Enbridge & First Nations
by AikenLao
Photo from Enbridge Inc.
Enbridge Inc. has a solid business model. Although each one of its big projects go under major scrutiny from external communities, the benefits it provides, business and economic wise, is obvious. The products it provides, natural gas and crude oil, has consumer demands from countries such as the United States and China. It is also supported by the Canadian federal and provincial governments. However, as with all Canadian development projects, one must secure permission from the First Nations when partaking in projects such as these.
From a business point of view, reaching an agreement with the First Nations will be the biggest hurdle in the completion of their project. They are the ones standing in between them and a market full of potential buyers who are willing to pay billions for Canada’s natural resources.
On the other hand, the First Nations have a lot to lose. Based on the statistics provided by Enbridge, a leak is “unlikely” but if it does happen the impacts will be devastating on the natural environment. Although oil leaks can be cleaned up, the only way to restore a damaged environment is with time and that may be impossible for some animals, especially endangered species. The land is their culture, history, and themselves.
The Supreme Court ruling is not a fork road, but simply a statement to clarify what was already present. If Enbridge and the First Nations truly want to agree on a solution they must do so with patience and acceptance, values that those of the past have failed to grasp in past negotiations.
References:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/There+will+pipeline/10122968/story.html