Pipelines, Power, and the Cost of Ignoring BC's Voice

 The expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline has caused immense grief and division across British Columbia, highlighting a stark truth: our province’s voice is being drowned out by a system that prioritizes profits over people and the planet.

For years, BC residents, Indigenous communities, and environmental advocates have worked tirelessly to oppose the pipeline. We’ve marched, raised awareness, and even taken legal action, only to see it pushed through by governments determined to double down on fossil fuels. The cost? A fractured society, environmental risks, skyrocketing living costs, and deepening economic inequality.

The True Cost of the Pipeline

While Alberta’s oil sands may benefit from the pipeline expansion, BC shoulders a heavy and unfair burden. The effects ripple far beyond the environmental risks:

Skyrocketing Housing Costs: Towns like Hope, Kamloops, and other communities along the pipeline route have seen rents and housing prices soar due to the influx of temporary pipeline workers and speculation. This is driving out locals who are already struggling with BC’s housing crisis, leaving many without affordable options.

Environmental Risks: The risk of a catastrophic oil spill on BC’s pristine coastline is a constant threat, putting marine ecosystems, wildlife, and local industries—like fishing and tourism—at risk. Even the pipeline itself disrupts fragile ecosystems, waterways, and forests.

Indigenous Rights Violated: Despite federal claims of reconciliation, many Indigenous nations have been ignored or pressured into compliance. The pipeline expansion cuts through unceded territories, disregarding their rights and stewardship over the land.

Traffic and Noise Pollution: Pipeline construction and related activities have disrupted quiet communities, increasing traffic, noise, and stress levels for residents along the route.

Economic Inequality: While Alberta may reap short-term economic benefits, BC communities bear the brunt of long-term consequences, with little to no compensation for the damage done.

This is not just about a pipeline. It’s about the deeper struggles we face as a society—choosing between short-term economic gain and long-term sustainability, between centralized power and regional voices.

Why Alberta Needs BC

The irony is stark: Alberta depends on BC’s coast to ship its oil to global markets. Yet instead of collaborating, Alberta and federal authorities have steamrolled BC’s opposition, creating resentment that feels like exploitation.

This imbalance is fueling tensions between provinces and even sparking discussions about BC separating from Canada. Many in BC feel betrayed, forced to accept risks and sacrifices to enable Alberta’s fossil fuel industry.

The Bigger Picture

The pipeline expansion highlights Canada’s broader problem: the prioritization of fossil fuels and corporate profits over sustainability, social justice, and regional autonomy. Climate change is accelerating, and yet we continue investing in infrastructure that ties us to an outdated and harmful energy system.

A Call for Change

This fight isn’t over. Here’s how we can move forward:

1. Support Local Communities: Amplify the voices of those directly impacted by pipeline projects, from small-town residents to Indigenous leaders.

2. Demand a Just Transition: Advocate for renewable energy and green infrastructure that can create jobs without destroying ecosystems or displacing people.

3. Protect BC’s Autonomy: Push for greater provincial control over environmental policies and development decisions

4. Hold Governments Accountable: Demand transparency and accountability from both provincial and federal governments regarding the long-term impacts of these projects.

Our province is not a sacrifice zone, and our communities are not collateral damage for someone else’s profit. The pipeline may have been forced through, but our resolve to fight for a better future remains unbroken.

Let’s keep talking, organizing, and pushing for change. Together, we can turn grief into action and ensure BC’s voice is not only heard but heeded.