Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver) — The First Nations Summit today released the attached open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, regarding federal environmental hearings into the proposed Enbridge Gateway Pipeline.

The letter outlines the Summit’s concerns about recent statements by the federal government which signals that Canada has already pre-determined the outcome of the controversial Enbridge pipelines proposal even before the panel responsible for assessing its impacts has commenced its hearings. This, in the Summit’s opinion, has the real potential to completely undermine the independence and impartiality of the Joint Review Panel, its report and recommendations.