Alberta’s proposed West Coast pipeline faces a high-stakes economic test

Alberta submitted a proposed southern route for a new West Coast oil pipeline to the federal Major Projects Office on July 2, and Canada has begun the process to consider listing it as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act. Such a designation would accelerate federal consideration but would not itself authorize construction. Before a decision is made, the Major Projects Office will consult potentially affected Indigenous communities. The federal government plans to give…