Delegates at the annual UBCM conference overwhelmingly passed two motions: The first urged Ottawa to legislate a ban on bulk crude oil tanker traffic through Queen Charlotte Sound, Dixon Entrance and Hecate Strait. The second motion opposes the Northern Gateway pipeline between Alberta's oilsands and the B.C. coast, proposed by Enbridge Inc.

"Opposition in the province appears to be growing as more people learn about issues such as tanker traffic in coastal waters", said Leslie Johnson, a councillor with the Village of Queen Charlotte.

Chief Larry Nooski of the Nadleh Whut'en First Nation said the pipeline project is not worth the risk.

"The pipelines and tankers, if they are approved, would have major environmental, social, cultural, legal and economic impacts for First Nations all along the route, on the coast, and upstream and downstream of the pipeline," he said in a written statement.

"If this project is approved, it would risk an oil spill that would destroy our food supply, our livelihoods and our cultures."

Calgary-based Enbridge Inc. wants to build two parallel pipelines stretching 1,170 kilometres from the Alberta oilsands to the West Coast. The National Energy Board is preparing to hold public hearings on the proposed project.