‘Shooting Ourselves in the Foot…’

With an Aboriginal Industry constantly taking economic projects to court, the effects of Race Based Law are being felt more and more: 

“Canada’s business climate is becoming increasingly uncertain and we see this as a problem.

“Prudent investors look for certainty and stability when they shop their dollars around. If Canada wants to attract the investment it needs to sustain a robust economy, it must present a vastly different picture from the one it’s displaying now.

“If Canada becomes known for a business environment subject to continuing and extended government approval delays, course-changes, {court challenges} and not keeping up its end of the bargain, potential investors will take their business elsewhere, hurting everyone in Canada. “The most recent illustration popped up right in our backyard. The Federal Court of Appeal last month overturned the federal government’s approval of the Enbridge ‘Northern Gateway’ pipeline project… The Court found that the federal government had not ‘adequately consulted’ with ‘First Nations’ groups…

“Based on previous approval from the federal government, other groups involved had, in good faith, been investing time, energy and money, upholding their commitments and doing their part. Notably, the chief proponent, ‘Enbridge’, the company behind the Northern Gateway project, went through extensive consultations with aboriginal groups…

‘Defying Canada’

“Canadian aboriginal groups and their allies said…they ‘have the power’ to block proposed oil pipelines on land where they have ‘proven title’, dismissing comments by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau {and the Supreme Court} , who said no community has a veto. “Trudeau told ‘Reuters’…that unanimous consent is not needed for the government to approve pipeline projects to bring Canadian oil to market, even as he pledged consultation with aboriginals and environmentalists who oppose projects.