Opposition to Northern BC Tanker Route

AI summary

Petitioners say a memorandum of understanding between the governments of Canada and Alberta signals support for a new pipeline and crude‑oil tanker route to British Columbia’s north coast, and that Coastal First Nations (including the Haisla Nation and the Lax Kw'alaams Band) and British Columbia oppose such a project. They state coastal First Nations have developed a conservation‑based economy, allege the federal government is seeking to weaken the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, and call on the Government of Canada to cancel the memorandum, uphold the moratorium, work with coastal communities to grow a sustainable economy, and ensure full participation of B.C. and coastal First Nations in future negotiations.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons The recent memorandum of understanding between the governments of Canada and Alberta signals support for a new pipeline and crude oil tanker route to British Columbia’s northern coast, even though Coastal communities and member nations of Coastal First Nations - Great Bear Initiative (CFN-GBI), the Haisla Nation, and the Lax Kw'alaams Band, as the individual Rights and Title holders of their respective territories, have been clear for more than fifty years that they don't support any project that would bring crude oil tankers into their territories, and British Columbia also rejects this proposal; Coastal First Nations have built a successful conservation-based economy that is protecting the environment, creating jobs, supporting new businesses, and generating billions of dollars for the Canadian economy; and The federal government seeks to weaken the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, despite a voluntary tanker ban for over 30 years before legislation: Governments and industry in Canada and the U.S. recognized this region as too hazardous and environmentally sensitive for crude oil tankers, and there is no technology that can clean up an oil spill and one spill has the potential to destroy our coastal economy for many generations. We, the undersigned, concerned residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Cancel the memorandum; 2. Uphold the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act; 3. Work with coastal communities and coastal First Nations to continue growing a sustainable, diverse economy across the north coast; and 4. Ensure future coastal project negotiations include full participation from British Columbia and coastal First Nations.

Government response

No government response is available yet.