OTTAWA — NDP leadership candidate Rob Ashton clarified his position on the federal tanker ban on Wednesday night, receiving acknowledgment from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. In a late-night social media post, Ashton aimed to clarify his earlier comments regarding the moratorium on tanker traffic in northwest Canada, which he discussed with a media outlet earlier in the day.

Ashton stated, "My position is clear: no project should move forward without Indigenous consent, community support, and strong environmental protections. Canada needs to have honest, responsible conversations about how we move energy safely, especially when communities and Indigenous nations are directly involved." He emphasized the importance of protecting workers and the environment, stating, "Whether we’re talking about tankers, trucks, rail, or pipelines, the priority must always be the same: protecting workers, protecting the environment, and making sure no community is left out of the conversation. These are complicated issues, and pretending otherwise doesn’t serve anyone."

Earlier that day, Ashton became the first NDP leadership candidate to suggest a potential reversal of the tanker ban, contingent on public and Indigenous support and safety measures for oil transport. However, he did not address this topic during a leadership forum in Ottawa and did not participate in a media scrum afterward.

In a follow-up statement sent to a media outlet on Thursday, Ashton reiterated, "Let’s be clear — this is all still very hypothetical. There’s no such project on the table and I’m not saying I’ll remove the ban. What I am saying is this: we’re in a trade war with the U.S. and we’ve got to look at every option available to protect Canadian jobs and Canadian workers. That’s our responsibility." He acknowledged the reality of the climate crisis, urging that climate action should create jobs rather than eliminate them.

Premier Smith, speaking remotely at the House of Commons environment committee, expressed hope that Ashton’s comments indicated a growing consensus on the need to access new markets for Canadian oil. "I was pleased to see one of the NDP leadership candidates is also opposed to the continued tanker ban. And I think that’s where we have to get to, is that we should be able to, regardless of what our political stripe is, support each other in developing our projects," Smith said.

Earlier this month, Smith announced that the Alberta government would lead a proposal for a new heavy oil pipeline to British Columbia’s North Coast, which she claims could export one million barrels of oil per day to Asian markets. This project would likely require lifting the federal moratorium on North Coast tanker traffic, established in late 2015 as part of a Liberal campaign promise.

British Columbia Premier David Eby has voiced opposition to lifting the ban, citing ecological concerns and the province's partnerships with coastal Indigenous communities. The campaigns of Ashton’s leadership rivals, Avi Lewis and Heather McPherson, did not respond to inquiries regarding his comments on the tanker ban.

Unsanctioned NDP leadership candidate Yves Engler responded to Ashton’s post, stating his firm opposition to new oil and gas projects. "My position is clear: shut down the tar sands, repurpose pipelines, no new LNG projects & strengthen the tanker ban," Engler said.

Ashton, a dockworker and union leader from British Columbia, is considered a serious contender in the NDP leadership race, as the party seeks to reconnect with its traditional labor base. Progressive commentator Evan Scrimshaw noted that Ashton’s comments on the tanker ban could benefit the party, which suffered significant losses in the April federal election, winning only seven seats and 6.3 percent of the popular vote. The new NDP leader will be announced on March 29, 2026, at the party’s convention in Winnipeg.