Woodlands County council is throwing it’s support behind the proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline (WCOP) project.
On May 21, 2026, during its regular meeting, Karim Zariffa, Managing Director of Sustrio, and Chris O’Neil of Sustrio, presented the proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline (WCOP) project to council, on behalf of the Alberta government. The province is acting as the proponent at this time to assess the project and make a submission to the federal government to be considered a nation-building project under the new federal legislation.
Following that presentation, council expressed its support for the WCOP project and directed administration to prepare a letter of support and to invite adjacent municipalities to endorse the initiative by signing on to the letter.
Alberta’s government is expected to submit a proposal for the project to the Major Projects Office by July 1, 2026, so it can be designated as a project of national interest by October 1, 2026. The intent is to obtain the permissions necessary so design and construction of the pipeline may commence as early as Sept. 1, 2027.
According to the province, the government is preparing a submission for what it calls a world-class Indigenous co-owned pipeline to the west coast of British Columbia to strengthen Canada’s energy independence, increase global competitiveness and drive prosperity.
Provincial officials say demand for oil and gas will remain strong for decades, especially in Asia. With one of the largest and most secure energy reserves in the world, the government says Alberta is ready to deliver reliable, responsibly produced energy for years to come.
The province further notes that Indigenous leadership and stewardship are central to this project, shaping its direction and ensuring lasting benefits for communities.
In addition, the government says building a pipeline to the west coast of British Columbia will go hand-in-hand with advancing the Pathways carbon capture project, an initiative designed to reduce Alberta’s heavy oil emissions intensity below the global average.
The presentation can be viewed on Woodlands County’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@Woodlands-County.
