Canada Considers New Alberta-Asia Pipeline Amidst Indigenous Opposition and Environmental Concerns
Canada is considering approval of a new pipeline to transport bitumen from Alberta to Asia, which could involve lifting the 53-year tanker ban on British Columbia's north coast and accelerating the permitting process. Prime Minister Mark Carney supports the project, aiming to move at least one million barrels per day and utilizing new powers to shorten approvals.
The pipeline would require large oil tankers to navigate through the Hecate Strait into the Gulf of Alaska, a storm-prone and highly hazardous corridor. This prospect has raised significant opposition from Coastal First Nations — nine nations along BC's central coast — who object to lifting the tanker ban and the pipeline on environmental and cultural grounds, urging the upholding of the ban.
The opposition is underscored by concerns from the Heiltsuk and other Indigenous groups, who highlight past environmental damage such as the Nathan E Stewart diesel spill in October 2016. That spill released approximately 110,000 litres of diesel near Seaforth Channel, requiring a 40-day cleanup involving 45 vessels and 200 personnel, and causing damage to harvesting sites and the local ecosystem. These groups have sought recognition of cultural losses and have lobbied international bodies to reform maritime law, citing inadequate compensation for non-economic harms.
British Columbia Premier David Eby has also spoken against lifting the tanker ban, calling it a grave mistake that could jeopardize other regional projects, including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals, even though he supports some development in the area.
