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Alberta Takes Proponent Role for West Coast Oil Pipeline, Targeting Spring 2026 Federal Bid

Early design receives $14 million through a technical advisory group featuring pipeline companies alongside Indigenous leaders.

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Workers lay pipe during the construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, in Abbotsford, B.C., in 2023.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks to the Economic Club of Canada in Ottawa on Monday, Feb.5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, announced Wednesday that the provincial government plans to submit an application for a new oil pipeline to northwestern British Columbia. The exact route and cost still need to be determined.

Overview

  • Alberta will submit a proponent-led application to the federal Major Projects Office in spring 2026 for a crude pipeline to B.C.’s northwest coast.
  • The province is allocating $14 million for pre-front end engineering, route design and early engagement to build a credible proposal.
  • A technical advisory group includes Enbridge, Trans Mountain and South Bow, with senior industry and Indigenous advisers appointed by the province.
  • There is no private sponsor or committed financing, and Alberta intends to hand the project to industry after federal approval as companies provide technical input only.
  • Reaction is split: B.C. Premier David Eby and Coastal First Nations reject the concept, while Fort McKay First Nation and the National Coalition of Chiefs welcomed early engagement and potential ownership, with key hurdles including the northern tanker moratorium and federal emissions policy.