Ottawa faces deadline on whether to fast-track new West Coast pipeline

Thursday marks a critical milestone in the proposal to construct a new bitumen pipeline from Alberta to Canada's West Coast.

Ottawa-Alberta deal set Oct. 1 deadline on whether to deem project in national interest

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Fort McMurray, Alta., is preparing for an economic boom as the federal government is expected to designate a new West Coast oil pipeline under the Building Canada Act, which would fast-track project's approval.

Thursday marks a critical milestone for a proposal to construct a new bitumen pipeline from Alberta to Canada's West Coast.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to join Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Fort McMurray at 9 a.m. MDT to " announce the next step to accelerate a major infrastructure project."

A May agreement between the federal and Alberta governments set an Oct. 1 deadline to decide whether to designate the pipeline a project in the national interest under Bill C-5, the Building Canada Act — a status that could make it the first project to have its federal approvals and regulatory reviews accelerated under the new law.

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