Enbridge responds to UBCM resolution of last week

"We understand that some people have genuine concerns about ensuring the project can be built and operated safely, and that economic benefits accrue to northern BC communities and British Columbia as a whole," -- Enbridge spokesperson Alan Roth, reacting to a resolution against the Enbridge Gateway pipeline project which was passed at last weeks UBCM convention.

The debate over the Enbridge pipeline project gathered steam this past week at the UBCM convention, which saw a majority of delegates at the convention vote in favour of a resolution that expressed opposition to the pipeline project as well as the presence of oil tankers along the North coast. 

The non binding resolution will be presented to the provincial government for its consideration towards the progress of the project.

The resolution was being pressed for by residents of a number of communities along the Northern Gateway and on Haida Gwaii who were thrilled with its passing at Whistler., it was the village of Queen Charlotte City that introduced and campaigned for the resolutions on Friday.

While Nathan Cullen the NDP MP for Skeena Bulkley Valley, as well as other officials both provincial and municipal were happy with the outcome of the resolution, over on the other side of the discussion Alan Roth an Enbridge spokesman suggested that the member communities that voted in favour of it were voting against jobs and opportunities for Northern BC communities.

The Enbridge official however went on to express confidence that the company can sway opinion when it comes to the development of the project, with the complex issue subject to much examination over the course of the two year regulatory review process.

Roth perhaps gained a little sympathy from Prince George Mayor Dan Rogers, who expressed the thought that the resolution was more of "an emotional and feel good issue" and that the voting took place when many of the delegates had headed for home.

Last week the Globe and Mail examined the issue of jobs vs development with an article with a fair amount of background links on the issue.

It makes for a helpful guide for those of us trying to get a better understanding of the issue and the impact that it could bring to the Northwest.

Enbridge hears a resounding NO to their Northern Gateway pipeline plans

“Our position now is this project is not going to happen.” -- The declaration Tuesday of some 150 different groups, from First Nations to environmentalists, that the Enbridge Northern Gateway project isn't going to get much further down the line.

Twenty one years to the day when the Exxon Valdez began its rendezvous with infamy in Alaska, a large number of British Columbia's First Nations have come out strongly against the Northern Gateway plans of Enbridge to build a pipeline across the province and a terminal in Kitimat.

That in itself is not a new development, it was a year ago that the First Nations of the areas of interest to the plan offered up a no thanks, but with 365 days to review the situation they have returned to advise that their resolve is still there to oppose the project.

Art Sterritt, executive director of the Coastal First Nations, an alliance of First Nations along British Columbia's north and central coast, provided the definitive word on behalf of the member nations of the alliance when he stated that, "We're here to tell you today that all of the communities are opposed to Enbridge." Sterrit went on to explain that the alliance of some 150 different groups was vowing to stop the pipeline project using "every legal means we can, and we have many, including constitutionally protected rights and title to these lands and waters"

Enbridge has been conducting public consultation sessions across Northern BC of late seeking to outline their plans and gauge some of the feedback from those communities that would have the closest encounters with the pipeline project.

They have recently been seeking out commerical backing for the massive pipeline and terminal project, hoping to have an announcement on that in this early part of 2010.

While Enbridge may still have hopes of pushing forward with their development, the coalition against their project is more than willing to push back it would appear, Tuesday's Globe and Mail featured a full page ad with the signatures of those groups working to stop the project.

Tuesday's announcement and media blitz suggests that the project is anything but a sure bet and could prove to set up a very acrimonious near future between pro and anti development groups across Northern British Columbia.

