Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver) — The leadership of the First Nations Summit is concerned with the approach laid out yesterday by BC on heavy oil pipelines in British Columbia.
“Yesterday’s announcement clearly shows the Provincial Government is on the wrong track and does not fully understand the level of opposition or the reasons for opposition to both the Northern Gateway Pipeline project and the Kinder Morgan Pipeline expansion project”, said Chief Doug White of the First Nations Summit Political Executive.
“First Nations opposition to these projects is extremely strong and building. The Province should have sat down with First Nations and understood the basis for this opposition before wrongheadedly suggesting there is a viable pathway for these projects to proceed,” he added.
“As we have clearly stated time and time again, First Nations must be fully engaged in all processes leading to any and all government decisions regarding the Enbridge and Kinder Morgan proposals. Given the law as developed in a long line of cases from the Supreme Court of Canada there is a legal requirement for governments to “consult and accommodate” First Nations regarding any and all land and resource development initiatives in their respective territories”, added Grand Chief Edward John of the FNS Political Executive.