Northern Gateway panel hears harsh criticism from B.C. First Nations
By Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press
Tues 31st Aug 2010
Aboriginal leaders in British Columbia questioned the legitimacy of a review into a controversial Enbridge pipeline proposal that aims to connect oilsands crude to Asian markets.
"We have not engendered confidence that there is serious intent to give equal weight to the concerns and interests of those most affected by the proposed project," Dolores Pollard, chief councillor with the Haisla First Nation, told a regulatory panel Tuesday.
"We think it is important to go back to square one and look at the premise for this project and whose interests really are being served."
The Haisla live on the northern B.C. coast right by where Enbridge (TSX:ENB) plans to build a marine terminal to handle petroleum that will move through twin pipelines.
The side-by-side pipelines would stretch from the northern port city of Kitimat, B.C., to an oilsands processing hub at Bruderheim, Alta. One would carry imported condensate from the coast inland, and the other would carry oilsands crude westward.
A town-hall style meeting was held in Kitimat on Tuesday to lay the groundwork for oral hearings into the project. The government-appointed panel is looking into what issues should be weighed in those hearings, whether Enbridge needs to file additional information and where future hearings should take place.
One such meeting was held in Whitecourt, Alta., a few weeks ago, and another one is set for Prince George, B.C., in September.
Hundreds of northern B.C. residents rallied outside of the meeting in Kitimat, and hundreds more demonstrated outside Enbridge offices in Vancouver. Many wore oil spill cleanup outfits in reference to Enbridge's recent pipeline spill in Michigan.
Pollard said her group has not been given enough time or money to adequately examine Enbridge's eight-volume regulatory application, which, including supporting materials, is tens of thousands of pages long.
She said the $300,000 that has been provided to the First Nation is not sufficient.
"The grossly inadequate budget allocated for our participation is insulting, demeaning and undermines our ability to meaningfully participate in the process. One way or another this will have to be rectified," she said.
Pollard said she is dubious the pipeline will bring economic benefits to her community. Since the town of Kitimat was founded nearby 55 years ago, she said, "we have absolutely gained nothing."
The Heiltsuk First Nation further south on the coast has commercial fishing rights in the area, which it doesn't want to see jeopardized because of the pipeline proposal. Those rights were the results of a hard-fought battle that made its way all the way to the Supreme Court.
"We have nothing to gain and everything to lose if this project proceeds," said Frank Brown, with the Heiltsuk.
"We are not prepared to lose everything and gain nothing in return. We cannot go there."
Kyle Clifton, with the Gitga'at First Nation, said the panel can't separate his people's economic well-being from its cultural well-being.
"The cultural activities are part of the socioeconomic landscape of the community," he said.
He added that tanker traffic along the coast will disrupt fishing activity, which is central to the group's way of life.
"No one can guarantee us that there will be no spills. If the panel recommends the project, then in effect you are forcing us to live in fear, which will have effects on both our health and our economy," he said.
"Who has the right to risk the destruction of any community? For 200 days a year we're going to wake up in the morning wondering if this is the day our community dies. Does any company have the right to make us live this way?"
Enbridge spokesman Alan Roth, who was in Kitimat for the meeting, said many people the company encounters actually have an open mind toward the project.
"We're very much committed to ensuring that there are meaningful benefits for the First Nations and aboriginal interests from this project," he said in an interview.
In addition to giving an economic boost to local communities, Northern Gateway is also good for Canada as a whole, he said.
"Northern Gateway provides Canada access to fast-growing economies in Asia and the Pacific Rim and it's clearly in our national interest to have competition for our resources," Roth said.
"A knee-jerk anti-oil and gas response isn't called for or realistic. The world needs hydrocarbon energy and the reality is that there is no viable alternative on the horizon to meet the demand."