Cold Lake First Nations is demanding direct talks with Ottawa over the proposed Pathways Carbon Capture project — a $16.5 billion plan to pipe carbon emissions from oil sands sites to a storage hub near Cold Lake.
The Nation says the project directly affects their Treaty 6 rights and traditional lands, and that Prime Minister Mark Carney has not followed through on his July promise to consult with affected Nations before decisions are made. In a public letter, Chief Kelsey Jacko called for immediate meetings with CLFN and neighbouring Treaty 6 Nations.
The Pathways Alliance says it began outreach with Indigenous groups in 2023 and is holding public information sessions through 2025. But CLFN argues those efforts don’t amount to meaningful consultation, and is pushing for a full review under the federal Impact Assessment Act to address environmental risks and Treaty rights.
Chief Jacko says the Nation isn’t against development, but it must be done with accountability, transparency, and fair benefits for their people.
