The letter is signed by clergy and faith leaders from Sikh, Jewish, Unitarian, Quaker, Roman Catholic, Anglican, United Church of Canada, Presbyterian and Evangelical Lutheran communities.

Signatories come from the Sunshine Coast, Texada Island, Delta, New Westminster and Surrey.

The letter says the religious leaders “cannot stand idly by in the face of local actions that will contribute to climate destabilisation” and urges Clark to reconsider the Texada permit in order to take a stance on BC’s commitment to climate action.

“Approval of these permits means that you are complicit with a continued dependence on a dangerous fuel that is a relic of a time that is no more,” the letter reads.

“Denying the permits would send a powerful message that BC is committed to being part of the solution to the climate crisis.”

The province recently approved a coal export expansion on Texada Island to allow shipments from Fraser Surrey docks if and when the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority approves the company’s proposal to export 4-8 million tonnes per annum of US thermal coal.

If this proposal goes ahead, the volume of coal shipped through the Texada Island terminal will increase 10 to 20 times more than current levels.

Local residents have already raised issue with the current coal exports from Texada, claiming they are causing arsenic-laden coal to contaminate nearby beaches.