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VANCOUVER — An aboriginal group along the proposed Northern Gatewaypipeline says Enbridge's (TSX:ENB) claim of widespread supportamong First Nations is a "sham." On Tuesday, Enbridge announced it had signed agreements with 60 percent of the aboriginal communities on the route, saying it's proofthere's more support for the pipeline than opponents would suggest. But the executive director of the Coastal First Nations, analliance of 10 First Nations who oppose the project and that liveon the land the pipeline will traverse, accused Enbridge ofmanipulating the facts. Art Sterritt questioned how many First Nations along the routeactually support the project, which would transport oil along the$5.5-billion pipeline between Bruderheim, Alta., and Kitimat B.C. Paul Stanway, Enbridge's spokesman on the pipeline, wasn'tavailable for comment Wednesday. But he said Tuesday theequity-sharing deals mean there isn't the wall of opposition thatproject opponents sometimes claim. However, Enbridge has refused to name the First Nations that havesigned deals. "We have checked with all the First Nations along the pipelineroute west of Prince George and only two First Nations have signedequity agreements," said Sterritt in a statement. Sterritt called Enbridge's numbers flawed, noting the companyexpanded its corridor by 80 kilometres to boost the number ofsupporters, and many of the First Nations who have signed on arelocated outside of any area that could be impacted by a potentialspill. The company also included the Metis in the tally, but Sterritt saidthat aboriginal group doesn't have rights or title to land insidethe corridor. Of the two aboriginal groups that have said they have signed anequity deal, Sterritt noted the Gitksan people have rejected theagreement and some in the community are working to stop theproject. Enbridge has said First Nations who sign the deal will get about$280 million over 30 years, and the cash would start flowing withinthe first year of the pipeline's operation. There are 45 First Nations along the pipeline, but Stanway wouldn'tgive a final figure on how many signed on because of contractualagreements. Support for the project among aboriginal groups is split aboutevenly between Alberta and B.C. First Nations, said Stanway. The B.C. Metis Federation said in a statement that while it hasbeen seeking a voice for Metis on the pipeline, the federation'sleaders oppose the project. Enbridge's signed deal is with the Metis Nation British Columbia,but the federation called that group incompetant and said it doesnot speak for the wider Metis community. "Despite the obvious Metis community and family concerns, MNBCsigned the Enbridge equity deal announced May 26th with absolutelyno mandate from Metis people or communities in British Columbia,"the federation said in a news release. "In some of proposed corridor locations, the Metis population countis greater than the local First Nations." The public hearing process on the proposed pipeline is at about themidway point, and in September formal hearings will begin whereexpert witnesses will testify under oath to the review panel. The Coastal First Nations includes the Wuikinuxv, Heiltsuk,Kitasoo/Xaixais, Nuxalk, Gitga'at, Haisla, Metlakatla, Old Massett,Skidegate, and Council of the Haida Nation, an alliancerepresenting some 20,000 members. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Portable Gas Stoves , China Gas Cylinder Regulators for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Lp Gas Cylinder.
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