Lifting the oil tanker ban off British Columbia's North Coast for a nonexistent pipeline from Alberta would endanger billions in other real investments that Premier David Eby says will need the support of coastal First Nations.

"This is a pretty straightforward issue for British Columbia," Eby said. "The oil tanker ban off the coast is the social licence with First Nations along the coast to be able to do significant economic development in the region," he said on Tuesday at an unrelated news conference.

Eby said he's asking the federal government to reaffirm its support for the tanker ban off the West Coast, after Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday that lifting the ban would depend on a number of factors.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been calling for the repeal of the tank

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