Canada Fast-Tracks Pacific Link Oil Pipeline to Cut US Reliance

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Thursday that Ottawa will expedite approval for the Pacific Link pipeline, a proposed crude oil export route to Canada's west coast. The project, first announced in July, is projected to generate more than C$20 billion (US$14 billion) annually in GDP. Carney said the government would formally designate Pacific Link as a project of national interest, allowing it to move through a single federal regulatory review rather than multiple assessments. The approval process is targeted for completion by September 1, 2027. The pipeline forms a central element of Carney's strategy to diversify Canada's economy away from the United States and soften the impact of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters in Fort McMurray, the hub of Alberta's oil sands industry, Carney framed the project as part of a broader mission to double non-US exports within a decade and establish Canada as a global energy superpower. The new route could also position Canada as a major supplier to Asian markets, which are seeking alternatives to Middle Eastern oil following the Iran conflict.