Politics · Canada · 2 days ago
Cold Lake First Nations challenges Pacific Link pipeline designation in court
Cold Lake First Nations in Alberta has asked the Federal Court to review Ottawa’s decision to designate the planned Pacific Link oil pipeline a project in the national interest.
The pipeline would carry oil from Bruderheim, Alberta, to Roberts Bank, British Columbia, and the federal designation gives it an accelerated route through approvals.
The First Nation says Ottawa moved ahead without meaningful consultation, despite its requests to discuss the project and the related Pathways carbon capture plan.
Pathways would transport captured carbon from oil-sands facilities to an underground storage hub near Cold Lake.
The community says it is concerned about environmental and safety risks, the effects of further oil-sands development on its treaty rights, and what may be stored beneath its land.
The federal government says Pacific Link and Pathways are separate projects with distinct review processes, and that provincial authorities are responsible for consultation on Pathways.
Cold Lake First Nations is asking the court to overturn the pipeline’s national-interest designation; Ottawa aims to complete federal reviews and consultations by September 2027, with the pipeline targeted to begin operating by 2032.
Cold Lake First Nations has filed a Federal Court application seeking judicial review of Ottawa’s decision to designate the Pacific Link pipeline a project in the national interest.
The Alberta First Nation says it was not meaningfully consulted about the designation and raises concerns about the pipeline and the related Pathways carbon capture project.
Chief Kelsey Jacko says the community has repeatedly tried to work with Canada and is seeking clear answers about projects’ long-term effects.
The federal government says consultation on Pathways rests with provincial authorities overseeing that project’s review and approval.
The application argues the designation breaches Canadian law and Treaty No. 6 rights, and asks the court to quash it.
- Who
- Cold Lake First Nations, led by Chief Kelsey Jacko, is challenging the decision.
- What
- The First Nation filed for judicial review of the federal designation of Pacific Link as a project in the national interest.
- When
- The application was filed Thursday, October 8, 2026.
- Where
- The case is in Federal Court; the proposed pipeline would run from Bruderheim, Alberta, to Roberts Bank, British Columbia.
- Why
- The First Nation says it was not meaningfully consulted and argues the designation threatens its treaty rights and way of life.
Cold Lake First Nations
Privy Council Office
Consultation
Cold Lake First Nations
The First Nation says Canada designated Pacific Link without meaningful consultation with it.
Privy Council Office
The office says consultation on Pathways rests with provincial authorities overseeing that project’s review and approval.
Project relationship
Cold Lake First Nations
The First Nation raises concerns about Pacific Link and the Pathways carbon capture project.
Privy Council Office
The office says the projects are linked through agreements between Alberta and Canada but remain distinct, with separate proponents, regulatory processes and decision-making.
They've been consulting all these nations around us, there's over 120 nations that have been consulted and we've been left out of the talks
We have repeatedly tried to work with Canada on both the Pacific Link and Pathways, and Canada has gone ahead with the decision to designate Pacific Link as a project of national interest without meaningful consultation with First Nations
responsibility to take the first step outside the courtroom now rests with Canada
Currently, responsibility for Indigenous consultation and engagement on the Pathways Project rests with the provincial authorities overseeing its review and approval processes
Cold Lake First Nations began raising concerns with the federal government about Pathways-related risks and the cumulative impacts of oil sands development, according to Jacko.
Ottawa designated Pacific Link a national priority, and federal and Alberta leaders announced it would be fast-tracked.
Jacko told CBC that Cold Lake First Nations had been left out of pipeline consultations and equity talks.
Cold Lake First Nations filed an application for judicial review in Federal Court.
- Pipeline route
- Bruderheim, Alberta, to Roberts Bank, British Columbia
- Pipeline capacity
- One million barrels of oil a day
- Pipeline designation
- Project in the national interest under the Building Canada Act
- Proposed Pathways carbon pipeline
- 400 kilometres, carrying captured carbon to an underground hub near Cold Lake, Alberta
- Federal review target
- September 1, 2027
- Proposed operating date
- 2032
Sources
Alberta First Nation taking Ottawa to court over move to fast-track Pacific Link pipeline
Cold Lake First Nations seeks judicial review of pipeline designation
Cold Lake First Nations push for judicial review of Pacific Link pipeline designation
Cold Lake First Nations seeking judicial review of Pacific Link pipeline designation
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