Photo: Contributed

A pipeline company and a B.C. First Nation have signed an agreement to work together.

Trans Mountain, the company behind the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion, and the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc have signed a Mutual Benefit Agreement (MBA), a confidential agreement that defines a mutually beneficial long-term relationship between an individual Aboriginal group and Kinder Morgan Canada.

According to a press release from Trans Mountain, these agreements provide opportunities for First Nations located in closest proximity to the pipeline corridor to share in the prosperity of sustainable development within their territories.

“Trans Mountain pipeline has been in the ground since 1953 and the history of relations has been challenging. To get to this stage in our relationship, we have sat at the table with Kinder Morgan Canada and had some tough negotiations,” said band Chief Fred Seymour.

“The outcome that we reached in the mutual benefit agreement involved a collaborative process, always keeping our members’ interests at the forefront, resulting in training, employment and contract opportunities for Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc members and compensation for the inequities dating back to 1953.

"Once Kinder Morgan Canada fulfills the significant obligations required by the National Energy Board, there will be greater certainty that the environmental and other commitments will be achieved. Then, the work schedule can be laid out.”

The project will create more than 15,000 jobs through construction and 37,000 after operation of the pipeline, which includes direct jobs building the pipeline and indirect jobs in sectors such as engineering, manufacturing and transportation.

Trans Mountain stated it plans to maximize Aboriginal, local and regional employment opportunities.