Ottawa continues talks with B.C. First Nations over Northern Gateway

Final deadline to decide on the $6.8-billion Northern Gateway pipeline set for June 17

The Canadian Press, June 9, 2014

With the clock ticking down for his government’s decision on Northern Gateway, Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford said Monday there have been significant strides forward on pipeline and marine traffic safety in talks between Ottawa and First Nations.

For at least the fourth time in as many weeks, Rickford was in British Columbia. This time, he was speaking at an aboriginal summit on pipeline and marine tanker safety.

“Obviously, there are varied reactions. We’ve all, I think to a certain extent, agreed that there are issues around a specific project or a specific aspect of energy infrastructure, energy transportation, but we’re plenty capable to have those conversations,” Rickford told reporters following his speech.

Harper government may delay Northern Gateway: Grand Chief

Rally against Enbridge Northern Gateway in Vancouver, BC, June 8, 2014.

The President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs said the government’s big announcement on Northern Gateway could take place as early as tomorrow.

Valentina Ruiz Leotaud,  Vancouver Observer, June 8th, 2014

Speaking in front of a large crowd gathered for the Convergence 2014: Protecting Our Sacred Waters rally on Sunday afternoon, Grand Chief Stewart Philip said the federal government may delay its decision on the controversial Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline. “We’ve heard through the grapevine that the Harper government is going to announce a delay,” said the Chief Phillip said to the hundreds of people gathered to protest the bitumen pipeline proposal.  “This is the rumour — that it’s going to be a delay to allow for more consultation with First Nations communities. We know that if we take this matter to the court today, the Harper government will lose.”

Report: BC energy projects face broad Native resistance

Suggests more money could buy support

Native drummers at protest against Enbridge hearings, Vancouver Jan 14, 2013, Vancouver police Public Safety Unit behind them.

by Mark Hume, The Globe and Mail, Dec 5, 2013

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s special envoy has issued a blueprint to gain aboriginal support for proposed energy projects in British Columbia worth about $100-billion, but opponents of oil pipelines and tanker traffic – many of them aboriginal – warn it’s still not good enough.