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Just as proposed bitumen pipelines through British Columbia seemed hopeless because of widespread opposition, backers of the aboriginal-led Eagle Spirit pipeline plan announced a major breakthrough Wednesday. The group has solid support from the province’s First Nations for its $14-billion-to-$16-billion project linking Alberta’s oil sands to the West Coast and an invitation to the oil community and the Alberta government to get on board.
What made the difference? The one million barrel-a-day pipeline plan, plus a possible refinery that would cost extra, started with getting First Nations involved, offering them a large equity stake, and obtaining their ‘social licence.’ There were also growing concerns about transportation of oil by rail, which aboriginals see as inevitable if oil pipelines aren’t built. And there was encouragement from Alberta First Nations familiar with resource development and benefiting from the oil sands business.
“We are very cognizant of how important this is to Canada, and Alberta in particular, and we have a solution,” Calvin Helin, chairman and president of Vancouver-based Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings Ltd., and a member of the Tsimshian First Nation in northwestern B.C., said Wednesday at a news conference in Calgary. “The chiefs came out today to say they are prepared to be partners.”
To show they mean it, the chiefs, all from B.C., signed a declaration of support in the heart of Canada’s oilpatch and laid down a set or principles under which they are prepared to do business, such as acceptance that they are the owners and stewards of the land, environmental regulations that are consistent with their traditional laws, and fair ownership in projects.
Among them were Chief Dan George, of the Ts’il Kaz Koh First Nation; Chief Archie Patrick of the Stellat’en First Nation; Larry Marsden, Head Chief, on behalf of the Gitsegukla hereditary Chiefs; Art Mathews, Head Chief, on behalf of the Gitwangak Hereditary Chiefs; Wes Sam, Business and Economic Development Lead, Burns Lake Indian Band.
For the rest of this article, click here: http://business.financialpost.com/2015/02/12/eagle-spirit-pipeline-plan-obtains-licence-as-b-c-first-nations-chiefs-sign-on-to-project/?__lsa=ee74-40b1