The City of Vancouver has repealed its zero-emission bylaw that banned the use of natural gas for space and water heating in new homes, and dictated that new construction must rely on electricity or low-emission equipment (such as heat pumps).
Mayor Ken Sim had pushed for repeal of that ban, and our Alliance had supported repeal.
- Vancouver’s repeal vote on May 21: https://bit.ly/4dCxwXP
- Mayor Sim’s motion for repeal: https://bit.ly/4um413P
- Sim’s campaign for repeal: https://bit.ly/3PRDPz0
- BC government objection to mayor’s call: https://bit.ly/4tL1OxH
And here’s our Alliance’s letter to council:
May 19, 2026
Mayor and Council
City of Vancouver
453 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1V4
Dear Mayor and Council:
I am writing to urge Council to preserve natural gas as a heating option for Vancouver residents and to reconsider policies that would restrict its use.
The First Nations Natural Gas Alliance represents First Nations engaged in the natural gas value chain in British Columbia. Natural gas is a source of direct economic participation for our member Nations — through contracting, revenue sharing, and equity ownership — and it is one of the strongest tangible expressions of economic reconciliation in the province today. It pays the bills in communities that have lived with energy poverty for generations. And for British Columbians, natural gas revenue was one of the few bright spots of the 2026–27 provincial budget, meaning it’s helping to pay the province’s bills too.
When Vancouver turns on the heat, First Nations are part of the supply chain. The gas Vancouver uses mainly comes from Treaty 8 territory, where Nations including Prophet River, Doig River, Fort Nelson, Halfway River, McLeod Lake, Saulteau, and West Moberly are actively involved in and permit natural gas development on their lands. That gas reaches the Lower Mainland through the Westcoast Pipeline — and in 2025, Stonlasec8 Indigenous Investments, representing 38 First Nations, acquired a 12.5% ownership stake in the pipeline.
Natural gas flowing to Vancouver now carries Indigenous equity with it.
British Columbia has been a net importer of electricity from the United States in recent years, and BC Hydro itself has advised that the province will require more power than was forecast in its most recent Integrated Resource Plan due to EVs, AI, growth, LNG, new mines, and other demand drivers. First Nations are deeply involved in renewable power projects across the province and we support that work, but it’s not going to be enough to meet all of our needs. We have an abundant supply of natural gas in British Columbia – generations of supply – that makes us energy secure and can be used for the benefit of our citizens.
A policy that pushes Vancouver toward greater dependence on imported, out-of-province electricity while turning away from a BC-produced resource in which First Nations hold direct equity is not a climate-forward choice. It retreats from energy self-sufficiency at the precise moment British Columbia should be building it.
As a former chief, I know what energy poverty looks like up close. I have sat with elders choosing between heat and groceries. I have seen families that do not have access to natural gas relying on inefficient space heaters that drive their bills higher and leave their homes colder. Affordability is not a side concern in this conversation. For many families it is the conversation.
We urge Council to preserve gas as a heating option for Vancouver residents and reject policies that would restrict it. Let us get the most out of the resources we have here in British Columbia — to the benefit of local economies, to the benefit of Vancouver residents, and to the benefit of First Nations seeking to build our economic future on our own terms.
Thank you for your consideration.
Messi’h,
Karen Ogen
Chief Executive Officer
CC:
Mayor Ken Sim, ken.sim@vancouver.ca
Councillor Brian Montague, CLRmontague@vancouver.ca
Councillor Mike Klassen, CLRklassen@vancouver.ca
Councillor Lenny Zhou, CLRzhou@vancouver.ca
Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung, CLRkirby-yung@vancouver.ca
Councillor Rebecca Bligh, CLRbligh@vancouver.ca
Councillor Lisa Dominato, CLRdominato@vancouver.ca
Councillor Peter Meiszner, CLRmeiszner@vancouver.ca
Councillor Pete Fry, CLRfry@vancouver.ca
Councillor Sean Orr, CLRorr@vancouver.ca
Councillor Lucy Maloney, CLRmaloney@vancouver.ca
Vancouver City Hall
