CSTC: No Meetings With Enbridge On Equity Plan

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. - The Vice-Chief of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council says there have been no meetings between local First Nations and Enbridge Inc. to discuss the company's proposed equity plan as part of the Northern Gateway Pipeline project.

Northern Gateway representatives are in Prince George today for a public information session at the Ramada Inn this evening, to discuss the technical and environmental management aspects of the proposed $5.5-billion dollar twin pipeline project, which would run from Bruderheim, Alberta to Kitimat, B.C..

CSTC Vice-Chief, Terry Teegee, says he plans to be outside this evening's meeting handing out information pamphlets and will attend the public presentation portion of the Enbridge session.

But Teegee says the company has not made any plans to meet with the Carrier Sekani during today's visit to Prince George, nor have they had any information sharing sessions about a proposed equity plan for aboriginal communities living along the pipeline route.  Enbridge President and CEO Pat Daniel has said that the offer of a 10-percent equity stake in the pipeline and a $100-million dollar trust has been well-received by First Nation communities (click here for previous story), but he did not elaborate on which communities.

Teegee says, "As far as I know, at least in British Columbia, none of them have accepted this new package, perhaps what they are referring to is the First Nations in Alberta."

"My communities and the Wet'suwet'en and other coastal First Nations haven't - they may have met with them - but, as far as I know, I don't think any of the First Nations have accepted or are considering accepting the new package."

Teegee says, "Regardless of what the equity share is, the word I'm getting from my side is, 'We're not interested' and we're not interested in this project, it's been pretty clear from the start five years ago that we don't want Enbridge Oil - there's just too many issues with it."

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