Vancouver Sun-- B.C. first nations oppose Enbridge pipeline to Kitimat
Globe and Mail-- Natives vow ‘whatever it takes' to stop projects 
Vancouver Province-- First Nations vow to use 'every legal means' to stop Enbridge pipeline
The Tyee-- This is where Enbridge hits a wall': First Nations promise to stop pipeline 
Victoria Times Colonist-- B.C. oil profits may come at a high price 
Canadian Press-- BC First Nations coalition declares opposition to Enbridge oil pipeline
CTV British Columbia-- Coastal First Nations declare opposition to oil pipeline
CBC British Columbia-- B.C. First Nations oppose Enbridge pipeline

First Nations seek more involvement in Northern Gateway project

We catch up with some news after the Christmas break by back tracking to Christmas Eve's Daily News and an examination of the Northern Gateway project, the Enbridge pipeline plans, which currently are working their way through environmental assessments and preliminary planning.

With a pipeline that will be snaking through many First Nation's territories, the process will involve consultation and reviews from across the northern part of the province, last Wednesday's Daily News featured the impact of the pipeline on the Carrier Sekani lands and where they stand on the process so far.

The story was the front page, headline item in the Christmas Eve edition of the Daily News.


FIRST NATION WANTS MORE INPUT IN ENBRIDGE DECISION
Carrier-Sekani claim meaningful review of pipeline plan needed in addition to funding
BY GEORGE T. BAKER
The Daily News
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Pages one and two

Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council Elected Chief David Luggi said his band has been offered a combined total of $830,000 to sign on to the federal government's environmental assessment of Enbridge Inc.'s Northern Gateway project.

The first $30,00 came from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, while the second was a whopping $800,000 offer from Enbridge officials.

But the elected chief thinks that really isn't enough to cover the cost of true participation and highlights why his nation wants an independent First Nations-led review of the project.

"What they are saying to our nation is if you want to participate in the (CEAA) process - or any other process - here is the form, you fill in the blanks and you get $30,00 for it," said Luggi.

The CSTC is currently seeking the right to conduct a First Nations Review process for the project following fears that the Stuart River and many creeks might be adversely affected by the project if there were oil spills.

The tribal council would need $2.4 million in funding to make the process work.

Luggi said the First Nation is not looking for a hand-out.

"We have been basically oppressed on our territories and been denied any chance for revenue-share in more recent years, governments have been deriving their revenues from production of natural resources - resources in our territories - fibre, minerals, and oil and gas. If you add up the requirements and call it a hand-out for infrastructure, it is a very tiny amount, if 'you add up the revenues that all the governments get compared to what we get," said Luggi.

Right now, First Nations have no decision-making authority in the process or the result and the decision making criteria under t IH' environmental assessment office legislation does not include any mandatory First Nations criteria.

In addition, the 2002 amendments to the Be Environmental Assessment Act removed a legislated role for First Nations from the process.

According to a letter sent to Luggi on June 22 by Enbridge's Director of Aboriginal Relations Leonie B. Rivers, the would-be pipeline builder offered the payment as part of a mutually agreeable protocol agreement on June 11 to CSTC Business Analyst Barry Vickers.

The offer came a full week before the company applied to have the project listed under review again after a two-year suspension.

"But what (Enbridge) said was we have to put on their handcuffs and get in to the National Energy Board process," said Luggi.

The letter, obtained by The Daily News, shows an offer that would have included clauses extending from confidentiality about the agreement itself, to an outline of communications between both Enbridge and csrc, and for the Tribal council to work hand-in-hand with Enbridge through the federal environmental assessment.

However, the CSTC rejected the offer on July 23, saying the federal EA was not sufficient to ensure its environmental concerns about the project were met and because the CSTC was not in a position to impose a protocol agreement on its eight member bands.
.
The federal government calls it consultation and that this is how the process works.

According to CEA Senior Communications Advisor Lucille Jamault, a letter was sent to 62 Aboriginal communities in October, including the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, inviting them to comment on the draft Joint Review Panel Agreement, which includes the panel Terms of Reference.

This comment period for Aboriginal groups comes prior to a 60-day public comment period on the agreement that will be held early in 2009.

"The agency is making available funding to Aboriginal communities to encourage their participation in the EA process and continues to provide information to these communities on how the EA process will function," said Jamault.

