The federal government is attempting to designate the proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline (WCOP) as a “project of national interest” under the new Building Canada Act. The proposed pipeline — developed through a political agreement between the Alberta and federal governments — would carry up to one million barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the BC coast. The government says it will make that decision by Oct. 1.

But saying something is in the “national interest” does not make it so. So far, neither the Alberta nor federal governments have offered evidence to justify massive public expenditure on a project whose economic rationale remains murky at best. Before Ottawa puts its full weight behind the project, Canadians deserve answers to some basic questions. 

The Building Canada Act identifies five considerations for projects to qualify as being of national interest: strengthening Canada’s autonomy, resilience and security; providing economic benefits; having a high likelihood of successful execution; advancing Indigenous interests; and contributing to clean growth and Canada’s climate objectives.

 As I recently argued to the Major Projects Office, the pipeline proposal raises serious concerns with respect to all five considerations.

 Let’s start with the economic case. 

The project was described in the 2025 Canada-Alberta agreement as something to be constructed and financed by the private sector. But when Alberta submitted its proposal to the Major Projects Office in July, Canada and Alberta instead agreed to become equal partners, with Trans Mountain Corporation and the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission holding the project and Pembina Pipeline taking a small private-sector stake. The absence of a........

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