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ARTICLE · 26 MAY 2026

Canada And Alberta Advance Proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline Through Implementation Agreement

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
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The Agreement represents one of the clearest indications to date of how governments may seek to use the Building Canada Act (BCA) and the Major Projects Office (MPO) framework to coordinate and streamline nationally significant infrastructure projects

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Sander Duncanson
Sander Duncanson
Laura Scott
Laura Scott
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On May 15, 2026, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of Alberta announced an implementation agreement (Agreement) intended to advance certain commitments under the Canada-Alberta Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) announced in November 2025 and discussed in our December 5, 2025, Update, “Canada and Alberta sign MOU that rolls back risk in Canadian energy and commits to broad new energy accord,” including commitments relating to the proposed West Coast oil pipeline intended to transport Alberta bitumen to Asian markets (the West Coast Pipeline).

The Agreement represents one of the clearest indications to date of how governments may seek to use the Building Canada Act (BCA) and the Major Projects Office (MPO) framework to coordinate and streamline nationally significant infrastructure projects. In particular, the Agreement establishes several proposed milestones for advancement of the West Coast Pipeline, including:

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