Eby slammed online after anti-pipeline post draws heavy backlash

B.C. Premier David Eby faced immediate and heavy online backlash after reiterating his opposition to a West Coast pipeline.

B.C. Premier David Eby faced immediate and heavy online backlash after reiterating his opposition to a West Coast pipeline.

On social media, Eby drew criticism from Canadians who accused him blocking a key national interest deal struck by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Eby continued to claim that building a West Coast pipeline would jeopardize other projects.

“BC has billions of dollars in privately led projects that are going to create thousands of jobs and bring prosperity to Canada. We cannot put them at risk,” he wrote.

The B.C. premier repeated similar language from past weeks, stating the pipeline project has “no proponent, no route, no money, \[and\] no First Nation support.”

True North previously reported that Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi used similar language, calling the West Coast pipeline “a pipe dream.”

However, unlike Eby, Nenshi reversed his pipeline opposition following the MOU.

“The new Canada-Alberta MOU is a positive step for our energy future,” said Nenshi. “Meaningful investments in Pathways, clear measures to reduce emissions, and a stronger industrial carbon price give Albertans the certainty we need to move forward.”

The MOU states that Alberta, Ottawa, Indigenous Peoples, and the industry must “work together cooperatively… to foster the conditions necessary for infrastructure, including pipelines… that will unlock and grow natural resource production and transportation in Western Canada.”

About two hours after Eby’s post, it had almost five times more comments than likes, with respondents widely opposing his stance.

“You throttle logging and mining. Oppose aquaculture. Hate all oil and gas. What possibly can you offer here? You hate everything BC is good at,” said one user.

Another user asked: “Can’t build a pipeline. Can’t build housing. Can’t build a bridge on time with Canadian steel only. Can’t build ferries. What does this province actually make?”

A different respondent suggested that the majority of British Columbians oppose Eby and support building a pipeline.

“If it’s such a bad idea, why are you the only politician pushing back on it?” they asked.

A Thursday poll from the Angus Reid Institute supports that statement, highlighting that a clear majority of British Columbians support a bitumen pipeline through northern B.C.

Nationally, a similar majority of 60 per cent are in favour of the pipeline.

Almost three-in-four of those in Alberta, 74 per cent, support the pipeline. Saskatchewan showed the same level of support.

The federal government also agreed to adjust the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act to facilitate construction if the pipeline is approved under the Building Canada Act.

In the Angus Reid Institute’s poll, more Canadians were in favour of repealing the tanker ban completely or allowing an exception for this project than leaving it in place fully, even in B.C.

“Just get out of the way, you’re not fooling anyone with this,” said one X user.

“Please quit, we are sick and tired of preferential treatment to indigenous and addicts, it’s time for the NDP to step aside and let everyone in BC prosper,” said another.