B.C.’s Coastal First Nations say they had a productive and positive meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Prince Rupert on Tuesday, but their position on a pipeline to the coast has not changed.
“Coastal First Nations, along with Lax Kw’alaams and the Haisla Nation, oppose any project that proposed to bring oil tankers to the north coast,” Marilyn Slett, president of Coastal First Nations and elected Chief of Heiltsuk Nation said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
“We reiterated that there is no technology that can clean up an oil spill at sea, and that it would take just one spill to destroy our way of life.”
Slett said they spoke to Carney about the importance of being part of the discussion about their territories.
“So today, we heard directly from the prime minister, that his government will seek our free prior and informed consent regarding any proposed projects in our territories and that we will co-develop (a) transparent process moving forward,” Slett said.
“We are looking forward to partnering with the federal government to help facilitate projects in our territories that support sustainable economic development and marine protection.”
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Slett added that the Nations made clear that they will always support the oil tanker moratorium.
Gaagwiis (Jason Alsop), vice-president of Coastal First Nations and president ofHaida Nation, added that it was important to meet with Carney in person to help him understand that not only is the B.C. coast important for strategic trade corridors and global trade, it is also their home.
“We’re respectful of the challenge that the federal government is facing,” he said.
“And we want to be as flexible as we can in finding ways to work together, but based on our existing agreements and relationships established over many years between the coastal nations, Canada and B.C., and coastal communities… the reality is we are the ones that are impacted by this proposed increase in shipping and projects.”
Slett added that they do expect the federal government to abide by its commitment to take meaningful effort to secure consent by affected Indigenous communities when it comes to projects.
“We’re going to have a lot to say about what happens here,” she said.
“We will continue to and that was, you know, definitely some of the progressive messages that we put forward today.”
In a statement, Carney said that in a time of global uncertainty, “Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control: building our strength at home and reliable partnerships abroad.”
Carney said during the meeting with First Nations, he committed to renewing funding for the Oceans Protection Plan Reconciliation Framework Agreement (RFA) in 2026-27 and directed ministers to work with all partners to present a five-year funding pathway by this spring.
Carney also “reaffirmed the government’s commitment to conserving 30 per cent of Canada’s land and waters by 2030, including working with First Nations on identified Marine Protected Areas in the Great Bear Sea. To strengthen ocean protection, the government will also fund a Marine Traffic Risk Assessment study, extend the leases on two Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs) until 2028, and ensure ETV capacity is consistent with shipping activity,” the statement read.
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