Enbridge Sunrise pipeline expansion begins near Prince George, B.C.

Construction is underway on the $4-billion Enbridge Sunrise pipeline expansion near Prince George, British Columbia, marking a swift transition from approval to groundbreaking. Federal Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson announced the project's commencement, highlighting Canada's shift towards faster delivery. The expansion will introduce more than 100 kilometers of new pipeline and 11 looping segments to the existing West Coast natural gas pipeline, stretching between Chetwynd and the U.S. border.

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The Sunrise Expansion project has gone from approval to groundbreaking in just three months, showing how in 2026 Canada has gone from delay to delivery.

Owned by Enbridge and 38 First Nations, the project aims to connect B.C.'s abundant natural gas reserves to southern markets. Stewart Muir of Resource Works noted the significance of the 42-inch pipe, describing it as one of the largest built and crucial for transporting gas from northern B.C. to areas with high demand.

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It’s a 42-inch pipe; it’s as big as they build, and it’s going to connect the north of B.C. where we have abundant, practically unlimited natural gas, to the south, where we use more of that gas than anywhere else.

The project is set to generate around 2,500 jobs in British Columbia, with 1,300 of those in the Prince George region. This economic boost comes as the region faces challenges, including the recent announcement of Canfor's Northwood pulp mill closure, which will affect 300 jobs. The provincial government has urged Ottawa for more support for the forestry sector.

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We’ve provided almost $2 billion to the industry across Canada in the last year and a bit and we’ll continue to monitor the situation.

Minister Hodgson acknowledged these concerns, stating that the federal government has provided nearly $2 billion to the industry nationwide over the past year and will continue to monitor the situation. He emphasized the need for sustainable pathways forward. The Sunrise Expansion project is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2028, offering a much-needed economic uplift to the region.

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The key is we need to find sustainable pathways forward.