Doerkson backs Pacific Link pipeline at Vancouver campaign stop
BC Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson says his party supports a second pipeline from northern Alberta to BC's southern coast, welcoming the federal decision to designate the Pacific Link pipeline a project of national interest.
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BC Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson said on Thursday that his party supports the Pacific Link pipeline, a proposed route from northern Alberta to BC's southern coast. Global News reported the statement came at a campaign event in Vancouver on October 1.
The federal government recently designated the Pacific Link pipeline a project of national interest. Doerkson told reporters he welcomed that decision.
"We welcome it because British Columbia's economy desperately needs a boost," Doerkson said, according to Global News. "And the events of the last few years have shown just how important this is to be self-sufficient."
He said the Conservative Party of BC supports a second pipeline from northern Alberta to BC's southern coast because, in his words, the world needs Canadian energy.
What Doerkson said
Global News reported that Doerkson made the pipeline statement at the same Vancouver event where he also criticized NDP leader David Eby's gas price plan announced the same day.
Doerkson pointed to a $1,000 household rebate that Eby promised during the 2024 provincial election. In February 2025, BC's finance minister said the government could not pay that rebate because of a provincial deficit. Doerkson said Eby "made promises for a thousand-dollars of relief to families and to homes and to people in this province, and he failed to deliver that."
The previous Conservative energy statement
This is a separate position from an earlier campaign statement. On September 30, BC Conservatives published a statement welcoming the LNG Canada Phase 2 project, an export terminal in Kitimat. The Pacific Link pipeline that Doerkson discussed on October 1 would move natural gas from Alberta through BC to coastal export terminals, and is a different project.
What this means for voters
If you want to compare the parties' positions on energy before voting on October 24, the Conservative party's campaign page on this site is at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21.
Questions this story answers
What did Lorne Doerkson say about the Pacific Link pipeline?
On October 1, 2026, Global News reported that Doerkson spoke at a campaign event in Vancouver and said he welcomed the federal government's decision to designate the Pacific Link pipeline a project of national interest. He told reporters the project would give BC's economy a boost and that the world needs Canadian energy. The quote Global News recorded was: 'We welcome it because British Columbia's economy desperately needs a boost. And the events of the last few years have shown just how important this is to be self-sufficient.'
What is the Pacific Link pipeline?
The Pacific Link pipeline is a proposed natural gas pipeline from northern Alberta to BC's southern coast. The federal government designated it a project of national interest during the 2026 BC election campaign. It would be a second pipeline moving natural gas from Alberta through BC to export terminals on the coast. The Conservative Party of BC has said it supports the project and wants to see it built.
Does the Conservative Party of BC officially support the pipeline?
Global News reported on October 1, 2026, that Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson said at a Vancouver campaign event that his party supports a second pipeline from northern Alberta to BC's southern coast. He framed the pipeline as necessary for the province's economic self-sufficiency. The Conservative party's position on energy is listed at its page on this site at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc.
Where and when did Doerkson make this statement?
Global News reported the statement was made at a campaign event in Vancouver on Thursday, October 1, 2026. It came on the same day that NDP leader David Eby announced a gas tax relief plan in Surrey. Both leaders were making campaign announcements ahead of voting day, which is October 24, 2026.
What is Lorne Doerkson's role in the BC Conservatives?
Lorne Doerkson is the interim leader of the Conservative Party of BC and is the party's candidate in the Cariboo-Chilcotin district for the October 24, 2026 provincial election. He took on the interim leader role and is running the party's campaign across the province. His candidate page is at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson.
Did Doerkson respond to Eby's gas price announcement on the same day?
Global News reported that Doerkson criticized Eby's gas price plan at the same campaign event, pointing to a $1,000 household rebate Eby promised during the 2024 election but did not deliver. Doerkson said Eby 'made promises for a thousand-dollars of relief to families' before the 2024 election and 'failed to deliver.' In February 2025, BC's finance minister said the rebate could not be paid because of the provincial deficit.
When is the BC provincial election?
The BC provincial election is on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from October 16 to October 21. You can find your voting place and more information about how to vote at Elections BC's site, linked through /bc/provincial-2026.
Where can I read the BC Conservative platform on energy?
The Conservative Party of BC's platform commitments as reported during the 2026 campaign are covered in the news section at /bc/provincial-2026/news. The party's campaign page on this site is at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc. For the party's own statements, visit conservativebc.ca.
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