COAST SALISH TERRITORY, VANCOUVER, BC (Sept. 29, 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 Prime Minister Carney’s announcement of a historic investment in ocean protection:
“We are pleased to see the federal investment of $186M in our Reconciliation Framework Agreement for Bioregional Ocean Management and Protection. 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.
“Major projects across northwest BC are expected to more than triple shipping traffic by 2040. This brings increased risks of accidents as well as impacts on sensitive coastal ecosystems. Our communities have consistently advocated for investments in safe and responsible shipping to keep pace with increased economic development; this announcement is a step towards advancing these collaborative efforts to prepare us for what lies ahead.
“Protecting our coast is not a barrier to economic prosperity, it is the source of it. We look forward to continuing to work with both the provincial and federal governments to support infrastructure and initiatives that protect our coasts and wildlife, build our natural wealth, nurture healthy and resilient communities, and support sustainable economies on this coast and across the country.”
About Coastal First Nations
For 25 years, Coastal First Nations has focused on building a sustainable conservation economy, delivering thousands of 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
