Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla sound a warning about Fairview port

Unfinished issues are popping up on the radar of the Fairview Container Port waterfront project, issues that may bring things to a standstill before they even get the first container ship underway.

A story moving across the Reuters wire on Wednesday evening, says that the Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla bands have stated; that they will not allow the container port to begin operating until their land rights concerns over the project are addressed.

Gary Reece, chief councilor for Lax Kw'alaams expresses frustration at the lack of communication and progress since the issue first came to the courts in 2006. The story doesn’t specify how the two bands might approach the issue of stopping the terminal from operating, nor what kind of timetable the two bands are operating under.

No port officials or government representatives from any level were available to Reuters for a reply, though one imagines that they will be scrambling to find a position shortly as the completion date gets closer and closer.

The story will certainly serve as the topic of conversation around town for the next little while, until the issues and the repercussions of any planned events become a little clearer.

PACIFIC PORT PLAN FACES NATIVE OBJECTIONS
Wed. April 25, 2007 5:53 EDT
Reuters

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Native Indians said on Wednesday they will not allow a container port on Canada's Pacific coast to begin operating until their land rights concerns over the project are addressed.

Two aboriginal bands said the federal government has failed to adequately consult them about the facility being built in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the first phase of which is expected to start handling traffic late his year.

The Lax Kw'alaams and Matlakatla Indian bands said the government has ignored a 2006 Federal Court ruling that it had used a flawed process to address native claims that the project is in their historic territories.

"We thought we'd be back at the table. Nothing is really happening, so we're getting frustrated," said Garry Reece, chief councilor of the Lax Kw'alaams.

A port official was not immediately available for comment.

The government and Canadian National Railway (CNR.TO: Quote) announced in 2004 they wanted to use Prince Rupert to handle increasing trade with Asia. The port is a day's sailing closer to Asia than are ports on the U.S. Pacific coast.

Canada's courts have ruled that governments and private companies have a duty to consult with Indians over development on the natives' historic territories, although the native groups do not have an automatic veto power.