COAST SALISH TERRITORY, VANCOUVER, BC (October 28, 2026) – Samuel Schooner, President of the Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative and elected Chief of the Nuxalk Nation, issued the following statement today in reaction to attempts by federal opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, to repeal the North Coast tanker ban:
“This afternoon, we learned that the Carney government once again chose to uphold Bill C-49, the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act.
“Communities on the North Coast have consistently said “no” to oil tankers for over 50 years. This position has not changed, and we are glad to see Prime Minister Carney has reaffirmed his governments’ position that oil tankers should avoid highly sensitive areas such as the Great Bear Sea – an ecologically rich and diverse marine ecosystem that sustains 50 percent of BC’s remaining wild salmon populations.
“Protecting our coast is not a barrier to economic prosperity, it is the source of it. The Prime Minister has acknowledged this in his government’s commitment of hundreds of millions in funding to improve waterway management, reduce shipping pollution, and strengthen response capacity through the Northern Shelf Bioregion Reconciliation Framework Agreement.
“Since 2018, this agreement has enabled First Nations along the North Pacific Coast to work with Canada and BC to protect ocean ecosystems and improve marine safety and local emergency preparedness across the Great Bear Sea.
“This investment recognizes that major projects in the region, including LNG and mining, depend upon safe and responsible shipping. Our work together helps protect nature while growing the economy.
“We look forward to continuing to work with all governments, including the newly-elected BC Conservative government, to support infrastructure and initiatives that build our natural wealth, protect the health of rural communities, and support dependable and diversified economies – on the BC coast, throughout the northwest, and across the country.”
About Coastal First Nations
For 25 years, Coastal First Nations has focused on building a sustainable conservation economy, delivering over 1,400 jobs and 140 new businesses to date. In the past 15 years, this economy has generated nearly $2 billion in economic value for British Columbia and Canada.
Media Contact:
Caitlin Thompson, Director of Communications
Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative
cthompson@coastalfirstnations.ca
250-305-8756
