Continued Regulatory Reform: Canada’s First Project Of National Interest And Bill C-39

On October 1, 2026, the Government of Canada designated the new West Coast Oil Pipeline, known as the Pacific Link Pipeline, as a project of national interest. The designation coincides with a broader suite of proposed amendments to federal environmental assessment and project approval legislation intended to accelerate and better coordinate approvals for new projects. As part of these reforms, on September 21, 2026, the Government introduced Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act (the Bill). The Government has presented the Bill as a measure designed to facilitate investment in projects that support employment and economic growth, improve the safe and efficient movement of goods across Canada, maintain environmental protections, and uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples.