Jun. 30, 2010 - Issue #767: The Bestest of Edmonton 2010
News Roundup
Missing Voices at the Table
The Enbridge pipeline is facing serious opposition
Aboriginal communities are not being consulted on a pipeline project through BC that would affect 64 aboriginal communities. The Enbridge pipeline is over 1100 km and would transport tar sands petroleum between Alberta and BC.
The Pembina Institute released the report comparing the treatment of the Mackenzie gas pipeline which will move natural gas between the Northwest Territories and Alberta.
While the Mackenzie Valley project covers four aboriginal territories—the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, the Gwich'in Settlement Area, the Sahtu Settlement Area and the Deh Cho Territory—the pipeline review panel contained seven members, three of which were from aboriginal communities in the area.
However, as the Pembina Institute points out, the size of the joint review panel for Enbridge lacks regional representation.Only three people have been appointed to this review panel, none of whom are from BC. And while the pipeline will affect 64 First Nations communities, only one member is aboriginal, and from Northern Ontario.
"The Enbridge Gateway project arguably poses greater environmental risk when you consider oilsands extraction, the pipeline route and crude oil tanker traffic on BC's North Coast. Despite this, it's not being held up to the same level of scrutiny as the Mackenzie gas project," said Karen Campbell, Staff Counsel for the Pembina Institute said.
The Enbridge pipeline is facing serious opposition from aboriginal and environmental groups, especially the Wet'suwet'en, Haida and Carrier Sekani First Nations and five other First Nations who have come together to oppose the pipeline through their territory.
More stories in front »
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