Jim Prentice’s tall order: getting First Nations to love Enbridge pipeline
Martin Louie, chief of B.C.’s Nadleh Whut’en First Nation, recalls that he met Jim Prentice once, but he doesn’t remember if they actually spoke nor does he place any particular faith in Mr. Prentice’s bona fides.
In his new role as consultant on Enbridge Inc.’s proposed Northern Gateway project, the former Conservative cabinet minister is hoping to consult with aboriginal Canadians like Mr. Louie, with the aim of accommodating their concerns about the project and bringing them into a partnership with Enbridge.
It’s a tall order, even for someone with Mr. Prentice’s expertise and experience.
Chief Louie’s community sits on Fraser Lake northwest of Prince George and would have the pipeline in what it claims for traditional territory. It is a member of the Yinka Dene Alliance that spearheaded the “Save the Fraser Declaration” – a document signed by representatives of more than 60 B.C. First Nations communities. The statement declares their adamant opposition to the Northern Gateway pipeline and that they will “not tolerate this great threat to us all and all future generations.”
In an interview, Chief Louie said there is nothing that Mr. Prentice, or Enbridge, or indeed the federal government could say or do to overcome his community’s opposition to the Gateway pipeline. And the issue isn’t just about a pipeline, but rather about federal and provincial recognition of aboriginal rights to manage their lands.
“We have to protect the safety of the land and water because that’s what our people live on,” he said.
Mr. Prentice would appear uniquely qualified to lead a consultation effort, as Enbridge seeks to reassure communities along the pipeline’s path that all possible efforts are being made to ensure environmental protection.
As a lawyer in Calgary prior to politics, he negotiated land claims agreements and co-chaired Canada’s Specific Land Claims Commission, which provided an alternative to the courts when an aboriginal community wanted to appeal a federal decision to turn down a land claim.
In government, he served as minister of aboriginal affairs and northern development, where he negotiated the residential schools settlement agreement, and later served as industry minister and minister of the environment. Since leaving government, he has held the position of vice-chair of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, and has spoken out forcefully on the need to include First Nations in resource development.
In a speech in Calgary 18 months ago, he slammed both Ottawa and the oil industry for complacency and failing to meet the constitutional obligation to consult with and accommodate the concerns of First Nations with regard to Northern Gateway.
Enbridge CEO Al Monaco said Mr. Prentice is the perfect person to build bridges between industry and aboriginal communities. Enbridge says it has signed agreements with 26 First Nations communities that have agreed to participate in the company’s offer of an ownership stake in the project, though it hasn’t released a list of those.
But Mr. Monaco acknowledged that the company has been unable to establish trust with many others on the pipeline route, even though a federal review panel advised in December that the pipeline would not have a significant impact on the environment.
“Jim is ideally suited to do that – he is independent and he is credible with First Nations,” the Enbridge chief said in an interview Tuesday. “It’s kind of like stepping back and taking a fresh look at how we can re-open a dialogue and this is a good way to do that.
“He’s a collaborator and is very good at building bridges across different points of view.”
However, it is doubtful the aboriginal communities will see Mr. Prentice as truly independent. He was a member of a government that has declared the construction of crude pipelines to the west coast to be vital to the national interest – a view he has endorsed. He is there to persuade them of the benefits of the project; his CIBC salary will be paid by Enbridge while he is working on the file.
The Harper government is doing its own aboriginal consultations in advance of a June deadline for a cabinet decision. Along with federal negotiators, Mr. Prentice may be able to ease some aboriginal concerns, perhaps even persuade some communities to accept Enbridge’s financial offer.
But neither he nor the federal government will likely prevent a court challenge should Ottawa approve the project over aboriginal opposition.