Prime Minister Mark Carney has formally designated the proposed Pacific Link oil pipeline as a project of national interest, moving the major Alberta-to-British Columbia infrastructure proposal into a new federal approval framework.

The announcement was made October 1 in Fort McMurray, Alberta. The pipeline, previously referred to as the West Coast Oil Pipeline, is being advanced jointly by Canada and Alberta, with the federal government saying the project is intended to expand Canadian access to international energy markets.

Under the new framework, Canada and Alberta will have equal ownership of Pacific Link, while Indigenous communities will be offered a minimum 10% ownership interest through Indigenous loan-guarantee programs. Federal officials said consultations involved more than 130 Indigenous communities along potential routes.

The proposed pipeline is designed to transport up to one million barrels of oil per day toward the British Columbia coast. The federal government says the project could support jobs, investment and expanded exports, while reporting has also noted opposition from some Indigenous communities and environmental groups.

The designation begins a new approval process through the federal Major Projects Office, with further regulatory, financial and development decisions still required before construction can proceed.