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Métis leaders in oilsands region say they haven’t been consulted on proposed Pacific Link pipeline
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-15 12:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Alberta, British Columbia, Energy, Indigenous, Infrastructure]Métis leaders representing six communities in the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo region have accused Prime Minister Mark Carney and the federal government of failing to consult them regarding the proposed Pacific Link pipeline. The proposed 1,000,000 barrel-per-day oil pipeline—designated as being in the national interest under the Building Canada Act—aims to connect Alberta's oilsands to a deepwater port near Delta, British Columbia, with approvals targeted for September 2027 and operations slated for 2032 or 2033. While the federal government has engaged First Nations leadership and announced a 10 per cent Indigenous ownership stake, local Métis presidents including Ruby Ladouceur of Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation and Stella Lavallee of Willow Lake Métis Nation expressed concerns over potential environmental impacts and the lack of inclusion in project discussions.
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Cold Lake First Nations seeking judicial review of Pacific Link pipeline designation
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-08 19:37:43.0
Tags: [National, Alberta, British Columbia, Indigenous, Energy, Infrastructure]Cold Lake First Nations filed an application for judicial review in Federal Court challenging the federal government's decision to designate the Pacific Link pipeline as a project in the national interest under the Building Canada Act. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced the fast-tracking of the West Coast oil pipeline project with the goal of completing reviews and consultations over the next year to begin construction by next September. Cold Lake First Nations Chief Kelsey Jacko stated that his community was excluded from consultations on the designation despite being situated in the oilsands region. The legal challenge argues that the designation breaches Canadian law, is inconsistent with the honour of the Crown, and fails to account for adverse effects on Treaty No. 6 rights and cumulative oilsands development impacts.
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Water, toxic waste and opportunity: Indigenous leaders react to Carney's pipeline plan
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-08 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, British Columbia, Alberta, Energy, Environment, Indigenous]Prime Minister Mark Carney's federal government designated the Pacific Link pipeline project—designed to transport one million barrels of oil daily from Bruderheim, Alberta, to Roberts Bank, British Columbia—as a project in the national interest, targeting construction to begin within a year and operations by 2032. Indigenous leaders, including Sumas First Nation Chief Dalton Silver, Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi, and Fort McKay First Nation Chief Raymond Powder, have raised critical concerns regarding tight consultation timelines, potential environmental threats to water, fish, and wildlife, unresolved oilsands tailings management, and equitable community equity participation offering at least 10 per cent ownership.
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Beginning immunizations for viral respiratory season
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-10-07 16:45:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, Healthcare, Seniors, Indigenous]The Government of British Columbia, through the Ministry of Health, has launched its 2026-27 viral respiratory immunization campaign, securing nearly two million doses of influenza vaccine, 1.5 million doses of updated COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna Spikevax, Pfizer Comirnaty, and Sanofi Nuvaxovid), and introducing a targeted, free respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) program for seniors aged 75 and older and Indigenous individuals aged 60 and older. Notifications via the provincial Get Vaccinated system began on October 5, 2026, with appointments opening on October 13 across health authority clinics, over 1,400 participating pharmacies, and primary-care providers. The campaign aligns with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization guidelines to protect high-risk priority populations, including young children, seniors, pregnant individuals, and those with chronic health conditions.
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Indigenous, local leaders optimistic about new pipeline despite “host of issues” Carney says Federal government is yet to address
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-05 16:03:04.0
Tags: [National, Alberta, British Columbia, Energy, Infrastructure, Environment, Indigenous]Prime Minister Mark Carney, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, and Pembina Pipeline Corp. CEO Scott Burrows announced that the Pacific Link Pipeline (formerly West Coast Oil Pipeline) has been officially listed as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act. The project aims to export an additional one million barrels of Albertan oil per day to Asian markets, generate over $20 billion annually in GDP, create 140,000 jobs, and provide a 10 per cent ownership stake to Indigenous communities in British Columbia and Alberta through an accelerated single federal regulatory review process. However, the initiative faces ongoing concerns from local Indigenous groups—including Fort McKay First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation, and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation—regarding unresolved legacy issues, carbon capture and storage technologies like the Pathways Project, mine water release, and effluents regulations tied to a trilateral memorandum of understanding aiming to double regional oil production to eight million barrels per day within a decade.
