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A recent decision approved by Steven Harper’s government has given Enbridge Inc., an Albertan oil company, the go-ahead to begin constructing the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline. The $7.9 billion proposal would see Alberta crude shipped to the West Coast by pipeline and exported to Asian markets by super tankers from marine terminal at Kitimat, BC.
The approval of this megaproject has caused a major uproar from First Nations and aboriginal communities who mostly fear oil could be spilled from the pipeline and from the tankers sailing through narrow coastal channels, which will inevitably cause grave ecological harm and loss of wildlife habitat. The pipeline project is attracting fierce opposition from First Nations groups not only because it crosses through traditional aboriginal territory, but also because it has the potential to impact aboriginal culture, heritage and ecological stability.
It is very important when constructing a business plan to build strong relationships with key partners as well as the various groups and associations who might be affected by the business operations. By giving Enbridge the go-ahead, it seems that First Nations are not being treated as partners, but rather as an afterthought in the planning of the megaproject. The big question is whether Enbridge as well as the Canadian government is prepared to develop a different kind of relationship with First Nations.