Canada's West Coast Oil Pipeline Plans Spark Indigenous Concerns

The Canadian government has declared a proposed west coast oil pipeline a 'project of national interest' and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support its development. The project, which includes a 1,250-kilometre pipeline and a separate Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) pipeline project called the Pathways Project, is expected to transport millions of tonnes of compressed CO₂ from oilsands production sites to a storage facility in the Cold Lake region.

The Alberta Energy and Minerals Minister, Brian Jean, welcomed support for the project from the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (EPAC), stating it 'is good news for people across Alberta.' However, Indigenous groups have expressed concerns about being kept in the dark during the planning process.

No to CO₂ Pipelines Alberta, a grassroots coalition formed by concerned landowners, farmers, and Indigenous communities, has been advocating against the proposed Oil Sands Alliance CCUS Project. The group argues that the project is 'greenwashing' efforts to increase oil production.