Construction begins on Enbridge’s Sunrise Expansion Program

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Enbridge’s $4 billion expansion of the Westcoast natural gas pipeline’s construction has begun. 

On July 20, the Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, announced that construction on the Sunrise Expansion Program had begun. 

This comes after the $4 billion expansion received approval from the Canadian government in April 2026.  

The release said the expansion will meet the province’s growing energy needs by providing up to 300 million cubic feet per day of additional transportation capacity on the province’s natural gas transmission system. 

The additional capacity will ensure reliable power for homes, schools and hospitals, support B.C.’s industrial and manufacturing sectors and ensure natural gas supplies are available as LNG export facilities begin operations. 

Hodgson said, “From approval to groundbreaking in just three months, the Sunrise Expansion Program shows how Canada is getting major projects built.” 

“This expansion will provide reliable natural gas for homes, hospitals, schools and B.C.’s growing low-carbon energy sector while creating thousands of well-paying careers and new, diverse international trade opportunities. This is how we strengthen Canadian energy security, support affordability and prove once again what being an energy superpower looks like.”    

The release said this expansion marks a strategic milestone in building major infrastructure, diversifying trade, creating jobs and supporting national and energy security. 

The expansion will add over $3 billion to the country’s GDP, create 2,500 jobs, including for local Indigenous communities and generate $700 million in tax revenue to fund local roads, hospitals and schools. 

The project will also maximize Canadian industrial participation and use domestically produced materials, including 100 per cent Canadian melted and poured steel, which the release said will be supplied by InterPro Pipe + Steel. 

The release also highlighted that 38 Indigenous communities in B.C. have acquired a 12.5 per cent ownership interest in the project, which the federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee supports. 

“The Sunrise Expansion project demonstrates what’s possible when First Nations, industry and government work together with a shared commitment to building a stronger future. For Lheidli T’enneh, meaningful partnerships are about more than economic opportunity — they are about ensuring our Nation has a seat at the table in shaping projects that will benefit our people and region for generations to come,” said  Lheidli T’enneh First Nation’s Chief Dolleen Logan.