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Separatist, environment, and some First Nation groups speak out against new Alberta-B.C. pipeline
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-02 20:03:56.0
Tags: [National, Alberta, British Columbia, Infrastructure, Energy, Environment, Indigenous]Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced that the Pacific Link pipeline, proposed by Pembina Pipeline Corporation, has been designated a project of national interest, allowing it to be fast-tracked through Ottawa's major projects office with construction potentially starting in September. The pipeline faces strong opposition from Alberta separatists like Let Alberta Decide over public financing and timing, B.C. and Alberta First Nations including Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and the Union of B.C. Indigenous Chiefs over lack of consultation and environmental impacts, and environmental groups like the Pembina Institute and Ecojustice over increased greenhouse gas emissions and risks to the Salish Sea.
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Indigenous groups given just 2 months to consult on Pacific Link pipeline designation
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-01 22:48:12.0
Tags: [National, Alberta, British Columbia, Energy, Resources, Indigenous]The federal government has designated the Alberta-to-West Coast oil pipeline, now called Pacific Link, as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act to fast-track its approvals. Indigenous communities along the 130-plus-community route were given an extended two-month consultation window ending September 18, 2026, though groups like the Assembly of First Nations and Cold Lake First Nations criticized the timeline and lack of detailed engineering and routing information. Prime Minister Mark Carney aims to begin construction by September 2027 to transport an additional one million barrels per day from the oil sands, while securing environmental safeguards, financing, and equity partnerships with groups such as Fort McKay First Nation.
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First candidate area announced for Working Forest Landscape Model
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-09-15 14:45:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, Resources, Environment, Indigenous, Industry, Governance]The British Columbia Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, in partnership with the Na̲nwak̲olas Council (including the Tlowitsis, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and K’ómoks First Nations), have identified an area north of Campbell River as the first candidate site to explore a three-zone Working Forest Landscape Model. The model divides public forests into a Working-Forest Zone for commercial timber, a Multiple-Use Zone for biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, and a Conservation and Protection Zone. This exploration phase aims to improve predictability for industry, workers, and First Nations while addressing fibre constraints, climate pressures, and biodiversity values across tenures such as Tree Farm Licence 64 and BC Timber Sales operating areas.
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Community forests expanding in McLeod Lake/Mackenzie, north Island
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-09-14 19:00:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, Resources, Environment, Indigenous, Industry, Municipal]The British Columbia Ministry of Forests, led by Minister Ravi Parmar, announced the expansion of two community forests to enhance local forest management, support wildfire resilience, and secure sustainable fibre supply. The McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest, established in 2009 and partnered with the McLeod Lake Indian Band, is being expanded by nearly 10,400 hectares with an annual wood fibre allocation of 20,000 cubic metres. Meanwhile, the North Island Community Forest LP, established in 2011, is advancing an expansion that includes more than 8,100 cubic metres of wood fibre annually. These area-based forest licenses are managed collaboratively by local governments, community groups, and First Nations to generate regional economic benefits and well-paying jobs.
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Building wildfire resilience throughout B.C.
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-09-13 20:00:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, Emergency, Climate, Environment, Infrastructure, Indigenous]The Government of British Columbia announced an investment of $15 million under Budget 2026 for the 2027 FireSmart Community Funding and Supports (FCFS) program, with applications opening October 1, 2026. Delivered in partnership with the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society, the program funds local wildfire-risk-reduction projects, education, home assessments, and mitigation planning. Since 2018, approximately $190 million has been invested through the initiative, supporting more than 300 communities, including 158 First Nations and 155 local governments.
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Enabling more communities to dial 911 in an emergency
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-09-11 16:15:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, Emergency, Public Safety, Indigenous, Infrastructure]The Government of British Columbia is making up to $5 million available through Next Generation 911 (NG911) funding to help eligible rural, remote, and Indigenous communities transition from local 10-digit emergency numbers to standard three-digit 911 calling. Administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM), this funding is part of a broader $60-million provincial package announced in 2023 to support the emergency services transition. The grants will cover one-time technical, contractual, and coordination work, including public education, mapping, signage, and fire department enablement. This initiative builds on regional connectivity expansions to ensure reliable access to police, fire, and ambulance services across regions like Haida Gwaii.
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Strengthening public notifications, evacuation-route plans
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-09-09 15:30:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, Emergency, Climate, Indigenous, Infrastructure]The Government of British Columbia, through the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness and administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, has approved more than $1.3 million for 29 projects across 36 First Nations and local governments via the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund. The funding supports the development and updating of evacuation-route plans, route mapping, public-notification plans, and tabletop validation exercises to enhance disaster readiness. Notable recipients include the Neskonlith Indian Band, the District of Kitimat, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (partnering with the Village of McBride, Village of Valemount, District of Mackenzie, and Simpcw First Nation), and the Town of Creston, among 25 other regional districts and First Nations. Since 2017, the CEPF has allocated approximately $7.8 million across 212 projects for this specific funding stream.
