Sunrise Expansion Pipeline Certificate Approved

Summary#

An Order in Council directs the Commission of the Canadian Energy Regulator to issue a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity GC-135 to Westcoast Energy GP Inc. for the Sunrise Expansion Program. The project would add up to 300 MMcf/d of pipeline capacity by building 11 new pipeline loops totalling about 139 km, and is estimated to cost about $4 billion with an in‑service target of November 1, 2028.

What it does#

• Directs the Commission of the Canadian Energy Regulator (following the Canadian Energy Regulator Act) to issue the certificate for the Sunrise Expansion Program. The Commission recommended approval in its report of January 30, 2026, and the Governor in Council made the decision on April 22, 2026.
• Authorizes construction and operation of:
  • 11 pipeline loops totaling about 139 km, built beside the existing line.
  • New compressor units and related facilities.
  • Two overhead power lines (about 10 km total).
  • Decommissioning by removal of about 350 m of deactivated pipe.
• Approval is subject to 47 conditions set out by the Commission. Those conditions cover things like environmental protection, Indigenous participation and monitoring, species-at-risk measures, safety, and reporting.

Who's affected#

• Westcoast Energy GP Inc. (the project proponent; part of Enbridge) and its contractors.
• Woodfibre LNG, which has firm service contracts that help drive the need for more pipeline capacity.
• 73 Indigenous groups whose territories overlap the route; the government and regulator say consultation happened, but some groups raised outstanding concerns.
• People and businesses in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia and the U.S. Pacific Northwest who depend on natural gas for heating, industry, and exports.
• Local communities, workers, and suppliers who could see construction jobs and local economic activity.
• Environmental interests and species-at-risk protections (e.g., caribou and spotted owl are discussed in the regulator’s findings).

Why it matters#

• It increases gas transport capacity where regulators and the company say a shortfall is expected once LNG exports begin, which can affect supply reliability and prices for homes and businesses.
• The project promises economic benefits: the Commission estimated about $3.4 billion added to GDP and roughly 20,700 full‑time equivalent person‑years of employment during construction and related activity, with a peak construction workforce around 2,500.
• There are environmental and cultural trade-offs. The regulator found residual environmental and cumulative effects would remain, especially on wildlife, wetlands, and Indigenous rights, and so imposed 47 conditions and monitoring requirements to reduce those effects.
• Consultation and Indigenous concerns matter in practice: the record shows extensive engagement, but some Indigenous groups and one Commissioner expressed that further steps were needed. That means implementation, monitoring, and how conditions are applied will be important for whether impacts are actually avoided or fixed.