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“What that means for any government moving forward, is we have to do even more. We have to do consult even more than we thought we needed to. I know Mr. Trudeau is opposed to Gateway … but it’s an important piece of pipeline infrastructure so my hope is they will do the consultation necessary to move forward as quickly as possible.”

Kent Hehr, Calgary’s representative in Trudeau’s cabinet, said Sunday he could not comment on how the government will proceed around Gateway.

But the Veterans Affairs Minister scoffed at Ambrose not taking responsibility for the problems around duty to consult.

“It’s clear that her government failed on many fronts and our government is putting in the steps to ensure we get a reasonable process in place,” said Hehr in an interview at the annual Hays breakfast.

The Liberal cabinet, after adding new consultation steps into the review process, will also soon consider whether to approve the expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain oilsands pipeline to Burnaby.

In reference to Gateway’s proposed route, Trudeau has said repeatedly, including last week, that the Great Bear rainforest is no place for a pipeline. But Hehr noted the prime minister has also spoken continually of the need for Alberta to get its energy products to market.

The Gateway line has prompted fierce opposition among many B.C. First Nations but the project has the support of 31 aboriginal organizations and communities who have a stake in it moving forward.

Two of the stewards of the project’s “aboriginal equity partners” were at the Hays breakfast, a prime networking event during the Stampede.

Bruce Dumont, president of the Metis Nation of British Columbia, said the court decision allows the Liberals an opportunity to get it right around Gateway consultation.

He’s hopeful Trudeau’s government won’t kill the project given the economic opportunity involved.

“You look at how desperate people are now. Resource development has to happen,” said Dumont.

jwood@postmedia.com