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The current crisis in the Western Canadian oil and gas sector is hitting many Indigenous communities hard. The 130 oil and gas-producing members of the Indian Resource Council are truly feeling the pinch. The decline in revenues means that Indigenous governments are building fewer homes, training fewer people, and are not able to support our social and cultural programs as they would like to. Tragically, having followed the rules and finally grasped the opportunity, First Nations are being dragged down by the inability of the government of Canada to get pipelines built in a timely fashion.

It is true that Fist Nations along the British Columbia coast have been fighting hard against the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, although some of the same groups support LNG developments in their traditional territories. Those who oppose oil and gas development do so thoughtfully and their position is to be respected. But those First Nations engaged in the industry have also given their participation careful thought and have proceeded with great attention to environmental protection and sustainability.

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Now, with Bill C-69 before the Senate, another serious challenge has emerged. Many First Nations support the Government of Canada’s legislation, which will add complexity and extended the time allocated to environmental review and assessment processes. Indigenous communities welcome expanded consultation processes and the requirement for impact assessments to include Indigenous traditional knowledge. But many Indigenous communities are worried that too little consideration was given to the economic costs. They feel that it could seriously undercut progress in a commercial sector that is already reeling from numerous body blows.