The federal government has approved the $4 billion Sunrise Expansion Program in British Columbia, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson said Friday.
The Enbridge project is a 139-kilometre expansion of B.C.’s current natural gas pipeline network and will add up to 300 million cubic feet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity to the network, Hodgson said.
The expansion project will extend the pipeline, sending natural gas all the way down to the U.S. border and is estimated by the government to generate more than $700 million in federal and provincial tax revenue.
Enbridge’s Westcoast natural gas pipeline system stretches 2,900 kilometers (1,802 miles) from northeast British Columbia to the Canada-U.S. border, with a total current capacity of 3.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
“This project will enable us to heat more homes, businesses, hospitals and schools while bolstering British Columbian industry, including for LNG, and creating thousands of jobs,” Hodgson said.
“This is what being an energy superpower looks like.”
Construction on the project is set to begin this summer, the ministry said.
The pipeline is “good news” for the province’s economy, B.C. Premier David Eby said.
“Approval of the Sunrise natural gas expansion project is good news for British Columbian jobs. It will also strengthen B.C.’s role as an engine for a more independent Canadian economy – delivering affordable energy people rely on and powering growth in major industries,” Eby said.
Get breaking National news
The Sunrise Expansion Program is expected to contribute more than $3 billion to Canada’s economy and involve the hiring of about 2,500 workers from local communities and Indigenous groups during construction, Enbridge said.
The expansion will include constructing new pipeline segments along the existing system, additional natural gas compression capacity and upgrades and modifications to existing facilities.
Shares of the company rose 1.5 per cent on Friday morning.
“The multi-billion dollar Sunrise Expansion Program is a shovel-ready, critical natural gas infrastructure project that supports the advancement of Canada’s energy superpower ambitions,” Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel said Friday.
Construction on the expansion project is scheduled to begin in July 2026, with a targeted in-service date in late 2028.
In May 2025, Enbridge said it would sell a 12.5 per cent stake in the Westcoast pipeline to Stonlasec8 Indigenous Alliance for $715 million, the first deal to include financing from a new federal loan program aimed at helping Indigenous groups own parts of resource projects.
When asked by reporters if he had any reactions to the Liberal government approving the project, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said, “Finally! It took them forever.”
“This is an expansion of an existing project that took far too long for the Liberals to consider. Unfortunately, Mark Carney has kept in place all of Trudeau’s anti-development laws. We need an oil pipeline to the Pacific, for example,” he said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November 2025, laying the groundwork for a new pipeline.
The flagship proposal in the MOU is a bitumen pipeline from Alberta to Canada’s West Coast that would carry an additional 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day destined for Asian markets.
The pipeline project “has no permit, no path, no investor, no builder, no start point, no end point, no starting date, no ending date,” Poilievre said.
While the environmental advocacy group Environment Defense said the pipeline project would prove “disastrous” for Canada’s climate commitments.
“The federal government’s approval of the Enbridge Sunrise pipeline expansion is a disastrous climate decision that prioritizes fossil fuel industry growth over Canada’s climate commitments,” said Alex Walker, program manager at Environmental Defence.
“Natural gas emissions were the largest contributor to rising global emissions in 2025. This decision from the federal government will lock in decades of new gas infrastructure and emissions, explicitly designed to feed BC’s LNG export industry, another climate disaster,” they added.
Meanwhile, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce welcomed the expansion project.
“At a time when global demand for reliable energy is rising and the energy supply chain is currently under strain, decisions like this send a strong signal that Canada is ready to move forward, supporting responsible development, attracting investment, and reinforcing our position as a dependable energy partner,” said Bryan Detchou, senior director of natural resources, environment and sustainability at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
— with files from Reuters
“Anonymous”
In response to your comment below,
“But, but, but Justin told us there was no business case for expanding natural gas infrastructure in Canada!
It couldn’t be that he was just a phucking moron, could it?”
Yes, that’s exactly what it was.
But instead of “was” let’s go with “is”.
Aboriginal groups are ok with this? I guess so since they’ll own it. Brownie hypocrisy.
Way to go Feds!
Awesome news for Alberta and BC! Thank you PM Carney
But, but, but Justin told us there was no business case for expanding natural gas infrastructure in Canada!
It couldn’t be that he was just a phucking moron, could it?
Hey Global! Im sure there has been other news!! UPDATE YOUR FREAKING SITE!!
