The federal government has moved forward with the process of potentially designating a proposed West Coast oil pipeline as a national interest project under the Building Canada Act. The designation could accelerate regulatory approvals for the roughly 1,250-kilometre pipeline, which would transport up to one million barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta to the BC coast for export. Public comments on the designation are being accepted until September 18, while consultations with Indigenous communities are also underway. The project forms a key part of a broader federal-Alberta energy agreement but continues to face criticism from environmental groups and political opponents over its economic and environmental implications.
