A major federalprovincial agreement announced in Vancouver has reaffirmed Canada’s North Coast oil tanker ban, a longstanding environmental protection measure.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and BC Premier David Eby confirmed the ban will remain in place as part of a multibilliondollar Cooperative Prosperity Agreement.

The deal includes major investments in mining, forestry, electricity transmission, and upgrades to the Port of Vancouver — all aimed at powering “decades of job growth and prosperity,” according to BC’s premier.

While the agreement maintains the tanker moratorium, it also opens the door for Alberta’s proposed crude pipeline only if routed through southern BC, ensuring northern coastal ecosystems remain protected.

Coastal First Nations welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the Great Bear Sea from spill risks.

This landmark deal positions Vancouver as a central hub in Canada’s longterm economic and environmental strategy.