By Wolfgang Depner British Columbia’s energy minister is backing plans to dredge and deepen Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet to accommodate fully loaded oil tankers, despite concerns from environmentalists, experts and First Nations. The plan, floated recently by Prime Minister Mark Carney, could result in fewer tankers carrying more oil from the Trans Mountain pipeline to markets abroad. The expanded TMX pipeline has been operating since May 2024 and there have been calls to expand it again to help diversify energy exports away from the United States. “We certainly have said we are supportive, given that it would meet the environmental requirements and consultation requirements (with First Nations) that you have,” Energy Minister Adrian Dix said in a recent interview. Dix added that it would be a federal project that “would allow…