Unlocking Canada’s potential

Alberta’s government is preparing a submission for a world-class Indigenous co-owned pipeline to the northwest coast of British Columbia to strengthen Canada’s energy independence, increase global competitiveness and drive prosperity.

Demand for oil and gas will remain strong for decades, especially in Asia. With one of the largest and most secure energy reserves in the world, Alberta is ready to deliver reliable, responsibly produced energy for years to come.

Indigenous leadership and stewardship are central to this project, shaping its direction and ensuring lasting benefits for communities.

I want to:

  • Icon of a sapling growing on the Earth

    Setting the standard

    Using innovative technology, this proposed oil pipeline will exemplify best-in-class performance in every respect. Environmental protection and marine safety are at the core.

    From design through construction and operation, the project submission will include rigorous safety protocols, advanced monitoring systems and fail-safe engineering practices that protect communities, workers and the environment.

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    Tidewater to Asian markets

    If advanced, the project will significantly increase market access to Asian markets hungry for Alberta oil products and reduce dependence on U.S. markets.

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    Indigenous voices

    This is more than an energy project – it’s a pathway to generational prosperity and co-ownership for Indigenous communities. From the onset, Indigenous communities are providing leadership, guidance and stewardship that will help shape the project every step of the way.

Planning for a world-class pipeline

Acting as proponent in the initial stages, Alberta’s government is drawing on more than a century of technical expertise to deliver a submission to the Major Projects Office by July 1, 2026. This submission will include:

  • engagement and collaboration with Indigenous communities
  • general path and size of the pipeline
  • costs and benefits to Canada
  • market demand, economic viability and need for a new pipeline
  • social, environmental and economic case for recommending the proposed pipeline

Safety standards

Marine safety is not optional—it will be embedded in every aspect of the project’s design and operation.

The submission will incorporate the most advanced marine protection systems available worldwide, including real-time vessel tracking, double-hull tanker requirements and enhanced navigation protocols to safeguard coastal waters.

Canada already enforces robust safety measures including mandatory pilotage, tug escorts and restricted navigation zones, and this project will fully comply with these requirements and go further—actively researching and adopting best practices from around the world to enhance marine safety.

The project will adhere to safety protocols and ensure coastal waters remain protected for generations.

Pipelines remain the safest, most efficient and most reliable way to transport energy across Canada. On average each year, 99.999 per cent of oil transported via federally regulated pipelines moves safely, reflecting decades of operational excellence and regulatory oversight.

Project timeline

  • Engagement and pre-work

    Relationship building conversations began with Indigenous communities in Alberta and British Columbia and will continue as part of Alberta’s government’s commitment to meaningful and respectful engagement.

    Fall 2025
  • Project announcement

    Alberta's government announced the plan to advance a submission to the Major Projects Office for a northwest coast oil pipeline.

    October 2025
  • MOU signed

    The Governments of Canada and Alberta signed an MOU that included a declaration that an Indigenous co-owned Alberta oil pipeline to Asian markets is a project of national interest.

    November 2025
  • Submission development

    The technical advisory group reviewed the criteria for a project of national interest and assembled a team of technical experts that started preliminary assessment work.

    Fall/winter 2025
  • Submission

    Alberta’s government will submit the northwest coast oil pipeline project to the Major Projects Office for designation as a project of national interest.

    July 2026

Indigenous perspectives

From the earliest stages of engagement, Indigenous communities have guided the work as decision-makers, stewards and true partners. We are committed to early, respectful, transparent and meaningful engagement that honours Indigenous sovereignty, knowledge systems and governance structures. Insights we gather through engagement will shape key elements of the project, including: 

  • environmental protections and marine safety
  • a proposed route
  • construction methods
  • economic opportunities 

Indigenous ownership and equity are integral to this project and will create long-term revenue streams and allow communities to invest in their futures. The Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC) is ready to support Indigenous co-ownership of the pipeline and the Pathways carbon capture project.

Beyond economic participation, we are committed to exploring other forms of involvement based on how communities want to engage, recognizing that interests may go beyond financial outcomes.

Addressing myths

  • Myth: Construction is beginning on a pipeline

    No construction has started. Alberta’s government is acting as the proponent at this time to assess a pipeline project and make a submission to the federal government to be considered a nation-building project under the new federal legislation.

  • Myth: Alberta’s government is paying for the pipeline

    No. Alberta’s government will contribute $14 million to support early planning work including preliminary engineering, cost estimates, economic modelling, early engagement with communities and development of a proposal for federal consideration.  

