The federal Liberal government is preparing to designate a proposed West Coast pipeline as a project of national importance, iPolitics has learned.

A government source, speaking confidentially because they’re not authorized to speak publicly, said the pipeline was discussed during last week’s cabinet meeting, the first of the fall sitting, and multiple government and industry sources confirmed the designation would take place this week.

A source connected to the federal Liberals said the Major Projects Office has begun outreach to First Nations that would likely be impacted by the pipeline.

As per the Building Canada Act, a project progressing through the streamlined approval process must be designated as listed through an order-in-council approved by cabinet. A government source said that order will be listed as Oct. 1.

The timing of the announcement is not surprising.

READ MORE: Pipeline set to become first project fast-tracked under Building Canada Act

In early August, the pipeline became the first project to receive a 30-day notice in the Canada Gazette for national interest designation — the step required before Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc can formally add it to Schedule 1 of the Building Canada Act.

Later that month, Ottawa published similar Gazette notices for the proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway and Roberts Bank Terminal 2 projects.

The proposed West Coast Pipeline would follow the same route as Trans Mountain, but would end at Roberts Bank instead of Burnaby.

As part of a deal with Alberta, Ottawa agreed to make the designation before Oct. 1. A provincial government source, also speaking anonymously because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly, told iPolitics that Alberta was expecting movement on the announcement soon as progress is made on developing the line.

READ MORE: Alberta pipeline deal paves way for a first ‘national interest’ project designation

The announcement would also come days weeks before Albertans vote in a referendum that could start the process of separating from Canada.

Premier Danielle Smith said she supports staying in Canada but wanted a renewed agreement with Ottawa that would grant more powers to her province.

More to come…