Ottawa considers fast-tracking West Coast Oil Pipeline

Key Takeaways

• Ottawa has published formal notice in the Canada Gazette to consider listing the West Coast Oil Pipeline as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act.
• The proposed 1,250-km pipeline will transport 1 million barrels of crude oil daily from Bruderheim, AB to a new deepwater terminal in Delta, B.C.
• The megaproject is being jointly developed by Trans Mountain Corp., the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission, and Pembina Pipeline Corp.

The Whole Story:

The federal government has officially signaled its intent to streamline regulatory approvals for a proposed mega-pipeline capable of moving one million barrels of Canadian crude oil per day to the Pacific coast. According to a notice published in the Canada Gazette, the Governor in Council is considering adding the West Coast Oil Pipeline to Schedule 1 of the Building Canada Act, formally designating it a project of national interest.

The proposed 1,250-kilometre pipeline route would stretch from a new receipt tank terminal in Bruderheim, Alberta (northeast of Edmonton) to an offshore marine terminal near Delta, British Columbia. Crucially, the marine terminal design includes berth capacity for Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) supertankers—vessels capable of carrying up to two million barrels of oil—giving Canadian producers direct, high-volume access to Asian and Pacific Rim energy markets.

The infrastructure venture is being advanced by a joint entity formed by Trans Mountain Corporation, the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission (APMC), and Pembina Pipeline Corporation. Beyond the main 1,250-km mainline, the project scope encompasses 11 high-capacity pump stations, power interconnections, dedicated storage tanks at both ends, and specialized offshore loading facilities.

President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada, Dominic LeBlanc, has formally initiated consultations with the provincial governments of Alberta and British Columbia, alongside ongoing consultations with impacted Indigenous rights-holders. Designation under the Building Canada Act allows Ottawa to accelerate federal permitting schedules while evaluating the project’s ability to strengthen national economic resilience, advance Indigenous economic participation, and enhance international trade security.

The proposed interprovincial energy corridor will expand Western Canada’s heavy crude export capacity:

• Capacity: 1,000,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Canadian crude oil.
• Pipeline Length: Approximately 1,250 kilometres of continuous mainline pipeline.
• Route Termini: Originates in Bruderheim, AB; terminates at a deepwater marine facility in Delta, B.C.
• Marine Infrastructure: Specialized loading docks engineered to handle Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) supertankers.
• Midstream Assets: 11 mainline pump stations, power transmission infrastructure, and large-scale receipt/delivery storage tank farms.
• Joint Venture Proponents: Trans Mountain Corporation, Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission (APMC), and Pembina Pipeline Corporation.