Coast Salish Territory, Vancouver, BC (July 2, 2026) – Marilyn Slett, President of the Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative and elected Chief of the Heiltsuk Nation, issued the following statement today in reaction to BC’s announcement regarding their commitment to uphold the North Coast tanker ban in their landmark agreement with the federal government:
“Today is a good day. Today, we learned that the province of BC and Canada have pledged to uphold the North Coast tanker ban as part of their cooperative agreement.
“We applaud BC Premier David Eby for his leadership in upholding the oil tanker ban and we thank Prime Minister Carney for recognizing the importance of our coast.
“British Columbians, Canadians and the First Nations who call this place home want this region to remain protected. There is no technology that can clean up an oil spill at sea, and a single oil spill could destroy our way of life. We remain steadfast in our position that oil tankers will never be part of our vision for a healthy, productive and sustainable North Coast.
“It’s important to remember the North Coast tanker ban is the result of over 50 years of advocacy from First Nations and communities across Northern BC and has been supported by federal and provincial governments of all political stripes. Protecting the North Coast means protecting thousands of jobs, hundreds of businesses, and billions in economic value we have built up over several decades.
“The tanker ban also protects one of the most productive and ecologically valuable cold-water marine ecosystems on earth – the Great Bear Sea. This region supports over 50 percent of BC’s wild Pacific salmon, significant populations of whales and bears, including the globally renowned white “spirit” bear, as well as sea wolves, migratory birds, and an abundance of rare and critical marine and nearshore habitats.
“Northwest BC is already home to one third of the major projects announced over the past year, and many of these will significantly increase shipping traffic through the North Coast. Together, we can build durable economic partnerships, invest in the infrastructure needed to ensure safe and reliable shipping, and protect our environment — creating lasting benefits for Canadians for generations to come.”
Google Drive with photos and B-roll of the Great Bear Sea available here.
About Coastal First Nations
For 25 years, Coastal First Nations has focused on building a sustainable conservation economy, delivering over 1400 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
