October 2, 2026 Burnaby, British Columbia Natural Resources Canada
Today, the Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, toured the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby to highlight the safety, environmental and marine protection, and operational excellence that have made the facility a critical gateway for Canadian energy exports to global markets. For 70 years, but especially following recent modernization, Westridge has served as a best-in-class example of Canada's rigorous approach to building energy infrastructure that pairs economic growth with environmental protection and public safety.
The visit comes one day after Prime Minister Carney announced the listing of the Pacific Link pipeline as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act. Pacific Link will reduce our dependence on the United States by allowing Canada to export an additional one million barrels a day from a new marine terminal in Delta, B.C., to growing markets in Asia. The project will create up to 140,000 jobs across the country and generate over $20 billion in GDP per year and $100 billion in government revenue by 2060 - revenue that will help build the infrastructure and homes British Columbians and all Canadians need and protect the social programs they rely on, from health care to child care.
The tour underscored that Pacific Link is not a hypothetical concept. Seventy to ninety percent of the proposed project would leverage the existing Trans Mountain corridor. With Trans Mountain Corporation (TMC) as the lead developer, the project will benefit from TMC's extensive, decades-long operational knowledge of the existing and proposed corridor, delivery, receipt and receipt terminals, and construction.
The Westridge Marine Terminal in Burrard Inlet connects the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP), completed in 2024, to tanker vessels for export. The newly expanded Terminal comprises three new vessel loading berths and significantly increases the oil export capacity from the Westridge terminal - transforming Westridge into a modern export facility capable of connecting Canadian energy producers with new markets across the Asia-Pacific region while maintaining rigorous environmental and safety standards. Before the TMEP, Westridge received approximately five vessels per month. Now, it can receive 34 per month. An 85-person team that includes supervisory staff, technicians, marine professionals, emergency response personnel and others operates the Burnaby and Westridge Terminals on a 24/7 basis. Throughout the tour, Minister McKnight received updates on the measures that support safe operations at Westridge. For example, Minister McKnight heard about consultation, mitigation and safety measures such as:
- The expansion of the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation from approximately 60 to nearly 200 people to support a world-class response regime
- Trans Mountain's Marine Mammal Protection Program, which implemented 32 mitigation and monitoring measures to reduce impacts on whales and other marine mammals
- A rock reef complex designed to create refuges for smaller fish and surface area for algae to grow
- Consultation with Indigenous Peoples, leading to one of the largest archaeological projects in Canada that identified 80,000 artifacts relevant to First Nations' history
- 69 Mutual Benefit Agreements worth over $650 million, signed with 81 Indigenous groups, to access economic opportunities associated with the TMEP
As Canada looks ahead to the development of Pacific Link, Westridge stands as a concrete example of how major nation-building infrastructure can be delivered in a way that respects local and Indigenous communities, protects local environments and creates long-term economic opportunities for Canada.
The lessons learned through the planning, construction and operation of the TMEP provide a strong foundation for future energy infrastructure. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that future infrastructure development is grounded in proven practices and real-world experience. By building on existing corridors, leveraging established expertise and maintaining high standards for environmental stewardship and Indigenous consultation, Pacific Link will strengthen Canada's economic and energy security while supporting responsible resource development and bringing prosperity to local communities.
