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 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 is signed by the group’s heads, including Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, and it said B.C. Premier David Eby also has a copy of it.
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 was also publishing the letter on International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on Sunday.
The group said it wanted to reaffirm that it’s against the pipeline because government has not consulted and co-operated in good faith with the First Nations, noting 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,” it said.
“Nor can equity ownership, loan guarantees, revenue-sharing, employment, or other proposed benefits be treated as substitutes for consent.”
Carney’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter.
Alberta’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations said in an email Sunday that the pipeline will provide long-term benefits for Indigenous communities, and create jobs and energy security.
“The West Coast oil pipeline submission is currently under review by the Major Projects Office, which will consult with Indigenous communities as part of determining whether the project is in the national interest,” said press secretary Karah Folk.
“Our government remains committed to ongoing dialogue with First Nations and all partners as this work continues.”
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 Corporation.