
Speaking in Fort McMurray, Carney said, “We know it’s not just what we build, it’s how we build. And this government is taking a protect-while-we-build approach to new investments.”
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