Ottawa needs other emission cuts to offset Pacific Link pipeline, Farrell says The head of the major projects office told MPs that the proposed Pacific Link oil pipeline will emit more than the Pathways carbon capture project will sequester, requiring new emission reductions to meet Canada's climate goals. Ottawa will need to find additional ways to cut emissions because the proposed Pacific Link oil pipeline will emit more than the Pathways carbon capture project will sequester, the head of the major projects office says. Dawn Farrell, CEO of the major projects office, answered questions from MPs during an appearance before the House of Commons environment committee on Tuesday. Farrell said the pipeline and the Pathways project create a gap that must be addressed for Canada to meet its climate goals. The pipeline will emit more than Pathways will sequester, she told the committee.Pathways Project Emissions Reduction EstimatesCiting the energy agreement between Canada and Alberta, Farrell said the Pathways project is expected to reduce emissions by 16 million tonnes a year. An analysis by Environment Canada, submitted to the committee and provided to The Canadian Press, projected the emission reductions from Pathways at 22 million tonnes a year. That is higher than the figure Farrell cited.Environment Canada also estimated that transporting an extra million barrels of oil a day through the new pipeline would increase emissions by 27.7 million tonnes a year. Even with the Pathways reductions, the pipeline's added emissions would be larger. That means Ottawa needs other measures to compensate for the increase, Farrell said. To meet its 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, Canada still needs to reduce emissions by 227 million tonnes, according to the latest estimates from 2024.Farrell's testimony came as MPs pressed for details on how the federal government plans to square new oil pipeline capacity with its climate commitments. The proposed Pacific Link oil pipeline would carry an additional million barrels of oil a day. Environment Canada estimated those extra volumes would raise emissions by 27.7 million tonnes. The Pathways carbon capture project, by contrast, is designed to capture and store emissions from oil sands operations.Ottawa Needs Additional Emission Cut MeasuresFarrell put its annual reductions at 16 million tonnes under the Canada-Alberta energy agreement. The Environment Canada analysis put the figure at 22 million tonnes a year, still less than the pipeline's projected 27.7 million tonne increase. The gap means the government will need new emission-cutting measures beyond Pathways if it wants to stay on track for 2030. Farrell did not detail what those measures might be during the committee appearance.Canada's 2030 target under the Paris Agreement requires a 227 million tonne reduction from current levels, based on 2024 estimates. The pipeline's added emissions would make that challenge harder. The committee hearing was part of ongoing scrutiny of federal major project approvals and their climate impacts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2026.