"Letters that were sent to FNs included an invitation to apply for participant funding (which is administered by the agency) along with a funding application form. To date, funding applications have been received however funds have not been disbursed for this project."

To be eligible for funding, Aboriginal groups must plan to engage in aboriginal consultation activities with the federal government that are linked to the EA of a project. Applicants must complete an application for funding. Successful applicants must sign a contribution agreement and submit a request for payment with supporting documentation before they can receive the funds.

Aboriginal groups are eligible to apply for funding if they can demonstrate that they have either direct local interest in the project, have community or Aboriginal traditional knowledge relevant to the EA; or have expert information relevant to the anticipated environmental effects of the project.

Luggi said that baseline studies and other data potentially completed by Enbridge to look a~ and analyze, requiring a lot more than $30,000 for the different experts needed to get beyond the opening pages of the such studies.

Enbridge outlines its plans at Prince Rupert open house

While the proposed actual pipeline won't come anywhere near the city, Enbridge Energy brought their public relations team to Prince Rupert last week, outlining the impact that the northern Gateway project will have on the region.

With concerns growing in the area about the use of tankers plying the West Coast to and from Enbridge's customers and suppliers, the issue of environmental risk is one that is on many minds and one that Enbridge will have to address as they proceed with their plans.

Part of that process began with their open house here, one of a number along the Highway 16 corridor and through to Kitimat to address the numerous concerns and issues of the development.

The Daily news on Thursday featured the open house as their front page headline story, providing some background on the development thus far.

ENBRIDGE PUMPS PIPELINE PLANS AT CITY OPEN HOUSE

Company explains the benefits and safeguards at a public session in Rupert this week
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Thursday, December 04, 2008

Pages one and three

Enbridge representatives came clad in green golf shirts and brought big flashy placards with pictures of mountains and cozy pastures in an effort to give their side of the story.
That story is about the oil pipeline operators' Northern Gateway project that they hope will snake its way from Brudenheim, Alberta, to Kitimat. It's a project that could deliver 4,000 temporary construction jobs for the region.

It is also a project that has its share of opposition.

"People come to open houses and they think that these are the venues that we tell you what we are doing but actually it is more of a venue saying this is what we think would work and you tell us what you think would work," explained Roger Harris, Enbridge's vice president of communications and aboriginal affairs.

The pipeline itself will not come to Prince Rupert, but there are concerns about oil tankers operating in the region. Some of the tankers would be carrying Alberta tar sands oil to Asia, while some tankers would be bringing in condensate from Australia to the B.C. coast, a highly volatile light petroleum product used to thin bitumen.

Harris went on to explain that another reason for the Prince Rupert stopover was because Enbridge realizes that any project that is developed in the Northwest affects the whole region.
"People in Prince Rupert need to be part of how we craft this project. Not just from the design of the pipeline perspective but also from the shipping vessel perspective," said Harris.
.

And that's where the nuts and bolts of the issue sits for the North Coast.

It's the old argument of environment versus economy, with both at risk. The sound of 4,000 temporary jobs opening up for a hurting Northern B.C. region, devastated by declines in fishing stocks and plundered by a pine beetle infestation that has battered the forestry industry, could be music to residents' ears. But it also comes with some potential environmental risks, say critics. Enbridge's open house was as much about selling the potential shipping safety measures as it was about the pipeline itself.

The organization's representatives were open about the way they have been perceived by the public and recognized the backlash they have seen.

There have been concerns about oil tankers entering the region. People along the North Coast have not forgotten March 24, 1989, when the Exxon Valdez oil tanker crashed into Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, spilling 53.1 million gallons of oil into the ocean.

Enbridge has responded to Valdez concerns by mentioning that the new tankers are now double-hulled, with separate oil containers, rather than a single, big container that has been used in the past.

They say that such a vessel design would protect the coast from a Valdez-like spill.

"If we are going to actually design the future of the West Coast of Canada in a way that facilitates the things that everybody wants to do, from shellfish aquaculture to potentially this project, then we better start sitting down collectively and putting together what we need to do collectively to make it work," said Harris.

Another issue that has prevented the viability of the pipeline is a 1972 moratorium on oil tanker traffic and offshore oil drilling installed by then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. That moratorium came about in response to concerns about environmental damage to the North Coast region.

But the Enbridge representatives said they have been unable to find where any moratorium has been written down; meaning that respect for the moratorium may be a moot point.

One B.C. environmental group said that there is one, regardless of whether it is written and that it should be respected.

"The (federal) government has talked about in the past that there is moratorium - they have looked at reviews and looked at reviewing moratoriums on offshore oil and gas, and oil tanker traffic in B.C., so we feel there is a moratorium," said Living Oceans Society Executive Director Jennifer Lash.

Lash said that the federal government has verbally committed to that and therefore they have committed to a social contract with the people who work and live on this coast to not allow oil tanker traffic into the region.

She added that LOS was not saying that they were against tanker traffic all over the world but the North is one of the most ecologically sensitive places in Canada.

"History shows that what usually causes oil spills is human error. If there is an oil spill, industry considers it good if 10-to-15 per cent of oil spilt is recovered. That's just not good enough. We deserve better."

Enbridge looking for First nation partners in pipeline plans

The Northern Gateway Pipeline project is once again a going concern and Enbridge Incorporated is busy taking its message for development to northwest communities, having recently opened up two local offices in Terrace and Kitimat to better put their message out to the public.

The project is designed to provide for a twin pipeline between Kitimat and Bruderheim, Alberta, crossing many First Nation's lands and providing for a major injection of infrastructure and potential jobs in the Kitimat area.

Roger Harris the former Liberal cabinet minister is the point man in the Northwest for the project, having been assigned the title of Vice-President of Community and Aboriginal Partnerships for Enbridge, his task to provide a liaison with First Nation bands and other communities of the Northwest to try and seek out partnerships with Enbridge in bringing the project on line.

A project that may make for an interesting occupation considering the raft of issues that the First Nations have about the pipeline project and the impact it may have on their communities.

.

One possible approach according to the Dogwood Initiative, is that Enbridge may offer partial ownership of the pipeline to local First Nation communities, though Enbridge would according to a news report in the Prince George Citizen would still take on a majority share of the project.

The Enbridge website provides much of the same detail that the open houses so far have provided to those that may be interested, background information on the pipeline project and the impact that it may have on the Kitimat region.

The company will attempt to answer some of the questions and provide more information during a Prince Rupert open house in the first week of December set for the Coast Prince Rupert Hotel.

The Daily News outlined some of the local feedback on the project thus far, with an article in Thursday's paper.

Enbridge explaining its B.C. pipeline project
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Friday, November 21, 2008
Pages one and five

Enbridge Inc. will bring its big pipeline plans to the North Coast on Dec. 2.

While the open house program coming to Prince Rupert is an attempt to inform all Ruperites about its proposed $4 billion pipeline project from Alberta to Kitimat, its specific target is the First Nations community living in and around the City of Rainbows.

That's because Enbridge wants to make them partners.

But one First Nations leader said he isn't rushing in to any deal.

Metlakatla elected chief Harold Leighton said that his band has yet to be contacted directly by Enbridge about the meeting, but there is a prior history between Enbridge and Metlakatla when talking about the pipeline.

"We do have plans on sitting down with them and talking about issues and concerns that Metlakatla have," said Leighton.

He added that normally these conversations do not take place out in the public sphere but in the privacy of the band’s office back in Metlakatla.

This isn’t the first time Enbridge had had a consultation process.

About two years ago, the pipeline operator held talks with most Northern B. C. First Nations, but they did not consult with Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams.

According to Leighton, that is what both band councils are looking for right now.

“We want to talk about our issues and the land- environment – those are our two priorities right now,” said Leighton.

