Comments on the West Coast Oil Pipeline’s Proposed National Interest Designation

This is Environmental Defence Canada's submission to the federal Major Projects Office (MPO) public comment period on the West Coast Oil Pipeline. The MPO has the power to designate the pipeline as a "project of national interest", which would fast-track the project and allow it to avoid environmental assessment and species protection laws. The MPO requested feedback on how the pipeline project would align with five nation-building criteria set out by the Canadian government, though it does not have to consider this feedback or demonstrate these criteria have been met when approving a project.

This submission demonstrates that the West Coast Oil Pipeline does not align with any of the five nation-building criteria. Environmental Defence Canada opposes the West Coast Oil Pipeline and its proposed designation as a so-called ‘Project of National Interest’ under the Building Canada Act.