Canada Approves Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion, Says Construction Should Start This Year

Canada, as expected on Tuesday, approved a hotly contested proposal to expand a crude oil pipeline it bought last year, providing hope for a depressed energy industry but most likely angering environmental groups.  Construction on the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline is planned to start this year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters. A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, earlier said Ottawa expected legal challenges against the approval.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren and Kelsey Johnson; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)