Ahead of Federal Budget, Indigenous Leaders, Rural Communities and Environmental Groups Unite Against Federal Funding for Fossil Fuel Projects
Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People —Ahead of next week’s federal budget announcement, Indigenous leaders, Albertan rural community representatives, and environmental organizations from across Canada are in Ottawa to demand an end to billions in public funding for risky fossil fuel infrastructure projects, including a new pipeline, LNG terminals and the Pathways carbon capture and storage project.
The delegation is meeting with Members of Parliament and government officials to raise urgent concerns about the scale of public funding that has been announced for these projects, as well as the legislative and regulatory rollbacks, including Bill C-39.
They are calling on Budget 2026 to reject new subsidies and public financing for fossil fuel infrastructure, uphold Indigenous rights and consent, and prioritize public investments in clean energy that deliver lasting benefits for Canadians.
The delegation includes Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) and other representatives from ACFN; Chief Na’Moks, Hereditary Chief of the Tsayu (Beaver Clan) of the Wet’suwet’en Nation; Gwii Lok’im Gibuu (Jesse Stoeppler), Gitxsan Wilp Spookwx and Executive Director of the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition; representatives of No CO2 Pipelines Alberta, a grassroots coalition of rural residents, farmers and Indigenous Nations; Keepers of the Water; Quebec Environmental Law Centre; Greenpeace; 350.org; West Coast Environmental Law, and Environmental Defence Canada.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Media are invited to hear directly from Indigenous leaders, rural community representatives and environmental advocates about the scale and risks of public financing for fossil fuel infrastructure, the importance of Indigenous rights and consent, and the need to invest in a clean energy future.
What: Press conference
Who:
- Chief Allan Adam, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
- Chief Na’Moks, Hereditary Chief of the Tsayu (Beaver Clan), Wet’suwet’en Nation
- Amil Shapka, Co-founder, No CO2 Pipelines Alberta
- Julia Levin, Associate Director, National Climate, Environmental Defence Canada
- Felix Bibeau, Advisor on Government and Public Affairs, Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement
When: October 28, 2026 — 9:30 am ET to 10:00 am ET
Where: Parliamentary Press Gallery, Room 135-B, West Block, 111 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario
Non-Press Gallery Members to contact pressres2@parl.gc.ca for temporary access or Zoom link.
MEDIA CONTACT
Midhat Moini, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
