Top Stories· August 18, 2026 at 11:26 a.m.
Canada's Current and Proposed Oil Pipeline Landscape
Key takeaways
- Canada has several operational oil pipelines
- Proposed pipelines aim to expand export capacity
- Environmental concerns pose challenges for proposed pipelines
Canada is home to several operational and proposed oil pipelines, playing a significant role in the country's energy infrastructure. These pipelines facilitate the transportation of crude oil and petroleum products across the nation.
The current operational pipelines include Enbridge's Line 3, Line 5, and Line 9; Trans Mountain pipeline; and Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain Expansion project. These pipelines connect various oil production regions with export terminals on the West Coast.
Proposed pipelines include the Energy East pipeline, Northern Gateway pipeline, and Keystone XL pipeline. The Energy East pipeline was cancelled in 2017, while the fate of the other two remains uncertain due to ongoing environmental and regulatory challenges.
The proposed pipelines aim to expand Canada's oil export capacity, particularly to international markets. However, their construction faces opposition from environmental groups concerned about potential environmental risks and the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.