Key Takeaways
- The Gitga’at First Nation has expressed opposition to any changes to Canada’s tanker ban that would allow for a new pipeline to be built, citing concerns about the environment and the risk of a tanker accident.
- Alberta’s Minister of Indigenous Relations, Rajan Sawhney, met with the Gitga’at First Nation to discuss the potential pipeline, but the nation remains opposed to any removal or weakening of the oil tanker moratorium.
- The tanker ban has been in place for over 50 years and protects the waters of the Dixon Entrance, the Hecate Strait, and the Queen Charlotte Sound.
- The Assembly of First Nations has voted unanimously to call on the federal government to withdraw from a memorandum of understanding that would allow for the adjustment of the tanker ban if necessary.
- British Columbia’s NDP-led government has also expressed opposition to changing the moratorium, with Premier David Eby co-signing a declaration urging Ottawa to keep the ban in place.
Introduction to the Tanker Ban
The leaders of the Gitga’at First Nation, located on British Columbia’s northern coast, recently met with Alberta’s Minister of Indigenous Relations, Rajan Sawhney, to express their opposition to any changes to Canada’s tanker ban. The ban, which has been in place for over 50 years, prohibits oil tankers from carrying more than 12,500 metric tons of crude oil or persistent oil products in B.C.’s North Coast waters. The Gitga’at First Nation presented Sawhney with scientific and historical evidence affirming that there is no proven method for recovering bitumen spills on B.C.’s North Coast, which has some of the highest tidal ranges on Earth.
The Meeting Between the Gitga’at First Nation and Minister Sawhney
During the meeting, Sawhney emphasized the importance of "early engagement" and "lessons learned from the past" about making decisions before consulting with Indigenous communities that could be affected by proposed developments. However, she also suggested that there was "quiet support" from some Indigenous communities for a pipeline carrying diluted bitumen from Alberta’s oilsands to the coast. The Gitga’at First Nation, however, remains opposed to any removal or weakening of the oil tanker moratorium, citing concerns about the environment and the risk of a tanker accident. Chief Councillor Bruce Reece stated that the nation will uphold its responsibility to safeguard marine ecosystems, while Deputy Chief Cameron Hill noted that the nation’s members source 60 per cent or more of their diet directly from the ocean, making the risk of a spill too great.
The Memorandum of Understanding and Its Implications
The meeting between the Gitga’at First Nation and Minister Sawhney comes after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith last month. The MOU outlines steps that would be taken if a private company were to propose building a pipeline to the northwest coast. However, the plan has faced heavy pushback, particularly from Coastal First Nations who say the project is never going to happen. The MOU also includes a provision for Ottawa to adjust the tanker ban "if necessary," which has sparked concerns among Indigenous communities and environmental groups.
The Response from the Assembly of First Nations and the B.C. Government
The Assembly of First Nations has voted unanimously to call on the federal government to withdraw from the MOU, with National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak stating that "when it comes to approving large national projects on First Nations lands, there will not be getting around rights holders." British Columbia’s NDP-led government has also expressed opposition to changing the moratorium, with Premier David Eby co-signing a declaration urging Ottawa to keep the ban in place. The declaration was signed last month, along with coastal First Nations, and emphasizes the importance of protecting the marine ecosystems and the rights of Indigenous communities.
The Risks and Concerns Associated with the Pipeline
The potential new oil pipeline from Alberta to B.C. has shed light on the dangerous B.C. waters that tankers would have to navigate if it’s built. The waters of the Dixon Entrance, the Hecate Strait, and the Queen Charlotte Sound are considered particularly risky for oil tanker traffic due to their high tidal ranges and strong currents. The risk of a spill is too great, according to the Gitga’at First Nation, and the nation’s members rely heavily on the ocean for their diet and livelihood. The voluntary tanker exclusion zone, which has been in place since 1985, stretching about 100 kilometres from the west coast of Haida Gwaii, is also an important measure to protect the marine ecosystems and prevent accidents.