In an important story published in Oil Price news, December 12, the question is raised as to whether Canada’s First Nations will scupper plans by the Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper to, as they put it, “turn western Canada into an energy powerhouse underwriting eastern Asia’s various demands for energy.”
Keep the latter phrase, in our italics, in mind.
John Daly of Oil Price writes a useful article, which clearly points out the challenge from the point of both sides in the equation. But he fails to highlight a key point – the intended market for all this fossil fuel and the implications of this. We will come back to that.
As Daly writes:
“Who are these obstructionists?
“The First Nations are the various Canadian aboriginal peoples who are neither Inuit nor Métis, with Ottawa currently recognizing over 630 First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.
“For decades Canada has belatedly dealt with issues as Pacific coastal natives sought treaties to spell out their relationship with the rest of the country. Accordingly, successive Canadian courts have ruled that in the absence of settled claims, the First Nations actually have rights and title to all aspects of traditional lands.
“Not surprisingly the First Nations are somewhat skeptical of Ottawa’s blandishments about the benefits accruing from developing the nation’s hydrocarbon resources.
“Imperiled projects? They include TransCanada Corp.’s Energy East’s proposed 3,000-mile pipeline in across First Nation lands, which would traverse the traditional territory of 180 different aboriginal communities, each of whom must be consulted and have their concerns accommodated as part of the company’s effort at winning project approval.”
A $650 billion fossil fuel binge
As we have seen, First Nations activists have taken to the land and roads in many standoffs across Canada, and according to a new report by the Fraser Institute, there are more than 600 major resource projects totaling $650 billion in western Canada that are “imperiled” by what is said to be Ottawa’s poor relations with the First Nations.
As the report points out, there is no project which does not impact at least one First Nations community, and the progress with these projects will to a large extent depend on what the report calls the “willingness” of communities to support the projects.
Divide and rule
So, Daly asks in his story, how can the government and these companies move forward?
He says they need to negotiate, and that the efforts of the Canadian’s government’s lawyer and treaty negotiator Doug Eyford “could perhaps shift discussions to innovative and dramatic discussions between the First Nations” and the government.
Superstars to the rescue?
Daly points out that if the talks fail, maybe the government should turn to the media to get its message out. He points out the publicity superstar and music legend Neil Young is bringing with his four benefit concerts in Canada for “the northern Alberta aboriginal band Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation to benefit organizations battling oilsands development, scheduled for January in Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina and Calgary, with 100 per cent of ticket sales from the shows to fund the band’s protest.”
This publicity helps hightlight the threats to the First Nations and the environment.
Daly suggests Ottawa needs to up its game if it wants to get its message across about the “benefits” that they say will be gained from the fossil fuel bonanza – whether tar sands, oil, fracked natural gas and the pipelines and transport facilities to go with it.
This is not about energy independence
Hidden in this article, written for the fossil fuel industry, is the point we mentioned at the beginning – the market for all these fossil fuels.
The Canadian government is currently using divide-and-rule tactics to win over First Nations leaders with money and perks so that they bend to the will of the big oil and gas companies.
It is a classic tactic and in many cases it is working. First Nations leaders “sell out,” without proper consultation with their people. Little wonder there is controversy within the community at the moment over allowing the leaders to run the show – people at the grassroots are unable to make their voice heard or worry that their struggle to protect the land, waterways and people’s health is being undermined by their very own leaders.
But the key thing to remember is – Canada does not need this massive fossil fuel binge for energy independence. Over 90 percent of the oil and gas drilled and dug up will end up being shipped abroad, mostly to Asia, particularly China.
Lining the pockets of the elite
All this massive damage to the land, waterways and people’s health – and the major effect it will have on climate change through the release of carbon dioxide and other emissions – is designed to line oil and gas company executives’ pockets, fund the government, and provide a trickle-down effect at most for the people. Big Oil and the government take the profits and a country that once stood tall as relatively clean and environmentally-friendly suffers. It’s ranking is now in the doldrums.
With all the money at stake, and the machinery of state, including local governments and the police on hand, the cards are stacked heavily in favor of what many call the “corporate state,” in which big companies now rule governments. Many critics are shocked at just how low PM Harper’s government is willing to go, claiming it is selling out the country to China.
Feathers and drums
Will First Nations’ protestors carrying feathers and drums be able to beat back against the planned destruction of Canada’s environment?
Are Canadian’s finally waking up to the danger in their midst?
Only time will tell.
