Post by @globeandmail

A proposed pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast has been designated a project of national interest, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday, citing the conduit’s economic benefits and how it can boost Canada’s share of global energy markets. This is the first time that the government has made an official designation of a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act. The legislation is a marquee part of Mr. Carney’s economic agenda. The next step for the pipeline – now called Pacific Link – is a federal review process, including consultations with stakeholders about the project’s ownership, as well as Indigenous rights and environmental protections. Ottawa’s Major Projects Office will lead that process with support from the Canada Energy Regulator, federal officials said Thursday. The MPO aims to finalize conditions of the project by Sept. 1, 2027, so the pipeline can be operational by 2032. Its expected price tag is between $35.2-billion and $43.7-billion. Faster project approvals for major projects has been a major focus for the federal government under Mr. Carney. Last month, for example, it tabled Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act. The legislation aims to introduce a system where major projects such as pipelines get just one review and receive a decision within one year. Major infrastructure builds in Canada have been "weighed down by well-intentioned but arduous and often duplicative regulatory processes" in recent years, Mr. Carney said Thursday. #cdnpoli #abpoli #pipeline #alberta #canada