The Tsleil-Waututh Nation has launched a legal challenge against plans to dredge Burrard Inlet in British Columbia, seeking to stop a project designed to allow oil tankers to carry larger loads through the Port of Vancouver.
The First Nation announced it has filed for a judicial review, asking the court to overturn the permits issued by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for the dredging project. Work is expected to begin in September along the northern and southern edges of the navigation channel beneath the Second Narrows Bridge.
While acknowledging the importance of the project for Canada’s trade and export capacity, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation argues the approval process moved too quickly and failed to properly address its concerns. The community says the project could increase the risks associated with more heavily loaded oil tankers navigating Burrard Inlet, while also contributing to shoreline erosion and raising the potential for oil spills.
According to the Nation, the cumulative impact of marine traffic has already significantly affected its ability to maintain traditional practices and way of life. It believes the dredging project would further increase the environmental pressures already facing the inlet.
Chief Justin George said the Nation has a responsibility to protect its lands, waters and air, adding that legal action became necessary after repeated efforts to resolve the outstanding issues through discussions were unsuccessful.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority confirmed in June that it had received all required federal approvals to move forward with the project. The dredging is intended to allow Aframax-class tankers loading at the Westridge Marine Terminal to carry more cargo from the Trans Mountain pipeline.
At present, Trans Mountain says these tankers typically leave the terminal at around 80% of their capacity because of the current depth restrictions in Burrard Inlet. By deepening parts of the navigation channel, vessels would be able to depart with fuller loads without increasing the maximum size of ships using the route.
The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Mark Carney in spring 2025 as part of broader efforts to strengthen Canada’s export infrastructure. Although the latest federal budget does not specifically mention the dredging project, it includes commitments to improve access to international markets through investments in ports, railways and airports.
The British Columbia government has also expressed its support. Energy Minister Adrian Dix previously said the project would improve port efficiency by allowing tankers to sail fully loaded, reducing the number of voyages needed to transport the same volume of oil.
According to the port authority, the project will involve removing approximately 25,000 cubic metres of seabed material and dredging to a maximum depth of around six metres below the sea floor. Officials also maintain that the work will not increase the number of tankers using the inlet or allow larger vessel types than the Aframax-class ships already operating beneath the Second Narrows Bridge.
The project comes roughly two years after the expanded Trans Mountain (TMX) pipeline entered service in May 2024, as Canada continues exploring ways to strengthen and diversify its energy exports beyond the U.S. market.
