BC First Nations Chiefs Demand Halt to West Coast Pipeline

A group of First Nations chiefs in British Columbia has called on Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to halt efforts to advance the West Coast pipeline. The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, which represents numerous First Nations across the province, argues that expanding the oil industry will exacerbate climate change and disasters.

The letter, addressed to Carney and Smith on Sunday, also coincided with International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. The chiefs claim that the government has not consulted and cooperated in good faith with the First Nations regarding the pipeline project.

According to the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, the government has already developed the project's corridor, identified prospective development partners, and publicly promoted its economic case. However, the chiefs argue that consultation cannot be meaningful if First Nations are only invited to discuss how a predetermined project will proceed.