BC, Canada Agree Draft Deal with Hereditary Chiefs
The governments of BC and Canada and five hereditary chiefs blocking access to Coastal GasLink’s work areas in central BC, said March 1 they had reached a draft agreement to expedite the process of implementing Wet’suwet’en rights and titles in a 22,000 km2 area of the province.
The draft agreement, while not addressing the chiefs’ concerns with the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline project – a 670 km pipeline to take gas from northeast BC to LNG Canada’s liquefaction terminal under construction on BC’s north coast near Kitimat – will allow work on the pipeline in the disputed area to resume this week, CGL said in a statement.
“Coastal GasLink appreciates that a path has been identified to address significant issues of aboriginal title and rights of the Wet’suwet’en people while recognizing that Coastal GasLink is fully permitted and remains on track for a 2023 in-service date,” CGL CEO David Pfeiffer said in the statement. “Coastal GasLink will resume construction activities in the Morice River area on Monday, March 2 following the four-day pause to allow for constructive dialogue between the parties.”
Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief Woos, Scott Fraser, BC’s minister of indigenous relations and reconciliation, and Carolyn Bennett, federal minister of Crown-indigenous relations, announced the draft agreement on Sunday in Smithers, BC after three days of talks.
“These talks focused on two separate topics – the recognition of Wet’suwet’en rights and title throughout the Yintah (territory) and the issues arising out of the Coastal GasLink (CGL) project,” the three said in a joint statement. “The topics were discussed separately.”
With respect to rights and titles, discussions focused on commitments to develop a process for the expedited implementation of Wet’suwet’en rights and title. The draft arrangement reached during talks will be reviewed by Wet’suwet’en clan members under that First Nation’s existing protocols for ratification.
If the draft agreement is ratified, Bennett and Fraser will return to Wet’suwet’en territory to sign it.
Regarding the CGL project, all three parties engaged in “direct discussions” and explored the means to reach a resolution, the joint statement said. “All parties at the table recognize that the differences relating to the CGL project remain.”
“Coastal GasLink remains committed to dialogue and engagement with all indigenous groups along our route, including the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and Dark House,” Pfeiffer said. “We are encouraged by chief Woos’ statement that he is open to dialogue and look forward to an opportunity to meet with the hereditary chiefs.”