Pipelines in Canada are important components of energy infrastructure in Canada as the majority of natural gas and oil reserves are located in landlocked Alberta and need to be transported to ports or terminals to access larger markets.
Background Early pipelines were built in Ontario during the 1850s to transport crude oil from nearby wells. However, Canada's modern pipeline system began following the discovery of Leduc No. 1 in Alberta in 1947. Since then, Alberta's economy has been energy reliant, with oil and natural gas production expanded after major pipelines were constructed in the 1950s to connect Western Canadian energy resources with domestic and international markets. The majority of Canada's natural gas production is exported to the United States. In the 21st century, pipelines in Canada became politicized, especially during the premiership of Justin Trudeau, whose government's environmental policies proved unpopular in Alberta. While some pipeline projects were cancelled because of environmental concerns, legal challenges, market conditions, and Indigenous rights issues, the Trans Mountain Expansion was completed in 2024 after the federal government purchased the project in 2018. Pipelines remain a vital part of Canada's economic development, while environmental protection and Indigenous consultation have received increased importance. During the premiership of Mark Carney, the construction of oil pipelines has been given increased importance due to the need for energy independence due to the 2025–2026 United States trade war with Canada and the 2026 Alberta independence referendum.
Regulation and ownership
Regulation The Canadian federal government regulates around 10% (by length) of pipelines through the Canada Energy Regulator. The Regulator has precedence over provincial regulation when pipelines cross provincial or international boundaries.
Provincially each provinces has its own regulator listed below: +Provincial Pipeline Regulators in CanadaProvinceMinistryRegulatorAlbertaMinistry of Energy (Alberta)Alberta Energy RegulatorOntarioMinistry of Energy (Ontario)Ontario Energy BoardBritish ColumbiaMinistry of Energy (British Columbia)British Columbia Oil and Gas CommissionSaskatchewanMinistry of Energy (Saskatchewan)Ministry of Energy (Saskatchewan) ManitobaDirectly supervised by Manitoba LegislatureManitoba Public Utilities BoardNew BrunswickMinistry of Natural Resources (New Brunswick)New Brunswick Energy and Utilities BoardQuebecMultipleRégie de l’énergie du Québec Régie du bâtiment du Québec
Ministère de la Sécurité publique
Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques
Ministère de la Justice
Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs
Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail
Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Québec
Sûreté du Québec
Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement
Info ExcavationNewfoundland and LabradorN/ANone (no pipelines are present in Newfoundland and Labrador)Prince Edward IslandN/ANone (no pipelines are present in PEI)Nova ScotiaMinistry of Finance (Nova Scotia)Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board
Rejected and abandoned pipelines +Proposed pipelines in CanadaOwner(s)Name Terminal Terminal Map StatusTC Energy, ExxonMobilAlaska gas pipelineAlaska North SlopeCalgary, Alberta RejectedEnbridgeEnbridge Northern Gateway PipelinesBruderheim, AlbertaKitimat, British Columbia RejectedImperial Oil, The Aboriginal Pipeline Group, ConocoPhillips, Shell Canada, ExxonMobilMackenzie Valley PipelineMackenzie ValleyFort Simpson, Northwest Territories AbandonedTC EnergyEnergy EastHardisty, AlbertaSaint John, New Brunswick Rejectedhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/business/transcanada-won-t-proceed-with-energy-east-pipeline-1.4338227?cmp=rss, CBC News (October 5, 2017).TC EnergyKeystone XLHardisty, AlbertaPatoka, Illinois, Port Arthur, Texas, Houston Abandoned
Proposed pipelines +Proposed pipelines in CanadaOwner(s)Name Terminal Terminal Map Status Status (as of date) 35 First Nations groupsEagle Spirit PipelineNorthern AlbertaPrince George, British Columbia Applied forEnbridgeEnbridge Line 3Hardisty, AlbertaSuperior, Wisconsin Applied forNW Infrastructure Limited PartnershipPrince Rupert Gas TransmissionFort St. John, British ColumbiaPrince Rupert, British Columbia Approved by regulator - Awaiting final investment decisionSouth BowPrairie ConnectorHardisty, AlbertaPhillips County, Montana Applied forProponent not yet selectedNorthern Shield Energy CorridorHardisty, AlbertaSarnia, Ontario Feasibility study underwayAlberta Petroleum Marketing Commission, Trans Mountain Corporation, Pembina Pipeline CorporationPacific LinkBruderheim, AlbertaRoberts Bank, British Columbia Announced
Operating pipelines
+Pipelines in CanadaOwner(s)NameSubstanceTerminalTerminalMapPembinaAlliance PipelineNatural gasEmeraBrunswick PipelineNatural gasSaint John, New BrunswickWoodland, MaineTC EnergyGas Transmission NorthwestNatural gasKingsgate, British ColumbiaMalin, OregonTC EnergyGreat Lakes TransmissionNatural gasTC Energy, Dominion Resources, KeySpan Corporation, New Jersey Resources Corporation, Energy East CorporationIroquois PipelineNatural gasEnbridge, Emera, ExxonMobilMaritimes & Northeast PipelineNatural gasGoldboro, Nova ScotiaDracut, MassachusettsTC Energy, ONEOK PartnersNorthern Border PipelineNatural gasWilliams CompaniesNorthwest PipelineNatural gasTC EnergyTransCanada pipelineNatural gasEmeraBrunswick PipelineNatural gasSaint John, New BrunswickWoodland, MaineSaskEnergyTransGas pipelineNatural gasEnbridge, DTE Energy CompanyVector PipelineNatural gasPortland Pipe Line Corporation (in the United States) Montreal Pipe Line Limited (in Canada)Montreal—Portland pipelineOilSouth Portland, MaineMontreal, QuebecEnbridgeCanadian Mainline (Line 1, Line 2 A, Line 3, Line 4, Line 65, and Line 67)OilEdmonton, AlbertaGretna, ManitobaEnbridgeUS Mainline (Line 1, Line 2 B, Line 3, Line 4, Line 5, Line 6, Line 14, Line 61, Line 62, Line 64, Line 67, Line 78)OilGretna, ManitobaSarnia, Ontario and Flanagan, IllinoisEnbridgeLine 13 (Southern Lights pipeline)OilEnbridgeLine 72 (AOC Hanging Stone)OilTrans Mountain Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canada Development Investment CorporationTrans Mountain pipelineOil and refined petroleum liquidsEdmonton, AlbertaBurnaby, British ColumbiaTC EnergyCoastal GasLink PipelineNatural gasDawson Creek, British ColumbiaKitimat, British Columbia
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References