Pipelines in Canada

Pipeline construction shown in Alberta

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.[1] 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.[2] 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 Mexico and the 2026 Alberta independence referendum.[3][4]

Regulation and ownership

Regulation

The Canadian federal government regulates around 10% (by length) of pipelines through the Canada Energy Regulator.[5] 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 Canada
Province Ministry Regulator
Alberta Ministry of Energy (Alberta) Alberta Energy Regulator[6]
Ontario Ministry of Energy (Ontario) Ontario Energy Board[6]
British Columbia Ministry of Energy (British Columbia) British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission[6]
Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy (Saskatchewan) Ministry of Energy (Saskatchewan) [6]
Manitoba Directly supervised by Manitoba Legislature Manitoba Public Utilities Board[6]
New Brunswick Ministry of Natural Resources (New Brunswick) New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board[6]
Quebec Multiple Régie 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 Excavation[6]

Newfoundland and Labrador N/A None (no pipelines are present in Newfoundland and Labrador)[7]
Prince Edward Island N/A None (no pipelines are present in PEI)[8]
Nova Scotia Ministry of Finance (Nova Scotia) Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board[6]

Rejected and abandoned pipelines

Proposed pipelines in Canada
Owner(s) Name Terminal Terminal Map Status
TC Energy, ExxonMobil Alaska gas pipeline Alaska North Slope Calgary, Alberta Rejected
Enbridge Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Bruderheim, Alberta Kitimat, British Columbia Rejected
Imperial Oil, The Aboriginal Pipeline Group, ConocoPhillips, Shell Canada, ExxonMobil Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Mackenzie Valley Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories Abandoned
TC Energy Energy East Hardisty, Alberta Saint John, New Brunswick Rejected[9]
TC Energy Keystone XL Hardisty, Alberta Patoka, Illinois, Port Arthur, Texas, Houston Abandoned[10][11]

Proposed pipelines

Proposed pipelines in Canada
Owner(s) Name Terminal Terminal Map Status Status

(as of date)

35 First Nations groups Eagle Spirit Pipeline Northern Alberta Prince George, British Columbia Applied for
Enbridge Enbridge Line 3 Hardisty, Alberta Superior, Wisconsin Applied for
NW Infrastructure Limited Partnership Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Fort St. John, British Columbia Prince Rupert, British Columbia Approved by regulator - Awaiting final investment decision
South Bow Prairie Connector Hardisty, Alberta Phillips County, Montana Applied for
Proponent not yet selected Northern Shield Energy Corridor Hardisty, Alberta Sarnia, Ontario Feasibility study underway
Trans Mountain Corporation and Pembina Pipeline Corporation West Coast Pipeline Bruderheim, Alberta Roberts Bank, British Columbia Announced

Operating pipelines

Pipelines in Canada
Owner(s) Name Substance Terminal Terminal Map
Pembina Alliance Pipeline Natural gas
Emera Brunswick Pipeline Natural gas Saint John, New Brunswick Woodland, Maine
TC Energy Gas Transmission Northwest Natural gas Kingsgate, British Columbia Malin, Oregon
TC Energy Great Lakes Transmission Natural gas
TC Energy, Dominion Resources, KeySpan Corporation, New Jersey Resources Corporation, Energy East Corporation Iroquois Pipeline Natural gas
Enbridge, Emera, ExxonMobil Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Natural gas Goldboro, Nova Scotia Dracut, Massachusetts
TC Energy, ONEOK Partners Northern Border Pipeline Natural gas
Williams Companies Northwest Pipeline Natural gas
TC Energy TransCanada pipeline Natural gas
Emera Brunswick Pipeline Natural gas Saint John, New Brunswick Woodland, Maine
SaskEnergy TransGas pipeline Natural gas
Enbridge, DTE Energy Company Vector Pipeline Natural gas
Portland Pipe Line Corporation (in the United States)

Montreal Pipe Line Limited (in Canada)

 Montreal—Portland pipeline Oil South Portland, Maine Montreal, Quebec
Enbridge Canadian Mainline (Line 1, Line 2 A, Line 3, Line 4, Line 65, and Line 67)[12] Oil Edmonton, Alberta Gretna, Manitoba
Enbridge US 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)[12] Oil Gretna, Manitoba Sarnia, Ontario and Flanagan, Illinois
Enbridge Line 13 (Southern Lights pipeline) Oil
Enbridge Line 72 (AOC Hanging Stone) Oil
Trans Mountain Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canada Development Investment Corporation Trans Mountain pipeline Oil and refined petroleum liquids Edmonton, Alberta Burnaby, British Columbia
TC Energy Coastal GasLink Pipeline Natural gas Dawson Creek, British Columbia Kitimat, British Columbia

References

  1. ↑ "Pipeline debate: Canada's oil industry looks to Asia as electric vehicles reshape demand". CBC News. CBC News. 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  2. ↑ "Pipelines Across Canada". Government of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. 2025. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  3. ↑ "Pipeline". The Canadian Encyclopedia. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  4. ↑ "CBC Player Video 9.7230437". CBC Player. CBC. 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  5. ↑ "Canadian Pipelines Maps & Facts". Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Pipeline Safety Regimes in Canada". Canadian Energy Regulator.
  7. ↑ "Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles – Newfoundland and Labrador". Canadian Energy Regulator.
  8. ↑ "Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles – Prince Edward Island". Canadian Energy Regulator.
  9. ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/transcanada-won-t-proceed-with-energy-east-pipeline-1.4338227?cmp=rss, CBC News (October 5, 2017).
  10. ↑ Puko, Timothy (2021-06-09). "Keystone XL Oil Project Abandoned by Developer". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  11. ↑ Brown, Matthew (2021-06-09). "Keystone XL pipeline nixed after Biden stands firm on permit". AP News. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  12. 1 2 "Enbridge Mainline System" (PDF). Enbridge.
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