Trudeau meets with Indigenous body that helps pipeline project ‘move forward’
Posted June 5, 2018 11:50 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ROSEDALE – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau linked Indigenous reconciliation and the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline today as he met with a group in British Columbia that monitors construction of the project.
Trudeau told the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee that while he doesn’t take the presence of First Nations’ leaders at the meeting as direct approval for the pipeline, he does see their attendance as support for reconciliation that both sides need to work on.
He said the purpose of the committee is to make sure the project is done right, with minimal concerns and maximizing benefits.
Among the committee members is Chief Ernie Crey, who recently told media outlets the Cheam First Nation would consider buying a stake in the pipeline, depending on the circumstances and what’s involved.
The federal government is spending $4.5 billion to buy the pipeline from Kinder Morgan to ensure the expansion goes ahead.
Related articles:
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- Second-straight poll suggests growing support for Trans Mountain expansion
Finance Minister Bill Morneau said in Calgary last week that many parties have expressed interest in investing in the project, including Indigenous groups.
“We’re not seeking to make a profit. We’re seeking to ensure the project gets done, but we will always try and make sure the project presents a fair situation for Canadians,” he said.
About three dozen people protested outside Tuesday’s meeting, including Eddie Gardner of the Wild Salmon Defenders Alliance, who says Trudeau is “deluded” if he thinks the project is compatible with the environment.
Several First Nations remain staunchly opposed the $7.4-billion expansion project, which would triple capacity of the pipeline running between Edmonton and Burnaby, B.C.
Some Indigenous groups have launched legal challenges against the project, arguing Ottawa did not adequately consult First Nations communities before it was approved, violating their rights.
Trudeau is now heading to Edmonton, where he’ll visit a Kinder Morgan terminal.
