Premier David Eby ratcheted up the emphasis on his hard “No” to a northern B.C. oil pipeline Wednesday, supported by coastal First Nation leaders with profound concerns about the threat oil shipping would pose to the Great Bear Rainforest.

They signed a “North Coast Protection Declaration,” which will intensify the breach between Eby and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. She is intent on building a new pipeline to Prince Rupert and rescinding the moratorium on tanker traffic to boost oil exports away from the U.S.

Eby said the declaration calls on Ottawa to stand up against voices calling for the cancellation of the north coast tanker ban to make way for a pipeline.

“This tanker exclusion zone recognizes the obvious, that one crude oil spill would destroy billions of dollars in economic activity, would destroy the livelihoods of thousands of people, and there is no technology, there is no ability to clean up that spill.

“We’ve only gotten started in terms of the opportunities along the north coast. Putting it at risk … makes absolutely no sense, either economically or for the........

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