Coastal First Nations in B.C. vow oil pipeline to coast will never happen

The president of the Coastal First Nations in British Columbia says an oil pipeline linking Alberta to the province’s north coast “will never happen.” In a news release issued Wednesday morning, Marilyn Slett says her group — which represents nearly a dozen First Nation groups along the B.C. coast — has faced a “wall of silence” from the federal government on a possible pipeline deal with Alberta. The group is not the only voice in B.C. to raise concerns this week about a pipeline agreement between Ottawa and Alberta, which is expected to be announced Thursday when Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Calgary. B.C. Premier David Eby says he told Carney on Monday that it was “unacceptable” for Ottawa and Alberta to negotiate a possible pipeline project in his province without involving his government. Speaking to reporters this week, federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said the federal government would speak with B.C. “in short order” and that B.C. has benefited from Ottawa’s push for major projects more than any other province. Carney said Tuesday in the House of Commons that B.C. and First Nations have to agree to construction of a pipeline to the Pacific coast. Story by Nick Murray Continue Reading