British Columbia Premier David Eby and coastal First Nations leaders have signed a declaration urging the federal government to maintain the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which bans crude oil tankers off the province’s north coast. Eby warned that a single spill could devastate coastal economies and ecosystems, calling the ban essential for sustainable growth. Chief Marilyn Slett and Haida Nation President Jason Alsop reaffirmed long-standing opposition to tankers and pipelines, emphasizing cultural and environmental protection. The declaration directly counters Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s proposal to repeal the ban to advance a new oil pipeline, a plan Eby dismissed as lacking credible support.
