A coalition representing multiple First Nations in British Columbia is urging the governments of Ottawa and Alberta to stop advancing the West Coast pipeline, stating that expanding the oil industry will hasten climate change and related disasters.

In a letter directed to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs emphasized that the negative impacts of expanding fossil fuel production go beyond individual territories. They highlighted that the effects of climate change, such as wildfires, floods, and rising sea levels, are already being experienced across Canada and that each new fossil fuel project exacerbates the crisis.

The letter was issued following the declaration of a state of emergency by the B.C. government due to over 100 wildfires raging in the province, prompting the evacuation of nearly 25,000 residents from two communities east of Vancouver. The Indigenous group released the letter on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples to reiterate their opposition to the pipeline, citing lack of meaningful consultation and cooperation with First Nations by the government.

The group criticized the government for already advancing the project’s corridor, identifying potential development partners, and publicly advocating its economic benefits without genuine consultation with Indigenous communities.

Karah Folk, a spokesperson for Alberta’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations, defended the project, stating that it offers long-term advantages to Indigenous groups who will be engaged as the project moves forward. Folk affirmed the government’s commitment to ongoing discussions with First Nations and other stakeholders.

Neither Carney’s nor Smith’s offices responded immediately to requests for comments on the matter.

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 project is led by the Alberta government and would be jointly owned by Trans Mountain, the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission, and Pembina Pipeline Corp.

Recent developments saw Ottawa take steps towards designating the project as of national interest under the Building Canada Act, which could expedite the pipeline’s progress and bypass certain environmental regulations. Public feedback on the designation is being accepted until mid-September.

The federal government and Alberta have linked the pipeline’s approval to the Pathways carbon storage project, which aims to capture emissions from increased oil production and store them underground near Cold Lake, Alberta. However, a think tank, the Canadian Climate Institute, raised concerns that the emissions from the pipeline’s expanded production would surpass the mitigation efforts of the Pathways project.

The West Coast pipeline is part of several initiatives endorsed or proposed by Carney’s Major Projects Office to bolster Canada’s autonomy, enhance economic prospects, promote Indigenous interests, and align with the country’s climate goals. The Building Canada Act guides the regulatory process for these projects, some of which have already received the national interest designation.

Previous projects fast-tracked under the act include the Grays Bay road and port project in Nunavut, the Mackenzie Valley Highway in the Northwest Territories, and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s deep geological repository in northern Ontario.