Press Release

Communities across Canada rally at MPs’ offices for national day of action opposing the federal government’s push for new pipelines and attacks on climate policy

For immediate release 

Vancouver, June 25, 2026

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In response to Prime Minister Carney signing the Canada-Alberta MOU, 40 communities from coast to coast joined a national mobilization today to deliver a People’s MOU to their local Member of Parliament. The demands of the people’s MOU are clear: stop fast-tracking destruction, stop building climate-burning pipelines, and stop letting Big Oil profit at our expense. 

The People’s MOU Day of Action, coordinated by 350.org Canada, is taking place one week before the deadline for Alberta to propose a route for its new West Coast Pipeline, which would endanger communities, destroy ecosystems, and increase the emissions that drive extreme heat. This day of action also marks the five-year anniversary of the BC Heat Dome, the deadliest extreme-weather event in Canadian history.

“Today is the 5-year anniversary of the heat dome, when 619 people in my province lost their lives due to extreme heat. This tragic event should have been a wake-up call for our political leaders, a sobering signal to take the climate emergency seriously. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The Canada-Alberta MOU and the broader Carney agenda to fast-track destruction is a massive gift to Big Oil. That’s why, today, people in 40+ communities took matters into their own hands. Today, we made it clear to our Members of Parliament that it’s time for a new deal that works for people and protects our communities, our climate, and our future. ” – Atiya Jaffar, Canada Team Lead, 350.org

At a local action in Toronto–Danforth, over 60 constituents and concerned Canadians gathered at Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin’s office with a giant printout of the People’s MOU – a deal to protect our communities, our climate, and our future. Speakers included Emilia Belliveau from Environmental Defence and Janelle Lapointe from the David Suzuki Foundation, who highlighted the risks, costs, and climate impacts of Alberta’s proposed bitumen pipeline and outlined practical solutions to help Canadians build a more sustainable and prosperous future. The event also featured a performance by Mir Kashif Iqbal, a Toronto-based musician whose songs reflected both the urgency of the climate crisis and hope inspired by climate action. Local organizations, including Artists for Real Climate Action (ARCA), Toronto East End Residents for Renewable Energy (TERRE), and others, also participated in the rally. 

Janelle Lapointe, a climate justice and Indigenous rights organizer from Stellat’en First Nation who now lives in Toronto, said, “We cannot build national unity through weakening environmental protections, trampling Indigenous rights and asking communities to bear the immense risks of fossil fuel extraction. Indigenous people coast-to-coast-to-coast have been sustaining Nations since time immemorial. We know that nations are built through relationships, reciprocity, and responsibilities, not pipelines or corporate profiteering. Canadians deserve a future rooted in Indigenous rights, clean energy and communities that can thrive for generations.”

“We have done this before,” said Emilia, “communities have come together to fight against every major pipeline project in at least the last two decades – and shown we can win. No matter which route they propose to bulldoze a pipeline through, there will be fierce opposition from communities who will protect the places they love. And communities on the front lines won’t be alone, over 120 civil society organizations across the country have already expressed their solidarity and signed an open letter opposing this project and any new pipeline proposal.” 

The coordinated actions show broad public opposition to the federal government’s recent moves to slash climate policies, gut environmental protections, and fast-track destructive fossil fuel projects. You can learn more about the People’s MOU Day of Action and see a full list of events here: 350.org/mou

WHY NOW

Prime Minister Carney’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith caps off a year in which the federal government has handed Big Oil nearly everything on their wish list. The Canada-Alberta MOU is an agreement to build a new West Coast pipeline, which would pump dirty tar sands diluted bitumen from Alberta to the coast of BC. It was a final nail in the coffin for Canada’s climate policy, gutting industrial carbon pricing and the clean electricity regulations.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Chris Gusen: [email protected]