As the West Coast oil pipeline proposal continues to progress, the federal government is reportedly favouring a southern British Columbia route that may face fewer environmental and Indigenous-related concerns.
Partner Jeremy Barretto told The Globe and Mail that “there will likely be flexibility with the route and marine terminals in the application so it can be informed by feedback from the First Nations that would be affected.”
He noted that the process is ambitious: there is a tight 14-month timeline from filing to an approval decision. While this may be a demanding undertaking, a timely decision would respond to growing trade pressures and the demand for energy around the world.
“The government’s success will be determined in large part based on the success of consultation with Indigenous communities on the route, and if there’s a route that can get support from a meaningful number of those communities,” Jeremy said.
You can read more about our Oil and Gas work on our practice page.