A coalition representing multiple First Nations in British Columbia has urged the Canadian and Alberta governments to stop promoting the West Coast pipeline, citing concerns that expanding the oil industry will worsen climate change and environmental disasters.
In a letter directed to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs emphasized the broad-reaching negative impacts of fossil fuel expansion, including catastrophic wildfires, destructive floods, and rising sea levels. The group highlighted that each new fossil fuel project exacerbates the climate crisis.
The call to suspend pipeline efforts coincided with a state of emergency declared by the B.C. government due to over 100 wildfires burning in the province, prompting nearly 25,000 people to evacuate. The Indigenous group underscored its opposition to the pipeline on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, stressing the lack of meaningful consultation and cooperation with First Nations.
The coalition criticized the lack of genuine consultation, stating that discussions should not revolve around predetermined project plans. In response, Alberta’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations defended the project, asserting that it offers long-term benefits for Indigenous communities, who will be engaged as the project progresses.
The proposed 1,250-kilometre West Coast pipeline aims to transport up to one million barrels of crude oil daily from Alberta to British Columbia for export. Ottawa recently initiated steps to designate the project as of national interest under the Building Canada Act, streamlining its approval process.
The government’s plan includes a carbon storage initiative named Pathways, which would offset emissions from increased oil production facilitated by the pipeline. Despite government assurances, concerns persist regarding the project’s environmental impact and its alignment with climate goals.
The West Coast pipeline is part of a series of projects under Carney’s Major Projects Office, intended to enhance national interests, boost economic growth, support Indigenous communities, and align with climate objectives in a rapidly changing global context.
The Building Canada Act provides the framework for regulating these projects, with the government having already advanced several initiatives towards national interest designation, including infrastructure projects in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Ontario.
