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| Heiltsuk First Nation elders lead a rally, March 26th, against the Enbridge Pipeline through downtown Vancouver to the Art Gallery. Ward Perrin / Postmedia News |
In another pipeline related story last week, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said environmental reviews of energy and mining projects will be streamlined. He certainly had the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline in mind. However, a former Enbridge executive warms that this many result in some unintended consequences.
New rules may hinder Enbridge pipeline, ex-official says
Jeffrey Jones,
Reuters
Financial Post
Apr 19, 2012
CALGARY – A government move to limit regulatory review of Enbridge Inc‘s Northern Gateway oil pipeline to Canada’s West Coast will only add to the company’s own missteps in dealing with aboriginal communities on the pipeline route and may raise more legal obstacles, a former Northern Gateway executive says.
Roger Harris, who was vice-president of aboriginal and community partnerships for Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines in 2008 and 2009, said the company has been inconsistent in its strategy as it tries to win over British Columbia native groups whose land the pipeline would cross. He said that has helped fuel some of the fierce opposition to the $5.5-billion project that has arisen.
Harris also said the company missed early opportunities to build business relationships in some communities, including investing in independent power projects they had planned.
Many native groups, often called first nations, say they fear that construction and operation of the pipeline will threaten traditional ways of life and leave their territories and coastal waters at risk of oil spills. Some have said court actions are a certainty if it is approved.
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