Victoria City Council opposes West Coast Oil Pipeline

The Victoria City Council has formally voted to oppose the proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline, which aims to transport Alberta crude to the British Columbia coast. Mayor Marianne Alto confirmed the city will prepare a submission to the federal government opposing the project’s designation as being in the national interest.

The proposed 1,250-kilometre pipeline is expected to have a capacity of up to one million barrels of oil per day, potentially delivering crude to Delta. While the federal and provincial governments support the project as a vital economic engine, council members argued that the environmental risks to the coastline and biodiversity outweigh the economic benefits.

Councillor Susan Kim, who spearheaded the motion, stated that the federal government is ignoring the climate crisis. The designation of the project as being in the national interest under the Building Canada Act would allow the federal government to fast-track approvals and bypass certain environmental laws. The city's submission is part of a consultation process that remains open until September 18.