A new coalition of Indigenous leaders, farmers, and rural landowners gathered at the Alberta Legislature on Tuesday to launch a formal protest against a proposed 400-kilometer carbon dioxide pipeline, citing a lack of transparency and potential safety risks.

The "No CO2 Pipeline" coalition is calling on the federal government to bypass provincial regulators and conduct a comprehensive impact assessment of the Pathways Alliance project. 

The $16.5 billion initiative, backed by major oilsands producers including Suncor Energy and Imperial Oil, aims to transport CO2 from 20 northern Alberta facilities to an underground storage hub near Cold Lake.

Amil Shapka, a landowner from St. Paul and co-founder of the coalition, said the group was formed after two years of failing to get clear answers from industry and government officials.

"An energy serfdom is hardly a sovereign Canada," Shapka said. He noted that his research into CO2 pipeline ruptures has heightened local fears regarding public safety and environmental integrity.

The push for federal intervention follows a 2024 decision by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) to waive the requirement for a provincial environmental impact assessment (EIA). 

The coalition expressed "significant concerns" over a draft agreement between Alberta and Ottawa that would see the federal government defer to provincial standards.

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam joined the protest, stating his community has been "ravaged" by the long-term health effects of oilsands development. "No answers have been given to us," Adam said, noting specific concerns about groundwater contamination and pipeline leaks.

Alberta Environment Minister Grant Hunter expressed surprise at the opposition, suggesting the project is a vital component of a memorandum of understanding between the province and the federal government. Hunter claimed the agreement could eventually facilitate a new oil pipeline to the West Coast.

The coalition plans to host a series of town halls to organize further opposition, with the first meeting scheduled for April 26 in Mallaig.