Premier David Eby, Chief Marilyn Slett of the Coastal First Nations, Mayor Garry Reece of Lax Kw’alaams, Haida Nation President Jason Alsop, Indigenous Tourism B.C. CEO Paula Amos, and Hereditary Elder Clarence Innis came together today to sign the North Coast Protection Declaration. The statement reinforces a united vision for economic growth rooted in environmental stewardship across British Columbia’s North Coast.
The declaration highlights the success of the region’s conservation economy — a sector that has created over 1,400 permanent jobs, launched 140 businesses, and generated nearly $2 billion in value over the past 15 years through fisheries, tourism, renewable energy and coastal stewardship.
The leaders emphasize that protecting the coast is the foundation of prosperity, not a barrier to it. They warn that repealing the 2019 Oil Tanker Moratorium Act would endanger both local economies and ecosystems. The declaration calls on Ottawa to uphold the ban, describing coastal protection as a national duty and a proven economic investment in future generations.
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