# British Columbia local opposition to West Coast Oil Pipeline

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/british-columbia-local-opposition-to-west-coast-oil-pipeline
> Updated: 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

Local governments in British Columbia are mounting opposition to the proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline, a 1,250-kilometre project intended to transport up to one million barrels of Alberta crude per day to a terminal in Delta.

On September 6, the Victoria City Council voted to oppose the project, with Mayor Marianne Alto confirming the city would submit a formal opposition to the federal government regarding the pipeline’s designation as being in the ‘national interest’. Council members argued that environmental risks to biodiversity and the coastline outweigh economic benefits, with Councillor Susan Kim stating the federal government is ‘ignoring the climate crisis’.

Following this, the Sooke District Council voted on September 8 to revive and strengthen a 2023 demand for increased coastal protections. Sooke officials expressed concerns regarding catastrophic oil spills, underwater noise, and the impact of increased tanker traffic on endangered southern resident killer whales and the local tourism economy. The council intends to submit a letter to the federal Major Projects Office by September 18, requesting that the province coordinate with Transport Canada to restrict tanker movement during unsafe sea conditions and assist in stockpiling spill-response resources.

## Claims

- Sooke Council voted on September 8 to revive and strengthen a 2023 letter regarding coastal protection. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- A proposed pipeline supported by Alberta could transport one million barrels of oil per day to a terminal at Roberts Bank in Delta. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The revised letter will be submitted to the federal Major Projects Office by the September 18 deadline. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The council's letter requests that the province seek an agreement with Transport Canada to prevent tanker entry during unsafe sea conditions. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-15: Sooke Council seeks stronger coastal protections against oil pipeline

Sooke Council has voted to strengthen demands for coastal protections as a new oil pipeline proposal threatens to increase tanker traffic and spill risks near British Columbia.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sooke-council-seeks-stronger-coastal-protections-against-oil-pipeline

### 2026-09-06: Victoria City Council opposes West Coast Oil Pipeline

Victoria City Council has formally opposed the proposed West Coast Oil Pipeline, citing environmental risks and climate concerns regarding the project's potential national interest designation.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/victoria-city-council-opposes-west-coast-oil-pipeline

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Cite as: British Columbia local opposition to West Coast Oil Pipeline. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/british-columbia-local-opposition-to-west-coast-oil-pipeline