Former NDP politicians, Indigenous leaders call on Eby to recommit to climate action

A group of former NDP MPs and MLAs, Indigenous leaders, labour representatives and environmental advocates has published an open letter urging Premier David Eby's government to recommit to climate action and make it a provincial priority.

The letter, addressed to Eby and the BC NDP caucus, argues the province has moved away from its role as a climate leader, particularly through its support for liquefied natural gas development.

The signatories say BC has lost its position as a climate leader.

"We are no longer seeing the climate leadership that we and other British Columbians expect and deserve," the letter states. "If a plan is defined as setting appropriate targets, with a credible path for achieving them, then BC no longer has a climate plan."

The signatories say BC once led North America on climate policy, pointing to the province's emissions targets, carbon pricing system and 2019 legislation requiring all new light-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2035.

They argue the province has backtracked on nearly every metric of progress. They cite the BC Climate Emergency Campaign's 2025 Climate Action Progress Report, which gave the provincial government failing grades in eight of 10 categories — its worst result since tracking began in 2021.

The group also criticizes the government's support for multiple LNG projects. It argues expanding natural gas production would increase carbon emissions, drive up domestic demand for natural gas and deepen conflict with Indigenous communities that oppose the projects.

The signatories also say LNG contributes relatively little to provincial revenues. They note gas royalties accounted for just over one per cent of BC's total revenues last year while warning taxpayers could ultimately bear the cost of subsidizing the industry.

Instead, the group is urging the province to invest in renewable energy. It says renewable energy would strengthen the economy, create clean-energy jobs, protect consumers from unpredictable fossil fuel prices and improve public safety as extreme weather becomes more frequent.

"We call on you, Premier Eby, to recommit to provincial leadership by investing in a renewable energy future that strengthens our economy, builds clean jobs, protects consumers from unpredictable global prices for fossil fuels, protects public safety in increasingly extreme weather, and ensures our province remains beautiful for generations to come," the letter concludes.

The letter includes signatures from former federal NDP MPs Taylor Bachrach, Richard Cannings, Laurel Collins, Randall Garrison, Alistair MacGregor, Jim Manly and Bonita Zarrillo; former BC NDP MLAs Katrina Chen, Maurine Karagianis and Harold Steves; BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) President Carole Gordon; Union of BC Indian Chiefs President Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Vice-President Chief Councillor Linda Innes and Secretary-Treasurer Chief Marilyn Slett; former BCTF president Irene Lanzinger; and former David Suzuki Foundation executive director Peter Robinson.

Former Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke MP Randall Garrison shared the open letter on social media, saying it calls on the provincial government to "recommit to provincial climate leadership amid fossil fuel expansion and worsening climate disasters."

The Premier's Office has been contacted for comment. This story will be updated when a response is received.