Natural resources minister has met with 22 Indigenous leaders for Trans Mountain talks

OTTAWA – Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi has personally met with leaders of nearly two dozen Indigenous communities since the Federal Court of Appeal struck down federal approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in August.

The government is doing additional consultations with Indigenous communities affected by the pipeline expansion after the court said the original consultation was insufficient.

READ MORE: Trudeau says ‘frustrating’ federal court ruling provides blueprint for Trans Mountain approval

One of the court’s chief objections was that the bureaucrats who engaged with Indigenous communities listened and documented the concerns they raised but had no authority to do anything about those concerns or even answer some of the Indigenous groups’ questions.

Sohi says this time that has changed and he has a mandate to address the concerns raised where possible, and explain why not when it isn’t.

WATCH: Full coverage of Trans Mountain pipeline coverage on Globalnews.ca 

2:32 Trudeau says there is a path to Trans Mountain approval

• Trudeau says there is a path to Trans Mountain approval
• Is the Trans Mountain pipeline project dead?
• Alberta premier warning of risk if Trans Mountain pipeline doesn’t go ahead
• Alberta MLAs weigh in on Trans Mountain pipeline at emergency debate
• Will a Trans Mountain Pipeline consultation actually be meaningful?

Previous Video

Next Video

He says he has already met with 22 Indigenous communities, including leaders from most of those that sued Ottawa over the pipeline.

Sohi maintains the Liberal government is not assuming the outcome of the consultations – even though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the pipeline is going to be built and Ottawa laid down $4.5 billion to buy the project over the summer.