The British Columbia NDP government and Coastal First Nations have launched strong opposition against a newly signed memorandum of understanding between the federal government and Alberta that could pave the way for one or more bitumen pipelines to B.C.'s north coast.
Political Backlash Intensifies
B.C. Premier David Eby has been vocal in his criticism of the pipeline proposal, arguing that such projects are economically unviable and lack private sector support. Eby pointed to the previous pipeline project that required federal intervention, costing taxpayers approximately $18 billion to complete. The premier has spent recent weeks and months emphasizing that no private company has stepped forward to champion the current proposal.
The B.C. NDP escalated their opposition by sending out a fundraising email on Thursday morning condemning both Ottawa and Alberta for conducting negotiations without including British Columbia in discussions. The email characterized the proposed pipeline as having "no First Nations consent, and makes no financial or economic sense."
First Nations Vow Resistance
Coastal First Nations have joined the provincial government in opposing the agreement, releasing their own statement promising to "use every tool in their tool box" to prevent oil tankers from accessing B.C.'s northern coastal waters. The organization emphasized their commitment to protecting the region from the risk of catastrophic oil spills that could devastate the marine environment and coastal communities.
Eby further warned that the pipeline project could jeopardize other significant developments in the region, including the North Coast Transmission Line and the Ksi Lisims LNG project, by undermining crucial First Nations support that these initiatives currently enjoy.
Agreement Terms and Conditions
The memorandum of understanding was signed in Calgary on Thursday by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. The agreement outlines that any pipeline project would be constructed and financed by private sector proponents and must be ready to submit to the federal Major Projects Office by July 1, 2026.
In a significant concession to Alberta, the federal government has agreed not to implement its oil and gas emissions cap, will suspend clean energy regulations in Alberta, and may restructure the oil tanker ban to allow bitumen shipments through B.C. coastal waters.
In return, Alberta has committed to supporting the Pathways project aimed at decarbonizing the oilsands through carbon capture technology. The province will also collaborate with Ottawa on data centre development, nuclear strategy, and increasing electricity flow between western provinces.
Premier Smith described the agreement as addressing what she called "nine bad laws" that have been impacting Alberta's investment climate, expressing satisfaction that the deal would substantially work toward removing or revising these regulations.
