COLD LAKE FIRST NATIONS, AB — Cold Lake First Nations (CLFNS) has filed an application for judicial review in Federal Court challenging Canada’s Oct. 1 decision to designate the West Coast Oil Pipeline, now known as the Pacific Link Pipeline, as a project of national interest.
CLFNS is taking this step to protect its Treaty rights, lands and the Nation’s interests for future generations.
Canada has repeatedly stated that the Pacific Link Pipeline and the Pathways Project are “mutually dependent.” CLFNS is seeking meaningful consultation on both projects, which Canada considers to be in the “national interest.”
As a Nation with direct involvement in the energy sector, CLFNS supports responsible development. The Nation sits at the heart of in situ oil sands development in Canada and wants to ensure development is done right, with meaningful consultation and clear answers about the long-term impacts of projects in the region.
The Pacific Link Pipeline is intended to transport up to one million barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta to the British Columbia coast. The Pathways Project would be one of the largest carbon capture and storage projects of its kind, capturing carbon dioxide from oil sands facilities and storing it underground within CLFNS’ traditional territory.
CLFNS has been raising concerns with Canada since 2023 about the potential environmental, geological and safety risks related to the proposed storage hub, as well as the cumulative impacts of oil sands development in its territories.
CLFNS has repeatedly asked Canada to consult with the Nation on both Pacific Link and Pathways and has proposed options for meaningful and timely engagement. Despite those efforts, Canada moved ahead with the national interest designation without meaningful consultation with the Nation.
This legal action does not close the door to working with Canada. CLFNS remains committed to working collaboratively toward a constructive path, but responsibility to take the first step outside the courtroom now rests with Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has spoken about building major projects in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. CLFNS calls on the Prime Minister and Canada to honour that commitment by working with the Nation to build projects and solutions together. That means ensuring CLFNS is at the table and meaningfully consulted, with the Nation’s concerns accommodated, before decisions are made about projects that affect the Nation.
CLFNS will continue to protect its people, lands and Treaty rights while advocating for responsible development, meaningful participation and a fair share of the benefits generated from its lands and resources.