The Pathways Alliance, a coalition of the largest oil sands companies including Canadian Natural Resources, Cenovus Energy, and Suncor Energy, has proposed a massive $16 billion carbon capture and storage (CCS) network in northeast Alberta. It would be the largest CCS project in Canada – and one of the largest in the world. Allowing a project this size to proceed without an environmental assessment is unacceptable. 

Impacted First Nations, local community groups and environmental organizations have all raised the alarm about the public health and safety risks of this massive project. Despite these risks, the Government of Alberta refused to conduct a provincial environmental assessment of the project. 

That prompted eight First Nations to request that the federal government intervene by designating the CCS project for a federal environmental assessment. Since then, Pathways Alliance has requested numerous delays to avoid this project from undergoing federal review.

The federal government has the power to ensure proper due diligence on this massive project and protect the health and safety of impacted First Nations and local communities.  We must hold them accountable.

The risks associated with the project include dangerous carbon dioxide leaks and explosions, increased air pollution, risks to groundwater and drinking water, and stress on watersheds. That’s why an environmental assessment is critical: it’s an opportunity to look at the project as a whole and ensure all environmental, economic, health and social impacts, as well as impacts on Indigenous inherent and treaty rights, are identified before a project is approved.

The communities that would bear all of the risks from the project deserve real answers about the dangers posed to their families. Billions in taxpayer money have been promised to support the project. The federal government must ensure that public money isn’t supporting projects that cause harm and devastation to local communities. 

Tell the federal government to immediately designate the Pathways Alliance Carbon Capture and Storage project for federal environmental assessment – and choose the climate, environment and Indigenous rights over the shallow interests of oil and gas CEOs. 

Your letter will be sent to the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Your local MP and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada