The Road Not Taken

With a court case come and gone and a call by the Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams for the port to stop construction on the Fairview Container Terminal, the northwest waits for the next shoe to drop, in the controversy between the Federal Government and the Coast Tsimshian Nations.

The issue that first came to light at the start of the year has meandered through the legal system in Ottawa, all while construction continued on the site at Fairview. Throughout the discussions there have been suggestions that the two band councils involved were offered a “fairly attractive” package, but no real specifics were ever released, perhaps in a bid to bring the matter to resolution without the court challenge that would eventually arrive.

In the end, the “deal” was obviously rejected and we were brought to the point where we are today, a project that still goes ahead, though very aware that it could be ordered to a halt at any time. A process that may have long lasting repercussions on time tables as well as completion and operational dates.

For the most part, many in the northwest wondered over the last number of months about what was in those “attractive packages”, and if the Daily News has the full story then they can wonder no more. In a front page story on Monday, The Daily obtained court documents and printed details of the deal offered to the two First Nations bands.

The article highlights a deal that apparently offered to the two bands, job guarantees during construction, training programs, business loans, further involvement in port development, job opportunities that reflect the current demographic of the Prince Rupert population and action plans that would award contracts to qualified Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams businesses for service industry jobs related to the port development.

The timing of the release of the documents is curious, coming so soon after the court decision and it will be interesting to see the reaction that the revelations bring to the community. In a town steeped in rumours on a daily basis, the article will surely provide fodder for coffee shop conversation and letter to the editor writers for weeks to come.

What effect this latest twist will have on the dispute remains to be seen, but no doubt the questions of the day will be why this deal was was rejected? What is it that the two band councils would like to see regarding the project; if this was not it, what is? And what is the next step and what impact will that have on the project both short and long term?

We await the next step in the most intriguing story in the region.

DOCUMENT DETAIL DEAL FEDS OFFERED TO VILLAGERS
Bands were in line for $7.65 million port windfall
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, September 25, 2006
Pages One and Five

People from Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams could already be benefiting from construction of the Fairview Container Terminal had the two bands accepted a $7.65 million federal offer of accommodation presented earlier this spring.

According to court documents obtained by the Daily News, the Conservative government, including Carol Skelton, Minister of Western Economic Development and David Emerson, Minister of the Pacific Gateway made an offer worth $7.65 million plus positions that would guarantee further involvement with port development. One of the conditions of the offer was that the two bands, which represent approximately 3,500 people on and off reserve, drop their lawsuits against the terminal conversion.

If the lawsuits result in the delay of terminal construction, it puts the entire project and the future of the Northwest in jeopardy, port executives had said on numerous occasions.

First off, the offer included having the port “make reasonable efforts to ensure Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams people are given special opportunities for employment in the construction … operation … and economic development opportunities that flow from the operations of the container facility.”

During terminal construction, the port was going to negotiate with contractors to hire up to 45 per cent of their required labour from qualified Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams people. There are currently 100 people working on the container conversion.

Following construction, the port was going to work with the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union, Maher Terminals, CN Rail and the Canadian Border Services Agency to ensure the new workforce at the container port “reflect the current demographics of the general Prince Rupert population.”

Then, in order to ensure the two communities’ participation in other areas, the port was going to establish an action plan for awarding contracts to qualified Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams businesses providing port related services such as warehousing and security.

Maher Terminals also indicated to the port it would consider special arrangements for a fuel tender with Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams.

The Federal Government was going to provide $4 million for an Aboriginal Training Organization of which $2.67 million would be specifically dedicated to Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams people. The port would also add another $175,000 to hire a skills training coordinator for three years in order to ensure both communities could benefit as much as possible from the opportunities.

To help the communities develop outside business opportunities for the container port, there would be an additional $3 million from the feds and port provided for a revolving loan fund for aboriginal businesses.

Finally Western Economic Diversification would provide another $150,000 for business planning and feasibility studies related to port development.

Lastly, the port would offer a position to the communities on the board of directors of the Prince Rupert Port Authority, which would ensure their future involvement in port related decisions.