Last week Prime Minister Mark Carney was in Calgary to sign a historic Memorandum of Understanding with Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith which outlines a new energy pact, which among other developments, would see a path forward to develop a new bitumen oil pipeline to the northern coast of British Columbia.

Although some have applauded the move, many have criticised it as a political stunt. As Ottawa and Alberta try to contain the fallout, First Nations, Conservation Groups and even the Government of B.C. have already voiced their opposition to the plan and vowing that an oil pipeline and port through some of the most remote regions of the country will never be built.

Since the announcement on November 27th, former federal environment minister Steven Guilbeault has resigned in protest of the new agreement, the reception for Premier Smith signing the MOU was met with boos at her United Conservative Party conference over the weekend, and political pundits are criticising the pact as just political antics that has done little to appease Liberal MPs and Premier Smith’s far-right base in Alberta.

As rumours swirled before the signing of the MOU last week, Coastal First Nations, the Premier of B.C., David Eby and the Haisla Nation have all voiced their opposition. Earlier this month the CFN, including several non-member nations and the Government of B.C. signed the North Coast Protection Declaration. B.C. environment minister, and North Coast MLA Tamera Davidson had this to say about the government’s opposition to and insistence that they will never support oil transportation on the North Coast of B.C.