CALGARY — A survey published this week by ATB Cormark suggests more than three quarters of oilpatch companies are convinced the Pacific Link pipeline to British Columbia and the Pathways carbon storage project will go ahead. But they’re much less certain about when shovels will hit the ground. The investment firm surveyed 22 energy services companies, 27 exploration and production companies and 42 institutional investors from Sept. 14 to Sept. 28. That was days before the million-barrel-a-day Pacific Link pipeline proposed by the Alberta government was deemed the first national-interest project under federal legislation passed last year, paving the way for a speedy review; it’s contingent on Pathways being built to offset emissions. Seventy-seven per cent of respondents said they believed the projects would receive a positive investment decision. But 53 per cent of respondents said they believe construction would begin in 2028 or later, with 24 per cent believing that would happen next year. Alberta has targeted a Sept. 1, 2027 date for pipeline building to commence while no such timeline has been established by the companies behind Pathways. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2026. Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press
