Indigenous groups say they were 'kept in dark' as west coast oil pipeline plans advance
The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and other Indigenous communities say the proposed Pathways carbon capture project lacks consultation and environmental transparency.
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Indigenous groups across northeastern Alberta say they have been excluded from decision-making on a major carbon capture pipeline project despite being the communities most affected by its risks.
The Pathways Project is a 650-kilometre CO₂ pipeline network estimated to transport millions of tonnes of compressed carbon dioxide from oilsands production sites to a storage facility in the Cold Lake region. It is part of a broader $1.25 billion west coast oil pipeline proposal that the federal government declared a "project of national interest" in August.
Keji Banjoko, government relations and consultation coordinator at the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations (ACFN), said the CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage) proposals are another way for the oilsands industry to keep producing more oil while appearing environmentally responsible. "There is no real information on the environmental impact of this pipeline, we were not given ability to say no," Banjoko said. "No consultations have come through with ACFN, yet we are being asked to trust an industry that has harmed the community for generations."
Banjoko was present at a Fort McMurray town hall on Monday hosted by No to CO₂ Pipelines Alberta, a grassroots coalition formed by concerned landowners, farmers, and Indigenous communities. The group officially launched in Edmonton in March and aims to provide "independent information and created opportunities for residents to ask questions and engage in informed discussion" around the implications of the project.
Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean said on August 14 that the province will continue work with the federal government, private sector, and Indigenous partners to ensure the west coast pipeline is built. "Every barrel that moves through this pipeline supports jobs on rigs, in the field and in the communities that depend on this industry, from Fort McMurray to the Peace region and right across the province," Jean said.
The announcement came two weeks after the federal government's declaration and a month after a Memorandum of Understanding between Alberta, Canada, and the Oil Sands Alliance was signed. The Oil Sands Alliance claims that when fully operational, the Pathways Project will have the capacity to safely transport and store millions of tonnes of CO₂.
What consultation timeline and process has the Oil Sands Alliance committed to with Indigenous groups?
What environmental impact assessments have been completed for the Pathways CO₂ pipeline?
How much CO₂ storage capacity exists in the Cold Lake region, and what are the long-term monitoring and liability plans?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What is the Pathways Project?
The Pathways Project is a 650-kilometre CO₂ pipeline network that will transport millions of tonnes of compressed carbon dioxide from oilsands production sites to a storage facility in the Cold Lake region.
When did the federal government declare the west coast oil pipeline a project of national interest?
The federal government declared the west coast oil pipeline proposal a 'project of national interest' in August 2026.
When did the No to CO₂ Pipelines Alberta coalition officially launch?
No to CO₂ Pipelines Alberta officially launched in Edmonton in March 2026.
What did Alberta's Energy and Minerals Minister say on August 14, 2026?
On August 14, 2026, Brian Jean said Alberta will continue work with the federal government, private sector, and Indigenous partners to ensure the west coast pipeline is built, stating it supports jobs across the province from Fort McMurray to the Peace region.