The proposed pipeline would snake its way from Bruderheim, Alberta, just east of Edmonton, to Kitimat along what is called the Northwest Corridor. That would bring it in to Tsimshian territory, to which Metlakatla is a member tribe.

Going to Kitimat would be oil from the oil sands projects in Alberta and going back the other way would be oil thinner.

But this is not the first time a partnership arrangement with First Nations communities has been on offer.

In 2000, a similar arrangement was made with the Aboriginal Pipeline Group and TransCanada Corp. when the APG was offered a third stake of the Mackenzie Pipeline running south from the Northwest Territories.

Leighton’s concerns about the proposed pipeline include its impact on salmon spawning rivers in traditional Tsimshian territory and the protection of those rivers.

Environmental protection continues to be a contentious issue for Northern First Nations when it comes to the pipeline.

The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, a representative council for eight bands just west of Prince George, has said it will not sign on to any deal with Enbridge at this point because it does not recognize the National Energy Board-led assessment process.

The last time a consultation process was broached by Enbridge back in 2006, First Nations bands requested $2.4 million in funding from the federal government so that they might spearhead their own environmental assessment.

So far, this request has been denied. And Leighton admits that he hasn’t spoken to the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council about Enbridge since 2006.

“We were part of the process earlier on but we have not attended meetings with them since, so we don’t’ know what their issues are but I know that when Enbridge decided to put this project on a shelf a while back, it was basically because of the concerns of the First Nations along the (project) line,” said Leighton.

Enbridge official Steve Greenway said Enbridge plans to file its application for approval with the NEB in 2009.

“What we are trying to do is get people really aware of what is going on with our plans and about the project. If they have any questions, we hope to answer them, and hopefully we can let people know about the opportunities and the benefits that can come to the North when we get our pipeline operational,” said Greenway.

Greenway could not answer exactly what a deal with First Nations community would look like, or whether or not a deal would be reached individually or collectively, saying that details have not been worked out yet.

“What we anticipate is that each individual band would have the opportunity to participate,” said Greenway.

Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen, who was just named NDP critic for Natural Resources and Energy, said that it is not automatic that North coast First Nation bands want in on the deal.
“I think it’s going to be a tough sell to the Haida and Tsimshian nations,” he said.

Kitimat pipeline project back in the starting gate

Enbridge is dusting off its plans for the Gateway pipeline, that's the four billion dollar project that would run twin pipelines to and from Alberta. One for moving imported diluent from Kitimat to Alberta, and one bringing crude oil from the Northern Alberta oil sands to Kitimat for loading into tanker ships.

It was put on the back burner last year when the Calgary based energy company decided to concentrate its efforts on the energy needs of the US marketplace.

However, renewed interest from Asian markets and homegrown developments have made the project a feasible plan once again and Enbridge is putting forward its plan to win regulatory approval for the project.

Globe and Mail--Enbridge revives $4-billion pipeline

Financial Post--Enbridge rekindles oilsands pipeline plan

Calgary Sun--Gateway pipeline back on track

Prince George Citizen--Enbridge makes pipeline progress

The TV 7 website posted its story on the proposed development on its website on Monday.

Pipeline Project Revived
Tue, 2008-02-26 18:26.
Local News
CFTK TV News


The Northwest can brace for more activity by Enbridge in the coming year.
The Calgary pipeline company has revived its $4-billion plan to build a line from the Alberta oil sands to port at Kitimat.

Enbridge officials told a recent conference that they've lined up enough support from customers in Southeast Asia, along with producers in this country, to move forward with the Gateway project.

That means Enbridge is accelerating work on winning regulatory approval.

The company put the brakes on the Gateway project more than a year ago to concentrate on transporting oil to U.S. markets.

The Gateway project would include twin pipelines -- one moving imported diluent from Kitimat to Alberta, and one transporting crude oil from the oilsands to Kitimat for loading into tanker ships.

While the proposal has been welcomed by some Northwest residents for the thousands of jobs it would create during construction, others are worried about the environmental impact of the line and potential oil spills on land and at sea.