Canada is at a crucial juncture in our nation’s history as we look to redefine our economic future, and nowhere is this more evident than in public discussions surrounding new pipelines. Our elected leaders across the country say they are behind new nation-building projects as a response to an increasingly challenging trade relationship with the U.S., which buys more than 90 per cent of our oil exports.
So then, what are we waiting for?
When it comes to a new oil pipeline through British Columbia — one that would help diversify our trading partners, maximize the value of our resources, and secure our economic independence from the U.S. – we truly need a “Team Canada” approach.
Oil is a major cornerstone of Canada’s economy, and building more capacity to tidewater for export to energy-hungry Asian markets would undoubtedly be a huge win for Canadians. We need not look any further than the recently completed Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) for proof of the massive economic benefits that come with such major infrastructure projects.
TMX offers a clear blueprint of what awaits Canadians. This landmark project, which spans from Edmonton, Alberta, to Burnaby, B.C., has already yielded tangible results, demonstrating how new infrastructure pipeline projects can drive prosperity for generations to come.
Since TMX began operating in May 2024, Canadian oil producers saw an $8 USD per barrel reduction in the oil price differential, amounting to $10 billion CAD in additional revenue last year alone. By providing additional capacity to international markets, TMX has enabled Canadians to command more competitive prices for our energy resources. This translates to increased tax revenues paid to governments by producers, which in turn support our social programs, public jobs, and new infrastructure such as roads and hospitals. To date, several countries have purchased oil shipped on the TMX, including China, India, Japan, Brunei, and South Korea, among others – a significant win for Canadian export market diversification.
However, the real benefit of new pipeline projects is the immense positive economic impact they have on our communities. The figures tell an incredible story.
Between 2018 and 2023, more than 16,000 B.C. residents worked on TMX. Over the same period, its benefits included $52.8 billion in total economic activity during construction, $11 billion in wages, $2.9 billion in tax revenues, and the creation of over 67,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs. Looking to the future, TMX’s numbers are equally encouraging, with $17.3 billion in economic activity, $3.7 billion in wages, $2.8 billion in new tax revenues, and 36,066 FTE jobs over the next 20 years. Indigenous communities along the pipeline route benefitted immensely, with over $6 billion in spending by the project on procurement from Indigenous-owned businesses since 2016 [1].
These aren’t just numbers, but tangible economic impacts felt throughout urban and rural communities across British Columbia and Canada. For families, these numbers represent food on the table, mortgage payments, a new car, or perhaps a much-deserved holiday. For governments, they represent the ability to continue upping spending on healthcare, education, and critical infrastructure such as highways and trains that support our way of life.
TMX’s benefits don’t stop there. The project has committed $1 billion for the B.C. Clean Communities Program over 20 years, and $150 million for marine safety initiatives, creating over 100 jobs in related services.
The list goes on, and on. And it's safe to say a new oil pipeline to the West Coast wouldn’t be any different.
The B.C. government has demonstrated that it recognizes the value of diversifying trading partners and maximizing the value of its resources. B.C. Premier David Eby has specifically spoken about his willingness to “cross the bridge when we get there” on a new oil pipeline project. But it may be worth noting we’re already on that bridge. Sending mixed signals to investors now risks leaving significant economic opportunities on the table, at a time when global demand for oil and gas remains at an all-time high.
At the same time, Canadians understand that we cannot afford to miss out on economy-boosting resource development any longer. A recent poll by Yorkville Strategies found that 82% of Canadians supported a new Northern Gateway pipeline.
With precedent from projects like TMX, it’s time for Canada to realize that we don’t have to choose between one nation-building project or another; we can support all that's brought to the table for a more unified and economically secure country. A new oil pipeline would not only bring immediate benefits but also lay the foundation for long-term prosperity, creating jobs, public revenues, and equipping our communities to thrive, especially across British Columbia.
By embracing major infrastructure projects like oil pipelines, B.C. has the opportunity to lead in Canada’s nation-building efforts. These are not partisan ambitions, but practical solutions to keep our provincial and national economies competitive, productive, and robust.
If B.C’s benefit from TMX teaches us anything, it’s this: saying “yes” to infrastructure is saying “yes” to growth, opportunity, and resilience. It’s saying “yes” to Team Canada.
Let’s ensure that pipelines are part of the solution for a stronger, more prosperous British Columbia and Canada as a whole.
As long as the world needs oil and gas, it should be Canadian. pic.twitter.com/LvyvCVHlDj
— Oil Sands Action (@OilsandsAction) June 12, 2025