    Once this preliminary work is done and with a new, supportive regulatory environment, we are confident a private sector proponent will step up to take on this project once it moves ahead.

  • Myth: A route for the pipeline has already been decided

    No. At this stage, no route has been selected. This phase is a first step to understanding the full scope of this project.

    Alberta’s government is committed to listening to communities and making future decisions through evidence-based planning.

  • Myth: This project will be no different than previous failed ones

    No. Previous projects failed because Indigenous voices and priorities weren’t central to the process.

    Our focus is on partnership, transparency and long-term inclusion. It’s about building trust, listening early and ensuring prosperity flows to Indigenous communities in ways they define.

    Previous projects also failed because of federal policies that constrain the energy sector. The federal government has acknowledged our concerns and signed an agreement with Alberta’s government that includes commitments to address the key policies that have been the most damaging to Alberta’s energy sector as we work to attract capital and projects to the province.

  • Myth: The "tanker ban" makes this project a non-starter

    No. The agreement signed November 2025 between the Governments of Canada and Alberta allows for needed adjustments to the tanker ban when a new pipeline to Asia is approved by the Major Projects Office, as well as amendments that ensure energy companies in Alberta can advertise their environmental leadership and efforts throughout the world without fear of penalty.

    Alberta’s government remains committed to working with our federal counterparts to identify areas of opportunity where barriers can be removed.

  • Myth: This initiative is a step backward in Canada’s energy transition

    No. This is a step forward in balanced energy development. Given that the demand for oil will continue, it is important oil is responsibly and ethically produced.

    Responsible development and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. This initiative is part of a balanced national energy strategy – one that includes clean technology, emissions reduction and infrastructure planning.

    Additionally, the Governments of Canada and Alberta are committed to working together with the Pathways companies to advance the completion of the world’s largest carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) infrastructure project. The success of this project will ensure that a new pipeline exceeds innovation and best practice standards.

  • Myth: This project disregards Indigenous land rights in Alberta and British Columbia

    No. We are committed to respecting Indigenous rights and sovereignty while advancing Canada’s national interest. Our approach to energy infrastructure puts Indigenous communities at the centre of decision-making. They will shape the corridor, ensuring it reflects their priorities and governance.

    In partnership with Indigenous leadership, the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation is ready to help support Indigenous co-ownership of the pipeline project and the Pathways carbon capture project.

    We are dedicated to an iterative approach that emphasizes early engagement, transparency and outcomes guided by Indigenous leadership.

Aligning with Canada’s interests

The federal government has declared an Indigenous co-owned pipeline to Asian markets as a priority and is collaborating with Alberta’s government to provide a clear and efficient approval process for the oil pipeline under the Building Canada Act.

Alberta’s government is working to develop a strong, evidence-based submission for a world-class pipeline to the northwest coast of British Columbia to demonstrate this project will benefit all of Canada.

  • Circle valve on a pipe
    Criteria 1. Strengthen Canada’s autonomy, resilience and security


    A pipeline to the northwest coast will provide the opportunity to diversify and increase market access while strengthening Canada’s energy independence.

  • A piggybank with a coin
    Criteria 2. Provide economic or other benefits to Canada


    Previous estimates for a similar past project showed the potential for as much as $3.8 billion in total annual government revenues across Canada and 800,000 jobs over the lifetime of the project.

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    Criteria 3. Have a high likelihood of successful execution


    Alberta’s government is acting as proponent during early project planning to ensure there is government support. Experts from across the energy industry will be providing technical advice throughout the submission development process to ensure credible project delivery.

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    Criteria 4. Advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples


    Indigenous co-ownership, partnership and perspectives are critical to every stage of project development and execution. Indigenous communities in Alberta and British Columbia are being engaged from day one – starting at the onset of project design.

  • Two trees next to each other on a landscape
    Criteria 5. Contribute to clean growth and to Canada’s objectives with respect to climate change

    To reach net-zero by 2050, the Governments of Canada and Alberta will establish globally competitive carbon pricing and sector-specific stringency factors for major oil, gas and electricity emitters under Alberta’s TIER system by April 1, 2026.

Pathways carbon capture project

Building a pipeline to the northwest coast of British Columbia will go hand-in-hand with advancing the Pathways carbon capture project, an initiative designed to reduce Alberta’s heavy oil emissions intensity below the global average.

Learn more about the Pathways carbon capture project.

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