On October 1, 2026, NDP Indigenous Affairs and Environment Critic Leah Gazan Issued the Following Statement:
On September 30, 2026 MP Leah Gazan issued the following statement for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:
NDP Indigenous Affairs and Environment Critic Leah Gazan Statement on Pacific Link Pipeline
NDP Indigenous Affairs and Environment Critic Leah Gazan Statement on Pacific Link Pipeline
Today the Liberal government officially designated the Pacific Link pipeline as a project of national interest. This announcement was made in spite of fierce opposition by the vast majority of First Nations and environmental organizations who have raised a series of concerns about this project.
I would like to remind Carney’s Liberal government that they are constitutionally obligated to obtain the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples. This means they must respect the rights of Indigenous peoples to say yes, no, or yes with conditions. This not only includes the duty to consult, but also to provide information about potential accommodation that will be issued to a Nation prior to decisions being made.
The fact that Carney’s Liberal government has designated this pipeline as a project of national interest in spite of the over 110 First Nations' expressing concerns or complete opposition to the project is not only unacceptable, but in violation of Indigenous laws, Treaties and the Rule of Law.
The public feedback submissions about the pipeline were clear: the majority of First Nations opposed fast-tracking it, while the Assembly of First Nations has clearly called for the project to be slowed down so that proper consultations can ensue.
Instead of following the clear legal standard for consulting and accommodating First Nations, the government has set up a lending scheme where First Nations can take on a loan to become a partner in the project. I have to ask, why are First Nations being forced to buy their own lands, territories and resources from the government? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
This ignores the obvious fact that the government is using Indigenous lands for this project. You can’t loan someone money to buy what’s already theirs.
Projects of national interest should never be built off constitutional violations. That includes indigenous rights and environmental laws that have been put in place to protect all of us.
This announcement is simply a gift to the oil industry that’s already on track to make $100 billion in wartime profits this year alone, while saddling future generations with billions in public debt. And it will escalate the devastating environmental consequences we’ve already seen in wildfire seasons and extreme weather, jeopardizing our clean air, clean waters and lands, and undermining the health and wellbeing of all people in Canada.
Make no mistake: the only project that is being built is a pipeline to the courts. Failing to meet legal obligations while overriding environmental laws will only delay any realization of progress.
Contact:
MP Leah Gazan
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