Probably Petro China figured its better to buy the First Nations Bands, then to buy local politicians to grease up the regulators.

I can just see a short midget Chinese guy like on Austin Powers with his pinky finger in his mouth going, 'ok another $100 million dollars'.... why not they are still making out like bandits.

Hey didn't we already give them a handful of beads.

Now for the real comments, I think that this is a reasonable approach, it will identify, whether they want to protect the environment or improve their lives. I am of suspicion that they want to improve their lives first and then protect the environment.

How about, train and hire the first nation people to inspect the lines in their teritories. This way they can be the guardians of the continuity of the lines, the community gets money monthly as well as a couple families are also supported by the development for the long term.

If this isn't bribery, payola, greasing the palm, whatever you want to call it, I don't know what is. This could impact all of BC, especially the north, not just the local natives. For enbridge to think they are going to win thier case if they payoff the locale natives they are just kidding themselves. Whats next? What kind of bribe can you offer the environmental protestors? Or the residents of this province? Besides the real possibility of destroying a good part of our wilderness, first with construction and then with negligent. Why our politicians or community leaders even entertain the idea of letting a multinational company with overseas interests to put this monstrosity across our land for next to no benefit for the average taxpayer of BC is beyond reason. Obviously phase one of payola was the politicians. Enbridge just wasn't sure how many levels of payout they may have to do.

Darn rights it's bribery.

isn't free enterprise great. Everybody got a number.

How about a hundred million dollar white guy trust? Hey...I live here too!

Ok me too, but I'm not quite white

No problem He spoke.....

How about a hundred million dollar 'everyone' else trust? Its not just natives that live up here you know! Nothing against the natives its just there are other folks around northern BC who really don't want to see this project move forward.

Everyone can be bought...its just a matter of negotiating a price...

Shouldn't a few billion dollars be paid into a government held trust fund (collecting annual compound interest)by the pipeline owners whenever a new pipeline is put into service to pay for the expected oil spill clean-ups?

BP (of Gulf of Mexico fame) apparently has not paid the entire clean-up costs and damage compensation it promised and there is little chance it ever will.

He Spoke you defame free enterprise for what I don't know. Free enterprise is not a monopolistic pipeline, but rather a level rules based playing field for equal opportunity to economic activity... many competing within an economy, the opposite of monopolies.

"BP (of Gulf of Mexico fame) apparently has not paid the entire clean-up costs and damage compensation it promised and there is little chance it ever will."

Nor have those responsible for the Exxon Valdez spill. Exxon/Esso.

There has not been anything but a few newspaper articles to indicate that this oil will go to China. Fact of the matter is most of the Oil in the Oil "Sands is owned by American Multi National Oil Companies, who also own the pipelines, and also most of the shipping.

Most of this oil is going to go by ship to refineries in California. If you read most of the press release's closely you would have seen that they state, **for shipping oil to China and the USA**. The USA connection is being downplayed for a reason, not the least of which is the Canadians, who dislike anything American. Mainly because 90% of the Industry and Business in Canada is owned by Americans.

The Trans Canada Pipe Line was built in the late 50's early 60's from Alberta to Ontario. In additon there are thousands of miles of pipe lines all over Canada. One runs from Taylor BC to the Husky Refinery in Prince George, then to Kamloops and on to Vancouver.

So the question is. Why is this pipeline so much different that all the others???? Public awareness perhaps, but more likely first native awareness. I dont have any problem with the natives making a bundle of money off the pipeline. If they didnt, and allowed it to go through, it would be just more profit to multinationals.

An oil pipeline spill is not beneficial to anyone, people,business, oil companies, enviroment, etc; It is in the pipeline companies best interest to do all possible to ensure that safety is Job (1)

One of the main reasons that Canada was able to get through the last recession was because of the Oil and Gas Industry in Alberta. Canada is now has one of the largest oil reseves in the world. We have to find a way to exploit this oil, or our economy is going to go to hell in a handbasket.

There are thousands and thousands of jobs in Alberta that rely on this industry with thousands more coming on line all the time. There are plans to build 3 natual gas refineries in the Ft St John, Ft Nelson area, at a cost of billions in the next few years. People are flown in and out of Ft McMurray from as far away at Ontario, on a regular basis.

If you want to concern yourselfs with enviromental issues, you might want to think about the huge mines that will be going in on Highway 37. These will be open pit mines. There will also be some compensation to the Natives, and once again I say good. The more money they get the better. In fact its long over due.

If God did not want us to burn oil as fast as we can; he would not have given us Henry Ford!