First Nations demand more transparency on pipeline project

MONCTON – Chief George Ginnish is worried about how Saint John’s new port could impact traditional fishing rights.

“There has to be certain things done to ensure our rights are taken into account,” he said, speaking for the Assembly of First Nations in New Brunswick.

“We would be concerned generally about how it would impact our aboriginal treaty rights … I know many of the Maliseet First Nations do harvest fish for their communities in Fundy.”

Ginnish said they’re keeping a close eye on the project and they want to work closely with developers.

“For too many years our people have been marginalized and been at the fringes,” he said.

The new port would be part of the massive TransCanada Energy East pipeline. Public and private investors are funding the project.

The line would export over a million barrels of oil a day to Saint John, and then be shipped to other markets.

That means the Canaport deep water marine terminal will need major work.

“We want to be fully consulted. We want to know what the company is intending to do here,” Ginnish said.

Charles Doucet represents the Council of Canadians in Moncton, which is among the groups supporting the chief’s call for transparency.

“There’s very little done to acknowledge peoples’ concerns and actually act on them, and i think the First Nations are quite right to make that kind of request,” he said.

In the meantime, the premier says First Nations groups will be with them every step of the way.

Ginnish hopes the province will keep its word.

“The premier has said he intends to work closely with First Nations, and we’ll certainly hold him to that promise,” he said.