May 15th 2026
Vancouver, Canada — In response to Carney and Smith finalizing their MOU to build a new West Coast pipeline, Atiya Jaffar, Canada Country Manager at 350.org, issued the following statement:
“Today’s announcement launching a tar sands pipeline to the Salish Sea and undercutting the industrial carbon price is the final nail in the coffin for Canada’s climate policy. Between the finalized Alberta MOU and last week’s proposals to decimate environmental regulations, Carney is granting Big Oil everything on their wish list. Canadians will pay the price for these dangerous decisions for decades to come.”
The proposed pipeline to the West Coast could begin construction as early as September 2027. This latest announcement comes on the heels of a discussion paper released by the Carney government last week proposing to expedite the review process for energy projects by exempting new pipeline projects from environmental assessments, creating federal economic zones to pre-approve new projects, and placing limits on consultations with Indigenous communities and the public.
“We aren’t just fighting one pipeline. We’re fighting a Trump-inspired “flood the zone” strategy designed to overwhelm the public with a slew of attacks on climate action.” Atiya Jaffar added “But we’re not backing off. We’re doubling down to resist Carney’s destruction agenda and protect our shared future. Mark our words, Carney, people across Canada will rise up to to defend our communities, Indigenous rights, and our planet.”
350.org is a global climate justice organization building a movement that fights for a fairer future for all. Over the last decade, 350 has built a people-powered movement opposing the expansion of the Canadian tar sands by mobilizing cross-country resistance to pipelines such as Energy East and Trans Mountain. More recently, 350 has fought for critical climate action policies that help accelerate a transition to a renewable energy future.
Currently, 350.org’s team in Canada is building grassroots opposition to new pipeline development and Carney’s deregulation agenda, campaigning in support of a renewable energy transition, and fighting for an immediate Excess Profits Tax on the wartime profits of the fossil fuel industry.
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Photo by Robert Van Waarden