A group of Indigenous leaders from British Columbia traveled to Calgary to deliver a direct message to pipeline executives: refrain from investing in a new bitumen pipeline to the northwest coast or face a prolonged legal battle.

Jason Alsop, the President of the Haida Nation, emphasized the importance of protecting the ocean and food security it sustains. He stated that the presence of crude tankers in northern B.C. waters would jeopardize these vital resources.

Referencing the successful opposition to Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway project a decade ago, Chief Councillor Arnold Clifton of the Gitga’at First Nation highlighted the unity and strength of northern B.C. communities in standing against such developments.

Meetings were held in a downtown Calgary hotel where the Indigenous delegation engaged with senior officials from Pembina Pipeline Corp. and Trans Mountain Corp. While Pembina Pipeline is currently focused on natural gas transportation and has no interest in a new bitumen pipeline, Trans Mountain is advising the Alberta government on early planning for a potential new oil pipeline.

The delegation extended invitations to other oil and gas pipeline companies, underscoring the risks associated with supporting a B.C. oil pipeline. The Alberta government is preparing to submit a proposal for a B.C. pipeline to the federal major projects office, seeking private sector involvement.

Considering various endpoint options for the pipeline, including Prince Rupert and Vancouver, the Alberta government is exploring routes that minimize environmental challenges and opposition. The Indigenous leaders remain steadfast in their commitment to safeguarding their pristine coastal environments, emphasizing that no financial gain is worth compromising their natural resources.