Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced the West Coast Pipeline Project on July 2, 2026, in Calgary. The project aims to transport one million barrels of oil per day to Canada's West Coast. Rob Breakenridge argues that this route is the lowest-hanging fruit with the least opposition, and Carney must now approve the pipeline for real.
Long Road to a Modest Start
It has taken months of negotiations, major concessions, and unprecedented legislative intervention to expedite Canada's regulatory approval process. The chosen route follows the existing Trans Mountain expansion (TMX) right-of-way, ending at Roberts Bank port terminal in Delta, B.C., rather than a deepwater port in northwestern B.C. that would be the shortest distance to Asia. Breakenridge notes that if this project cannot move forward, it would be a terrible indictment of Canada's ability to build major projects.
B.C. Agreement and Concessions
Earlier on July 2, Carney announced an agreement with B.C. Premier David Eby. In exchange for not opposing the pipeline, B.C. will receive billions for resource projects and major infrastructure investments. Ottawa will also maintain the tanker ban along B.C.'s northern coast, a major concession to B.C. Breakenridge calls the tanker ban redundant and symbolic, given the Liberals' own logic behind the Impact Assessment Act. He adds that keeping the ban is a concession from Alberta, as the original Alberta-Ottawa MOU left the door open to adjusting it.
Alberta Gains Federal Backing
Alberta receives federal backing and referral to the Major Projects Office for the new pipeline. Additionally, Ottawa eased the controversial Clean Electricity Regulations, which helped pave the way for a $4.6-billion natural gas project to power a new data centre near Edmonton. Breakenridge concludes that with the easiest route and minimal opposition, there should be zero excuses for further delays.
