A coalition representing multiple Indigenous communities in British Columbia is urging the federal and Alberta governments to stop promoting the West Coast pipeline, warning that expanding the oil sector will hasten climate change and environmental catastrophes.
The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs penned a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, emphasizing that the negative impacts of boosting fossil fuel production transcend individual territories. They highlighted the escalating effects of climate change, such as wildfires, floods, and rising sea levels, already affecting the nation, asserting that each new fossil fuel project exacerbates the crisis.
The missive coincided with a state of emergency declaration by the B.C. government due to over 100 wildfires raging across the province, prompting the evacuation of nearly 25,000 residents from two communities near Vancouver. Approximately half of the wildfires were uncontained.
On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the Indigenous group reaffirmed its opposition to the pipeline, citing the lack of meaningful consultation and cooperation by the government with the First Nations. The group criticized the government for advancing the project without genuine engagement with Indigenous communities.
Responding to the concerns, Karah Folk, spokesperson for 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 development. Folk reiterated the government’s commitment to ongoing dialogue with First Nations and all stakeholders involved in the project.
Despite the Indigenous group’s protests, 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 pipeline is backed by the Alberta government and will be jointly owned by Trans Mountain, the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission, and Pembina Pipeline Corp.
Last week, Ottawa took a step towards designating the project as of national interest under the Building Canada Act, potentially expediting its approval process. The government is currently seeking public feedback on this designation until mid-September.
The West Coast pipeline’s advancement is tied to a carbon storage initiative called Pathways, which aims to offset emissions resulting from increased oil production by transporting them to an underground storage facility near Cold Lake, Alberta. Ottawa and Alberta have linked the pipeline’s approval to the success of the Pathways project.
The Canadian Climate Institute expressed concerns in July, noting that the emissions from enhanced production facilitated by the new pipeline would surpass the reductions achieved by Pathways. The West Coast pipeline is one of several projects falling under Carney’s Major Projects Office, established to bolster Canada’s autonomy, boost the economy, support Indigenous interests, and align with national climate objectives.
The Building Canada Act delineates the regulatory framework for such projects, with the government having already moved three initiatives towards national interest designation. These projects include the Grays Bay road and port development in Nunavut, the Mackenzie Valley Highway in the Northwest Territories, and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s repository in northern Ontario.