Aboriginal communities to be big beneficiaries of pipeline Opinion: Enbridge offering First Nations along the Northern Gateway project's right of way hundreds of millions in economic benefits, plus jobs
By John Carruthers, Special to The Vancouver Sun June 25, 2013 5:06 PM http://www.vancouversun.com/business/bc2035/Aboriginal+communities+beneficiaries+pipeline/8578085/story.html [cid:image001.jpg@01CE71C9.B0F9D010] Douglas Channel at Kitimat is the proposed termination point for the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway oil pipeline. Photograph by: DARRYL DYCK, THE CANADIAN PRESS The Northern Gateway pipeline holds enormous economic potential for British Columbians in every corner of the province. It will generate thousands of jobs, offer new skills training opportunities, and help provide the revenue we need to support vital public services like health care and education. And it's important to note that Northern Gateway will also provide aboriginal communities along the proposed right-of-way with hundreds of millions of dollars in new economic development and opportunity. >From the start, Northern Gateway has been committed to fully involving >aboriginal communities at every level of project development. We support >Premier Christy Clark's conditions and are working with aboriginal communities >to ensure that Northern Gateway provides them with a lasting economic, social, >and environmental legacy. For example, Northern Gateway's Aboriginal Benefit Package includes a 10-per-cent equity ownership offer that will give aboriginal communities a direct interest in the project's success and generate approximately $280 million to these communities over the next 30 years. This is approximately $230,000 per year for most neighbouring communities over the first 30 years of the project. Furthermore, equity participation is risk-free. No funding is required from aboriginal communities as their participation is financed through their direct revenues from the project. The benefit package also includes targeted investments to help aboriginal business people develop new opportunities. It includes training programs to give people the skills they need for in-demand jobs like heavy equipment operation, pipefitting, ironworking, welding and surveying. And with the help of local colleges in B.C. and Alberta, we're making sure aboriginal graduates are linked to work in their fields. At least 15 per cent of the workforce for Northern Gateway will be from aboriginal communities, and we've already committed $3 million in training funds to help people develop the skills and train for the types of jobs that will be needed. All told, the aboriginal benefits will approach $1 billion over the life of the project. Through the use of detailed aboriginal traditional knowledge studies, aboriginal people are helping to determine the pipeline's design and route. As well, aboriginal representatives have joined us on strategic watercourse assessment and reconnaissance fieldwork, and have provided input on the selection of water crossing locations. We are also asking coastal First Nations to work directly in helping us fulfil our commitment to world-class programs in the area of marine transportation safety and marine emergency preparedness and response. In addition, communities along the right-of-way, including many aboriginal representatives, have provided input at thousands of meetings, 43 open houses, and 400-plus community presentations. Their input has helped lead to changes in the proposed project route and a $500-million package of enhancements in the areas of monitoring and analysis, in-line inspection surveys, and pipeline wall thickness. The partnership we're seeking with aboriginal people reflects our overall vision for the project. It's about building a strong economy in a protected environment. It's about giving their children the same opportunities we have had to get good jobs, raise families and live in strong communities. The Northern Gateway pipeline provides the potential to grow our economy and secure a brighter future for aboriginals and for all British Columbians. We believe that's a future worth striving for. John Carruthers is president of Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Native News North List info{all lists}: http://nativenewsonline.org/natnews.htm Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NatNews-north/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NatNews-north/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: natnews-north-dig...@yahoogroups.com natnews-north-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: natnews-north-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
