(OTTAWA) – The leader of the Green Party of Canada, Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands) says the Liberal government must step back from promoting the Kinder Morgan pipeline amid allegations that it rigged the approval process for the controversial pipeline project.

“The Trudeau administration has been failing Canadians on multiple fronts. Numerous studies were ignored both by the National Energy Board, as well as by the Liberals, in pushing through the Kinder Morgan pipeline. In ignoring the science, the Liberals violated their election commitment to 'evidence based decision making.' The paper trail from the bureaucracy suggests that, on the contrary, 'decision-based evidence making' was behind the approval,” said Ms. May. “The diligent investigative journalism of the National Observer reveals the Government asked for only one answer and asked the civil service to provide legal cover. ”

“Canada signed the United Nations Declaration of Rights for Indigenous Peoples. In forcing Trans Mountain through the Canadian government is violating article 32. The Government is besmirching the honour of the Crown in ignoring Constitutionally enshrined rights of First Nations in Canada. As an UNDRIP signatory, Canada has a responsibility “to consult and cooperate in good faith with the indigenous peoples...through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free and informed consent prior to the approval of any project affecting their lands or territories and other resources, particularly in connection with the development, utilization or exploitation of mineral, water or other resources.”

“That obligation was not met by the 2016 interim approval process for projects. Nor did the 3-person panel commissioned to review public views of the Kinder Morgan pipeline meet commitments to evidence based decision-making or respect for indigenous rights. The three-person panel did not recommend approval of the pipeline, nor did they add a single scientific study to the evidence. Claiming the Liberals remedied the broken NEB process created under Harper is both cynical and hypocritical.”

All along the Trudeau government has been acting in bad faith. The Trudeau Cabinet must end Kinder Morgan talks, step away from cheerleading for the project and return to honouring its commitments. Trudeau promised to restore relationships with Indigenous peoples and have Canada lead on environmental policy on the world stage. It’s time to walk the talk.”



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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Rod Leggett

Press Secretary

rod.leggett@greenparty.ca

613-562-4916 ext. 206