This mindset is killing Canada.
Stop shipping resources north-south. Build east-west.
Forget short-term contracts with a hostile neighbour. Invest in industrial capacity. Manitoba and others are desperate for development.
We need refineries, nuclear, and heavy east-west rail, not sellout deals. That’s food for today, famine tomorrow.
“Pete”
Saudi oil only accounts for approx 10% of Canadian oil imports and they pipe it to the Red Sea ports,then run through the Suez Canal, so Eastern Canada is not affected by the blockage in the Strait of Hormuz.
They only blockage that affects us is the Canadian Government itself (typical) in refusal to build pipeline from Western Canada to the East.
Vote Liberal for “Hands Up,Wallets Out”
Ol’ Carney is showing his Trump like qualities. Flip flop in a span of hours on serious issues. One day its this, the next its that. How about BUILD CANADA YOU FREAKING FASCIST!
i wonder how things are going to go in eastern canada now that the saudi oil tankers are not coming for a while . cant say i will feel sorry fir them considering they hate oil. gooo carney lol
try this thanks fur the explanation.
So why did Carney support the blocking of Canadian natural resources/pipeline projects when he was Trudeau’s advisor from 2020 – 2025.
@Anonymouse – have the requirements for the FU-AB pipeline been met? Does FU-AB have private financing? How about full consent of the Indigenous groups? Appropriate Regulations? No? Huh, can’t imagine why Marlaina signed on with the requirements! FU-AB
Hey, Carney, how about a pipeline to Canada’s east coast’s Maritime provinces? Now enough votes here for you?
Carney actually doing something, or is this another lie?
Between the environmentalists and the FNs, never gonna get built, and Carney knows it.
But make a big announcement to make it look like you’re doing something to keep the elbows up voters happy.
The unanswered question is, of course, whether this 300 MCF of LNG be sold at the traditional heavily discounted rates. This continued subsidization of the Anerican economy, along with our plunging dollar, has to stop.
As an MP under Trudeau, I supporting the blocking of Natural Resource projects because of a “climate emergency “. Now that Carney is the PM, there is no more emergency and I support Natural Resources projects fully. Please mind my hypocrisy.
missing a detail route map .
Remember ___ Trump slurps Canada Dry __ Thru a plastic straw .
Remember ___ Trump sucks Canada Dry — thu a plastic straw .
Well done
It astounds me that some commenters here cannot fathom the concept as what the USA means to us regarding trade. You all talk tough, but if we were to cut all trade with them the consequences would be astronomical. We dont even have the infastructure in place to offer other countries our resources and on top of that, we are just getting over the previous regimes idea that “there is no buisness case for our gas”. If we had only had said yes back then, we could be halfway completed on these pipelines, and for all of you “sell to others” criers, you would be rubbing your hands in glee. Wouldnt that be better than rubbing them to stay warm?.
Who’s paying for it, who get’s paid for it. Does BC get anything out of this? Financially speaking, not oil spill speaking.
Flip flop Carney. Two years ago he was crying up a so called “climate emergency “ and blocked Canadian Oil Gas development now he wants to do a complete 180. What a total poseur.
Wasnt it like 3 days ago skidmark said we are cutting all ties with the US?
Wow
Carney goes from Elbows Up to Bootlicking on a daily basis. He has no idea what he is doing. Total amateur hour
Our trade with the US and Mexico is the most efficient that Canada will ever get because Canada, Mexico and the USA are all on the same landmass making shipping goods much more efficient than if we trade with overseas countries, where costs of shipping balloon because just about all of it has to be sent by slow ships whereas our trade with our North American partners is more easily sent by rail and truck, making it faster and more economical to ship to them. Thereby saving money creating more income for our country. It isn’t rocket science however there are many who want to kill the golden goose in order to thumb their noses at Trump, who will be gone in 3 years, but the terrible mistake to cut out our North American trade will be with us forever.
Carney got elected PM with all the big talk about how he will fight Trump all the way about tariffs, bought MPs to get a majority government and now he is showing his true colours and doing exactly what he wants and is willing to betray and lie to the Canadian voters to do.
Canada is far from being an Energy Superpower. More fantasies by Mark Elbows Up Carney
Those who oppose sending our resources to the USA should stop for a moment and consider this; Out of every $100 we earn as a country $75 of that comes from our trade with the USA, only $25 comes in from ALL other countries with which we trade.
