First Nations Back Northern Coast Tanker Ban, Reject Pipeline Plans

British Columbia’s Energy Minister, Adrian Dix, says the unanimous vote by chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa to uphold the oil tanker ban strengthens the provincial stance that better alternatives exist than a northern coast pipeline.

Chiefs representing over 600 First Nations called on Ottawa to maintain the tanker ban off B.C.’s northern coast and to withdraw the memorandum of understanding recently signed between the federal and Alberta governments.

Dix highlighted that the assembly’s decision reflects the historic position of First Nations. He criticized the memorandum, noting it was signed despite “no project, no proponent, and no possibility of the project moving forward.” He also questioned the economic sense of building a new northern pipeline and emphasized that proposals for a southern pipeline are not being seriously considered.

The minister added that optimizing existing pipelines is far more cost-effective than constructing new ones, and B.C. remains open to discussions with Alberta on expanding current oil shipping capacity.

Marilyn Slett, president of the Coastal First Nations, expressed gratitude for the assembly’s support, stating that protecting B.C.’s northern coast is not negotiable and must be upheld by the federal government.

Both Slett and Premier David Eby stressed that federal approval for a northern pipeline would require the consent of affected First Nations, especially since lifting the tanker ban would be necessary for the project to proceed. Eby described the proposed pipeline as a distraction from existing energy initiatives, warning that it could drain limited government resources.