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TradeMisleading

An independent Alberta is guaranteed sea access under UNCLOS Articles 124 to 125.

Stated by: Commonly stated by Alberta independence advocates

Summary

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea does give landlocked states a right of transit to the sea, and it even mentions pipelines. But the same articles make the terms of that transit subject to agreement with the transit state, and they affirm the transit state's full sovereignty over its territory. So the treaty would not compel British Columbia or Canada to build or permit pipelines. Presenting it as an automatic guarantee overstates what the treaty actually requires.

Evidence

Last reviewed: May 30, 2026