REGINA – The national pipeline debate continued in Regina Thursday where energy executives from across the country continued a three day meeting at the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) conference.
The conference featured two prominent Saskatchewan leaders who have two very different outlooks on how the future of that sector should unfold.
“We need to work together to partner and to grow the economy not only across Canada but for First Nations people as well,” says Perry Bellegarde, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
Bellegarde stressed to industry leaders that First Nations are rights holders and not merely stakeholders, something he described as a vitally important distinction.
But Bellegarde had a welcoming message too: “I’m also aware of the common perception that First Nations are categorically opposed to development. That’s not true,” explained Bellegarde.
It’s a marked change in tone from when Bellegarde was first elected AFN chief.
“With our ownership of the resources and jobs for our people. It will be done on our terms and our timeline,” said Bellegarde at his election ceremony in 2014.
Meanwhile, Premier Brad Wall focused his comments on praising work the energy industry has already done.
“We need to say ‘thank you’ and we need to celebrate the industry, and we need to do this in increasingly public ways,” said Wall.
Wall pointed out the $18 billion collected in royalties and taxes last year and the immediate need for pipeline expansion.
“If we don’t get the oil to Atlantic Canada or to either coast, we’re never going to have energy independence with all of this oil we have in the country. It’s not even possible,” said Wall.
Absent in Wall’s speech was any reference to First Nations issues, something industry leaders were eager to hear about from both speakers.
“I wouldn’t want to comment specifically on the operations of your association,” said Wall, when asked by an industry executive for advice.
“Make the investments now on education and training,” Bellegarde said when asked by the same executive what would be the number one thing CEPA could do as an association to engage First Nations partners.
The CEPA Foundation has confirmed that they will be extending an invite to more aboriginal business leaders for next year’s fall conference.
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