Defending British Columbia’s North Coast From Oil Tankers

On July 2, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney and BC Premier David Eby agreed that their two governments would uphold Bill C-48 — the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act. In doing so they have maintained a ban on oil tankers along BC’s coast from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to the Alaska border. The ban had recently come under threat from new pipelines being discussed between Canada and Alberta.

“Today is a good day,” announced Heiltsuk Chief Marilyn Slett, president of the Coastal First Nations Great Bear Initiative. “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.” Chief Slett affirmed that the Coastal First Nations would use “every tool in their toolbox,” to prevent oil tankers from endangering the coastal environment and remain steadfast that “oil tankers will never be part of our vision for a healthy, productive and sustainable North Coast.”

Mandell Pinder LLP congratulates Chief Slett and the Coastal First Nations – Haida, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo Xai’xais, Metlakatla, Gitga’at, Gitxaała, Nuxalk, and Wuikinuxv – for successfully achieving Canada and BC’s continued commitment to uphold the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act that they worked for decades to have put in place.

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