Prime Minister Mark Carney says he will meet with Coastal First Nations after their chiefs voted unanimously to defend the oil tanker ban on northern B.C.’s coast and to oppose a new pipeline proposal.
At the Assembly of First Nations gathering in Ottawa, B.C. Regional Chief Terry Teegee pressed Carney to respect First Nations title and give Indigenous communities real decision-making power. Carney replied that a meeting with Coastal First Nations had already been requested, but Teegee said the promise means little unless Carney follows through.
The vote by chiefs came after Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed an agreement last week that could open the door to a pipeline by creating a path around the tanker ban. The ban, passed in 2019, blocks large oil tankers from ports along the northern B.C. coast.
Haida Gwaii Chief Donald Edgars led the resolution opposing the pipeline, saying an oil spill would threaten coastal communities. Chiefs from across the country supported the move.
Carney received mixed reactions at the event. Some leaders welcomed his commitments, while others were frustrated by limited speaking time. Carney also announced his government will introduce new clean drinking water legislation in the spring and continue work to end remaining water advisories on reserves.
AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak criticized the government for weak consultation and cuts to First Nations programs, saying First Nations will continue to defend their rights. She warned that Canada cannot push ahead with major projects without Indigenous consent.
