New markets and more choices for Canadian energy
Countries around the world are seeking reliable energy trading partners, and Canada has the resources, expertise and regulatory rigour to meet this demand.
A new pipeline from central Alberta to Canada’s west coast can deliver Alberta’s abundant oil resources to meet the energy needs of growing markets in Asia-Pacific and other regions, while helping to ensure Canada’s prosperity, sovereignty and security.
Today, Canada sends most of its crude oil exports to a single market. Pacific Link, formerly known as the west coast oil pipeline, will enable Canada to increase access to growing markets and further diversify its trading partners. At a time when we need it most, Pacific Link will give Canada more choices. Choices about where we sell our energy. Choices about who we trade with. And choices about how we build a stronger, more resilient economy.
Pacific Link has been listed as a Project of National Interest under the Building Canada Act by the federal government. The listing means the proposed oil pipeline project will be the first project subject to a new streamlined regulatory review process that helps advance projects of national interest more efficiently while maintaining rigorous environmental oversight and respecting the rights of Indigenous groups.
A pipeline to prosperity
More revenue
A new pipeline could double the volume of Alberta oil sent to Asia-Pacific and other global markets, generating benefits across Canada.
More customers
More markets and trading partners will help Canada set a more competitive price for our oil.
More jobs
A new pipeline and upstream development will create up to 140,000 direct and indirect jobs for Albertans, British Columbians and all Canadians.
Why does Canada need the Pacific Link pipeline?
- Brings prosperity by injecting billions of dollars into the Canadian economy
- Builds resilience and protects sovereignty and security by diversifying Canada's trading partners
- Supports the interests of Indigenous peoples through economic participation
- Meets the world's energy needs and further positions Canada as a global energy superpower
What is the Pacific Link pipeline?
Canada has the fourth-largest proven oil reserves in the world, and much of these reserves are in Alberta. Western Canadian crude oil is well suited to meet the growing, worldwide demand for transportation fuels like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as petrochemical feedstock and manufacturing.
Additional transportation infrastructure would provide greater access to Canada’s west coast, helping Canadian oil reach Asia-Pacific and other global markets.
Pacific Link will connect Alberta oil to the west coast of Canada so it can reach fast-growing markets in Asia-Pacific and beyond.
Spanning up to 1,250 kilometres, Pacific Link will be capable of transporting one million barrels per day of crude oil from the Bruderheim area in central Alberta to a marine export terminal in the Delta area of British Columbia. Because it would primarily follow the existing Trans Mountain corridor, the proposed routing will minimize environmental impacts and land disturbance.
Indigenous participation
Indigenous engagement is already underway and will continue throughout all phases of project development and execution with an open, transparent and respectful process. Engagement will respect Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, support informed, Rights-based participation and seek to understand Indigenous interests, perspectives and priorities.
Community engagement
Building on engagement undertaken along the corridor through the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, the project will invite local governments and communities along the route to participate and provide input to ensure their voices are heard and their interests considered throughout the development process.
Stewardship and safety
In accordance with good engineering practice and in compliance with Canadian environmental and regulatory standards, the project will minimize the environmental impacts associated with new construction and build on the robust marine spill prevention and response enhancements already established along British Columbia’s south coast.
A direct route to global markets
Pacific Link will construct a pipeline from the Bruderheim area in central Alberta to Canada’s west coast, connecting Alberta oil with markets across Asia-Pacific and other global markets.
The new pipeline will primarily follow the existing Trans Mountain pipeline corridor before turning south toward the Roberts Bank area of Delta, British Columbia — a route that minimizes environmental impacts and land disturbance.
Built with experience
Pacific Link is being advanced by the Government of Canada (through the Crown Corporation Trans Mountain Corporation), the Government of Alberta (through the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission) and Pembina Pipeline Corporation. Indigenous engagement, consultation and participation will be an integral part of the project, including opportunities for Indigenous equity participation to be developed in consultation with Indigenous groups and the Governments of Alberta and Canada.
