A group that represents numerous First Nations across British Columbia is calling on Ottawa and Alberta's government to halt efforts to advance the West Coast pipeline, saying expanding the oil industry will accelerate climate change and disasters.
"The destructive and disastrous consequences of expanding fossil fuel production extend far beyond any single territory," the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs said in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
"From catastrophic wildfires to destructive floods and rising seas, the impacts of climate change are already being felt across this country. Every new fossil fuel project deepens that crisis."
The letter came Sunday, a day after the B.C. government issued a state of emergency as more than 100 wildfires burned across the province, with one forcing nearly 25,000 people across two communities east of Vancouver to flee. Nearly half of the wildfires were burning out of control.
The Indigenous group said it is also publishing the letter on International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on Sunday to reaffirm that it's against the pipeline because government has not consulted and co-operated in good faith with the First Nations.
Canada and Alberta advance west coast pipeline project
It said government has already developed the project's corridor, named prospective development partners and is publicly promoting its economic case.
"Consultation cannot be meaningful if First Nations are invited only to discuss how a predetermined project will proceed."
Karah Folk, spokesperson for Alberta's Ministry of Indigenous Relations, said in an email to CBC News that the project provides "long-term benefits" for Indigenous communities, who will be consulted as it progresses.
"Our government remains committed to ongoing dialogue with First Nations and all partners as this work continues," Folk said.
Carney and Smith's offices did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.
The roughly 1,250-kilometre West Coast pipeline would carry upwards of one million barrels of crude oil per day from Bruderheim, Alta., to a port near Delta, B.C., for shipment to international markets.
The Alberta government is listed as the pipeline project's proponent. The pipeline would be owned by Trans Mountain, the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission and Pembina Pipeline Corp.
The crowded, muddy reality of Alberta’s new pipeline route
Ottawa took a step last week toward giving the proposed project a national interest designation under the Building Canada Act, which would allow government to fast-track the pipeline and skirt some environmental laws.
