Growing demand for oil in Asia is an economic opportunity which the Canadian oil industry has been trying to take advantage of for years. However, strong opposition from BC’s First Nations is an external social and political threat limiting companies like Enbridge from reaching the continent. The Nak’azdli have vowed to stop Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline because they believe that it is not worth the risk of a spill on the waterways in their traditional territory.

Enbridge is trying to pay off First Nations rather than establishing positive relationships with them.

Today I came across an article in which Jack Toth, the CEO of a social enterprise which aims at forging positive relationships between industries and aboriginals, suggests that “businesses need to move from doing things for the [First Nations] and start being involved with them“.

This applies directly to Canada’s oil industry.

If Canada’s oil companies want to access Asian markets, they must include the interests of BC’s First Nations in their business models. Instead of simply offering these stakeholders a share in profits, corporations need to collaborate with them to figure out alternate routes and address environmental concerns.

In Enbridge’s case, however, I reckon it is too little too late. Their poor brand image, as underlined in an old post of mine, will prevent the Nak’azdli from accepting the Northern Gateway pipeline.

Image Sources: Google Images