A coalition representing various First Nations in British Columbia is urging Ottawa and the Alberta government to stop pushing forward with the West Coast pipeline, citing concerns that expanding the oil industry will worsen climate change and disasters.
In a letter directed to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs emphasized the wide-reaching negative impacts of increasing fossil fuel production, such as catastrophic wildfires, destructive floods, and rising sea levels that are already affecting the country.
The letter was issued following a state of emergency declaration by the B.C. government due to over 100 wildfires raging across the province, prompting nearly 25,000 people to evacuate two communities east of Vancouver. The Indigenous group chose to release the letter on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples to reiterate their opposition to the pipeline, highlighting the lack of meaningful consultation with the First Nations by the government.
The group criticized the government for already setting up the project’s corridor, naming potential development partners, and actively promoting its economic feasibility without engaging in genuine discussions with the Indigenous communities.
In response, Karah Folk from Alberta’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations defended the project, stating that it offers long-term benefits to Indigenous groups who will be consulted throughout its progression. The Alberta government affirmed its commitment to ongoing dialogue with First Nations and other stakeholders.
The proposed 1,250-kilometre West Coast pipeline aims to transport over one million barrels of crude oil daily from Bruderheim, Alberta, to a port near Delta, British Columbia, for export to global markets. The project is spearheaded by the Alberta government and would be jointly owned by Trans Mountain, the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission, and Pembina Pipeline Corp.
Recent developments saw Ottawa taking steps to designate the project as being of national interest under the Building Canada Act, potentially expediting the pipeline’s approval process. The government is seeking public feedback until mid-September regarding this designation.
Furthermore, Ottawa and Alberta have tied the West Coast pipeline to a carbon storage initiative called Pathways, designed to capture emissions from increased oil production and store them underground near Cold Lake, Alberta. However, concerns have been raised by the Canadian Climate Institute regarding the project’s environmental impact, suggesting that the emissions from expanded oil production could outweigh the benefits of Pathways.
The West Coast pipeline is one of several projects falling under Carney’s Major Projects Office in Calgary, aimed at bolstering Canada’s autonomy, boosting the economy, advancing Indigenous interests, and aligning with the country’s climate change objectives in a rapidly changing global context as outlined in the Building Canada Act.