Alberta's Minister of Indigenous Relations, Rajan Sawhney, states that current support for a new West Coast oil pipeline among First Nations communities is evenly divided, describing it as '50/50 right now' between support and concern. Despite vocal opposition from some groups, the Alberta government maintains its timeline to propose the pipeline to the federal government by mid-2026.
Consultation Timeline and Federal Process
Sawhney clarified that substantive consultation with Indigenous communities along the proposed route will begin in earnest after the application is submitted to the federal Major Projects Office in May 2026. No Alberta infrastructure projects were included in the office's first two waves of announcements since its late August 2025 opening. However, a November 2025 memorandum of understanding between Alberta and Ottawa on a new oil pipeline to the West Coast aims to secure a spot on the federally backed major projects list.
The proposed pipeline faces significant hurdles, including the need for an exemption from the federal oil tanker ban off British Columbia's northwest coast. Opposition has been notably strong from groups like Coastal First Nations, a non-profit organization representing several B.C. Indigenous bands opposed to development in the area.
Addressing Concerns and Misconceptions
Minister Sawhney, who made three trips to British Columbia in 2025 and plans a fourth for February 2026, argues that the loudest opposing voices do not represent all impacted communities. "In every community I've visited, they say 'no one speaks for us except for us,'" she stated.
She reports that while two nations have firmly rejected the proposal, others are primarily asking questions about safety and spill prevention. Sawhney believes many concerns will diminish once her government can address common misconceptions about oil transportation. "We have to talk about technology and innovation. We have to talk about tankers and how the technology has improved there," she explained.
Some First Nations bands have expressed interest in replicating a spill response model like the Western Canada Marine Spill Response Corporation, which patrols the Trans Mountain pipeline route, on the North Coast.
Pathway to Approval
If the Major Projects Office endorses the pipeline proposal, it would initiate a two-year countdown toward a final decision. Prime Minister Mark Carney has stipulated that projects fast-tracked by the office must advance both Canadian and Indigenous economic interests. Sawhney concedes she has a long road ahead to dispel skepticism but is committed to the engagement process leading up to the 2026 application deadline.
