No amount of jobs or other benefits will be able to convince Terry Teegee the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline is a worthwhile idea.
The chief of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council remains adamantly opposed the proposed $6 billion pipeline, even after a plan surfaced last week for a $13 billion refinery in Kitimat that would have the potential to create thousands of jobs in northern B.C.
"Our stance is pretty steadfast, we're not changing our minds even if there were a refinery proposed in our territory," he said. "The risk is too great, especially with the company."
The pipeline, backed by Calgary-based Enbridge, would connect Alberta's oilsands with the port in Kitimat. Newspaper publisher David Black unveiled his plan for a $13 billion refinery on Friday, which would tap into the Northern Gateway pipeline and produce gasoline and diesel for export to Asian markets and elsewhere.
Teegee contends the refinery will do little for his people as the estimated 6,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs won't be in the Carrier Sekani's traditional land area.
In addition to not seeing the benefit of the refinery, Teegee noted the Carrier Sekani will still have the risk of the pipeline carrying diluted bitumen and condensate through their lands.
However Teegee insists even if a refinery was able to provide jobs for his people, he would still be opposed to the pipeline.
Last month the provincial government listed consultation with First Nations groups as one of its five issues that needed to be addressed before it would consider giving the pipeline its blessing, but Teegee said he's heard nothing from either the provincial government or Enbridge since that July 23 announcement. Not only have there been no meetings since the province issued its conditions, he said there are no meetings currently planned.
"If I haven't heard or seen anything from any of our First Nations, (the government's position) basically means nothing," he said. "I guess it was just political positioning."
The impact of the pipeline on First Nations rights will be a topic of discussion at the final phase of hearings by the National Energy Board's Joint Review Panel. Aboriginal issues will be on the table at meetings in Prince Rupert beginning Nov. 22.
Meanwhile, Teegee also said any increase in development at all of the Alberta oil sands will have a negative effect on First Nations and other residents of northern B.C. because of the increase in the amount of greenhouse gasses produced. He said the mountain pine beetle epidemic of the last decade was just one sign that climate change can be devastating to local ecosystems.