Now … Who is prepared to throw away $75 of every $100 that they earn … Are you !!! Simply because someone you dislike is temporarily in charge in the USA. Only a fool would even contemplate such a thing.
Great for BC but a huge f-you to AB.
What happened to the MoU promises, eh skidMark?
I am dumbfounded as to why we are sending our resources to the U.S.! Please, please explain to me how this is not countering the statements of the Prime Minister regarding the establishment of trade with other countries, EXCEPT the U.S.
Are we so weak as to comply with the development of the U.S. adminitration’s war effort?
Are we soft and so insecure that we will bow down an d comply and accept the threats?
We will need to buckle up folks, for if you don’t step up, tighten your own belts, re-adjust and adapt to the adjustment period, and continue to accept our compliance with the U.S. ; We will be next on the U.S. hit list!
Totally disgusted over here! I was all for Carney, but this has me at a pause.
TAKE THAT, DICTATORIAL AFN!! NO CONSULTATION FOR YOU!!
But governments leave disabled Canadians in legislated poverty.
I hate Canada’s corrupt governments.
Why don’t we give billionaires associated to Blackrock tax cuts, along with the luxury tax cuts and capital gains tax cuts?
We can give Teck Resources cuts as well while the City of Trail raises taxes on citizens who can’t afford groceries… while making usless codes of conducts that still permits stealing from citizens.
A big joke.
I thought there was a “climate emergency “ with the Liberals the last decade. So what now?
Every minister that opposed fossil fuel expansion and now supports it should be fired. The hypocrisy is simply astounding. However, build baby build.
Better make sure you pay out the gimmie gimmie its mine folks.
Yo, “@try this”, why don’t you try this actual fact. The Woodfibre plant project is NOT making LNG out of wood pulp. It will be a recycled pulp mill site to terminal site. As for our “feathered friends” owning everything. Well they believe they do, so according to UNDRIPA, this must be true. Lol
Same Liberals that supported Trudeau and blocked pipeline projects now support the same projects under Carney. Hypocrisy at its finest.
So where are all the anti pipeline idiots this time.
What a pack of hypocritical twits.
Carney is a net zero. A year later and still no trade deal that he promised back in July 2025.
@Normal Canadian.
Only Libs and lefty progressives go to Earth conferences. Lol
Conservatives…stick to what you know…flat earth conferences, freedom convoys and ostrich protests…leave the rest up to the real world.Thanks much.
P.S. FYI…oil pipelines aren’t a cure for cancer
@Duke. It is lefty progressives and FN that block pipeline projects
Where is the oil pipeline? That is very critical and needs to be approved.
Traitor rightnuts will make up lies again why is bad for “us” Canadians. Broken record.
Pete: Woodfibre LNG is a project being built near Squamish BC. The Squamish tribe are being given part ownership in a Liberal kickback plan. It will produce LNG, from wood pulp. That is part of the plan… to hook this new plant into the pipeline, so that the LNG can be used/exported.
Notice it says ‘net 0’ meaning by producing LNG from wood, it is not releasing any old CO2 into the air, it is just releaseing newer stored CO2 into the air. – not a real 0 emissions project at all.
They are spending 625 Million this year on the project, Squamish is getting a major kickback, and is given control, even though they have not signed a treaty yet.
Eby and his Masters,the FN, will drive the project into an over budgeted ,delayed disaster of bureaucratic red tape,wrought with pandering and bribery to inch the construction forward to a completion of failure and burden to the taxpayers.
It’s what the do best
What a twisted piece. 139km will not get you from Chetwynd to Vancouver. – that is the route the natural gas will take.
In fact it does not add any length to the line. It puts in ‘loops’ paralleling existing line, and compressor stations, to provide more volume.
No mention here on the amount of money spent on kickbacks to natives for their ‘permission’ to build on Crown lands.
This is not a new pipeline. Carney did not eliminate the Native graft.
Report the actual news.
Talk about the federal governments fraud over the $200 million “spaceport”.
Or is it because you’re paid off by the federal government not to criticize them?
The day will come where the media is brought to task for their bias.
how is it net zero? either way its good for bc. probably be given to the fns but still goid jobs to build it. wunder what the time line is. the oil pipeline from alberta is 29 if im not mistaken. never stated in the article.still want alberta to leave gooo carney