Pipeline good for First Nations

Dear Editor: Not only do the majority of Canadians want the Trans Mountain pipeline built, but also not all Indigenous groups in B.C. oppose the project. In fact, 33 First Nations have signed mutual-benefit agreements and some First Nations and Metis communities are still determined to purchase an equity stake in the pipeline.

But as with other Canadian pipeline projects that cross many jurisdictions, there are always holdouts for either a better deal or because they oppose in principle.

Several coastal and central B.C. First Nations filed lawsuits citing inadequate consultation. There are no shortcuts in consultation.

Though frustrating, the court ruling allows the prime minister to get the consultation part right, both in practice and in policy.

The conundrum is if the goal of First Nations is to become economically self-sufficient and free of federal subsidies, then support for the project and its long-term economic promise makes sense.

First Nations have opposed development in the past; but they also know the federal government has the legislative tools and judicial power to build the pipeline regardless, so, in a practical sense, the difference is whether the Indigenous communities benefit.

Canada as a whole benefits economically. The pipeline allows a lessening of discounted sales to the Americans of Canadian oil.

Not everyone sees benefits. Rueben George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver said, “He couldn’t imagine his community ever supporting the project; the community could’ve negotiated a mutualbenefits agreement worth millions, but we chose to protect the land.”

You can’t argue against that. But overall, Indigenous communities statistically are not doing well in Canada. Communities must make hard choices ito raise their people’s living standards. And for First Nations, as Canada’s natural stewards of the land, the best way to take care of our environment is on the inside. Jon Peter Christoff, West Kelowna