B.C. Chiefs Urge Halt on Pipeline Project Amidst Province's Wildfire Crisis

First Nations chiefs in British Columbia have written an open letter to Governor General Mary Simon and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, urging them to halt the advancement of the West Coast pipeline project.

The letter comes as more than 100 wildfires burn across the province, with one forcing nearly 25,000 people from two communities east of Vancouver to flee. The Indigenous group said it was publishing the letter on International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

The chiefs argue that consultation cannot be meaningful if First Nations are invited only to discuss how a predetermined project will proceed. They also reject the idea that equity ownership, loan guarantees, revenue-sharing, employment, or other proposed benefits can substitute for consent.

Alberta's Ministry of Indigenous Relations responded by saying the pipeline would provide long-term benefits for Indigenous communities and create jobs and energy security. The ministry noted that 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.

The pipeline, proposed by Alberta's government and owned by Trans Mountain, the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission, and Pembina Pipeline Corporation, would carry 1.25 million barrels of crude oil per day from Bruderheim, Alta., to a port near Delta, B.C. Ottawa has agreed that the pipeline will be conditional on a carbon storage project called Pathways.