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Setting new harvest level in Omineca region
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-09-04 16:45:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, Resources, Environment, Indigenous, Industry, Economy]British Columbia's deputy chief forester has reduced the allowable annual cut (AAC) for Tree Farm Licence 30 in the Omineca region by 17.6% to 340,000 cubic metres, effective September 4, 2026. The independent regulatory decision under the Forest Act accounts for changing economic availability, climate change considerations, and the protection of archeological sites, rare ecosystems, streams, fish habitat, and wildlife such as moose. The approximately 180,000-hectare licence area, located northeast of Prince George in the Prince George Natural Resource District, overlaps the traditional territories of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, West Moberly First Nations, and Tsay Keh Dene Nation, whose consultations and stewardship input informed the final determination.
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Opening engagement on dock management in southern Gulf Islands
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-09-03 21:15:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, Environment, Resources, Indigenous, Governance]The Government of British Columbia, through the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, has opened a public consultation period running from September 3, 2026, to October 18, 2026, regarding a draft Strategic Management Plan for private marine docks on Crown foreshore areas in the southern Gulf Islands and southeastern Vancouver Island. Following a pause on new private moorage applications implemented in 2021 that ended in March 2026, the proposed strategy establishes guidelines to balance environmental protection, First Nations rights, public coastline access, and clear application requirements. Existing authorized docks will not be forced to relocate or be removed, but owners will be required to transition to defined best management practices over time.
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North Coast Transmission Line breaking ground to power economic growth
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-09-03 18:40:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, National, Infrastructure, Energy, Mining, Indigenous]The Government of British Columbia and BC Hydro, alongside federal funding support through the Canada-British Columbia Co-operative Prosperity Agreement and the Canada Infrastructure Bank, have broken ground on the North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL) to expand clean electricity infrastructure in northern B.C. The multi-phase project—consisting of Phase 1 from Prince George to Glenannan (completing by mid-2030) and Phase 2 extending toward Terrace (construction beginning in 2027 and completing by winter 2032)—will more than double transmission capacity to power major mining, energy, and industrial projects. Once finished, the NCTL is expected to employ 1,400 workers at peak construction, create 9,700 direct full-time jobs, contribute nearly $10 billion annually to provincial GDP, and generate approximately $950 million annually in provincial and municipal revenue. Additionally, the project involves ongoing negotiations to finalize co-ownership agreements with First Nations by the end of the year to ensure direct economic participation and sustained revenue sharing.
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Strengthening supports for survivors of intimate-partner violence
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-09-03 18:00:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, National, Justice, Social Services, Indigenous, Public Safety]The British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General is receiving more than $3 million in funding for the 2026-27 fiscal year under the federal National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence to advance recommendations from the 2025 Stanton Report. The funding will expand the Safe Supports Project in rural and northern communities, add up to three family court support workers, develop public-awareness strategies, review behaviour-change programs for men and boys, and advance the B.C. First Nations Justice Strategy by funding the Indigenous Justice Centres' Aunties Program. These investments complement B.C.'s broader Safe and Supported Gender-Based Violence Action Plan, which includes over $60 million annually provided by the Province to support approximately 475 victim-service and violence-against-women programs.
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Helping businesses adapt, grow, create jobs through new grants
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-08-28 18:15:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, National, Economy, Labour, Industry, Indigenous]The Governments of Canada and British Columbia have launched a $2.7 million funding initiative under Phase 2 of the Rural and Remote Employment Initiatives Fund to support northern B.C. businesses and First Nations development corporations responding to global tariffs. Administered by the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), the funding is split into two programs opening for applications on September 2, 2026: the Business Diversification and Sustainability (BDS) program, which provides grants of up to $200,000 covering up to 75% of project costs for small and medium-sized businesses totaling $1.8 million, and the First Nations Business Development Capacity Building program, which provides up to $75,000 per applicant covering up to 90% of eligible costs totaling $900,000. The investment is supported by federal funding through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement as part of a broader $5-million provincial response to tariffs.
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Taking the next step to modernize B.C. forest management
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-08-27 15:00:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, Resources, Environment, Industry, Indigenous]The Government of British Columbia, co-led by the Ministry of Forests under Minister Ravi Parmar and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship under Minister Randene Neill, is introducing a Working Forest Landscape Model featuring a three-zone framework. The proposed model divides public forests into a Working-Forest Zone for commercial timber production aiming to stabilize an annual harvest of 45 million cubic metres, a Multiple-Use Zone focused on biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, and a Conservation and Protection Zone to support the provincial commitment to protect 30% of B.C.'s land base by 2030. In fall 2026, the Province will announce select candidate areas identified through engagement with First Nations, industry, local governments, and environmental groups to begin testing the zonation approach.
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