Indigenous-led resistance stopped Teck Frontier Mine

Allan Lissner | Indigenous Climate Action

Historic resistance shelved the largest tar sands mine ever-proposed. This never would have happened without a cross-country, Indigenous-led, people powered movement

In February 2020, we asked Justin Trudeau and his cabinet to imagine the year 2050 and Reject Teck. If his cabinet approved the Teck Frontier Mine instead of tackling the climate crisis, they would have set off a global climate bomb that would devastate communities around the world and leave Canada unrecognizable.

Thanks to people power, Teck Frontier shelved the project in late February 2020. In the letter announcing its decision, Teck made it clear that it was only walking away from the project because people all across the country were demanding bold climate action.

This was a huge victory for the climate movement! And, it makes it crystal clear that organized people can beat organized money.

Now, Justin Trudeau’s cabinet must get to work transforming our economy to meet the climate crisis. That starts with legislating a Green New Deal.

Join the movement to push our elected leaders to work across partisan lines and govern for a Green New Deal – the only plan to tackle the climate emergency and rising inequality at the scale that science and justice demand.

Join the movement for a Green New Deal

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the climate impacts of Teck Frontier?

If built, the Teck Frontier Mine would be the largest tar sands expansion project ever built. It will release more than 150 million tonnes of CO₂ over its lifespan which is expected to extend past 2060. That’s more than 6 million tonnes of CO₂ a year — roughly the same as nearly 1.5 million new cars a year on Canada’s roads. We can’t afford Teck Frontier in the midst of a climate emergency.

Trudeau and his cabinet need to remember that it’s their children and grandchildren who are going to have to fix their climate mistakes. The world won’t forgive them for approving the Teck Frontier Mine.

Why 2050?

First, 2050 is the year the world’s best scientists have told us we need to reach zero emissions to avert the most severe climate impacts. Second, it’s the year Justin Trudeau has promised to bring Canada to zero emissions. Third, it’s still more than a decade from the end of this mine’s lifespan. Add all that up and it’s clear that if Justin Trudeau and his cabinet approve this mine today, they’ll regret it in 2050— and, most likely, much sooner.

Why should Trudeau and his Ministers think about the future and get to work on a Green New Deal?

They should be thinking about their kids and their grandkids. They should be thinking about the wildfires in Australia and asking themselves, do I want to see more of this? Do I want to displace more people, destroy more lands and lives? The answer should be no to those questions. And the only plan currently on the table to tackle the climate crisis at the scale scientist and justice demands.

What can I do now?

Join the movement to push our elected leaders to work across partisan lines and govern for a Green New Deal, the only plan on the table to tackle the climate emergency and rising inequality at the scale science and justice requires. Learn more here: https://our-time.ca