The chief of an Alberta First Nation staging a legal challenge of the planned Pacific Link oil pipeline says Prime Minister Mark Carney broke a commitment to visit the community before advancing the project and its associated Pathways carbon capture initiative — a “slap in the face” that speaks to the broader failure to respect Indigenous rights.
asserted
that → stag → rights
In an interview Friday, Cold Lake First Nations Chief Kelsey Jacko said Carney told him during last year’s federal election that he would come to the First Nations territory and discuss the project “before anything is announced.”
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anything → say → project
Since then, however, the Carney government inked an agreement with Alberta to proceed with the pipeline and linked its construction to the long-proposed carbon capture project on the First Nations’ traditional territory, all without a visit or any meaningful consultations, Jacko said.
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Jacko → ink → visit
That included before the announcement in Fort McMurray, Alta. on Oct. 1 that Ottawa will use last year’s controversial Building Canada Act to fast-track approval of the Pacific Link with a goal of clearing the way for construction by September 2027.
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Ottawa → include → September
Jacko’s First Nation filed an application for judicial review in Federal Court on Thursday, arguing the government failed in its constitutional duty to consult and accommodate the community and that the fast-tracking decision should be quashed.
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decision → file → community
Among the concerns are the impacts of storing greenhouse gas emissions from the oilsands underground on the First Nations’ territory in eastern Alberta, as well as the effects of expanding oilsands production in the area to feed the new pipeline that is supposed to carry one million barrels of oil per day from outside Edmonton to Delta, B.C.
“
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that → store → Delta
We are asking that these potential impacts be properly understood and addressed through meaningful consultation before decisions are made.
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decisions → ask → consultation
It’s kind of disheartening, you know, even when Prime Minister Carney was campaigning, he told me he would come to my territory, have a conversation before anything is announced,” Jacko said, referring to last year’s federal election.
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Jacko → ’ → election
“And, you know, it was kind of a slap in the face, because I had just seen him the day before at the Truth and Reconciliation (Day) event at Fort Edmonton Park.
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I → know → Park
But the next day, he went to Fort McMurray and made this big announcement.”
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he → go → announcement
The Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond when asked about Jacko’s comments.
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Office → respond → comments
“The prime minister has said many times the Pathways and the pipeline depend on each other.
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Pathways → say → other
We have tried again and again to work with Canada on both, but Canada still refuses to talk to us about either one,” Jacko said.
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Jacko → try → one
“They’re ramming these things down our throat without our say.”
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They → ram → say
In a written statement, Eve Loignon-Giroux, a spokesperson for Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, defended the government’s approach to Indigenous consultations for Pacific Link.
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Giroux → write → Link
She said more than 110 Indigenous communities “along or near” the proposed pipeline route were part of “rigorous consultations” this summer, with more to come over the next year that will “inform the conditions for this project.”
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that → say → project
Loignon-Giroux declined to answer questions about the Cold Lake First Nations’ legal challenge.
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Giroux → decline → challenge
Indigenous leaders have raised concerns about a lack of consultation from the Carney government since last year, when the newly-elected Liberal administration tabled the Building Canada Act.
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administration → raise → Act
The bill created special powers that allow the federal cabinet to bypass environmental laws to fast-track projects it decides are in the “national interest.”
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it → create → interest
The Carney government argues the measures are necessary to boost the economy and break Canada’s commercial dependence on the United States as President Donald Trump throttles free trade with hefty tariffs, and Ottawa strives to double non-U.S. exports by 2035 through new trade deals with major economies like India.
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Ottawa → argue → India
Last month, the government tabled Bill C-39 to make further changes to federal rules so that Ottawa can more quickly assess projects outside of those declared in the “national interest” under the Building Canada Act.
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Ottawa → table → Act
That bill has also raised concerns from Indigenous leaders, however, including the Chiefs of Ontario, Nishnawbe Aski Nation in northern Ontario, and groups of the Assembly of First Nations in British Columbia, Quebec and Labrador.
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bill → raise → Columbia
In a statement Thursday, those organizations called for the bill to be withdrawn, arguing its goal of completing project assessments within a single year could compromise the need for proper consultations.
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goal → call → consultations
Jacko, meanwhile, said he is frustrated with how the Carney government has approached Indigenous concerns since the last election, and predicted further legal challenges unless it improves.
“I don’t know if Canada really gives a s—t about First Nations, just to be frank,” he said.
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he → say → Nations
“I’m trying to look after my people and the ones yet to come.”
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I → try → people
The Aporia
