Merci, monsieur Pomerleau.
The discussions with first nations--and there are some 50 of them, including aboriginal and Métis, along the proposed corridor--have been ongoing for several years. Protocol agreements have been signed with 30 of the various aboriginal groups out of about 50, and discussions are going on with others. Many more may sign on, because the approach has been, first of all, to engage first nations experts on gathering traditional knowledge, such as the use of the land, ceremonial sites, traditional medicines and those kinds of things, and other traditional uses as they go along the corridor.
To give you a very quick description, the corridor right now is a kilometre wide for identification purposes and geotechnical studies. The construction right-of-way will be 50 metres wide. The end right-of-way will be 25 metres wide. Everything will be returned to its natural state except on that final 25 metres.
What has taken place with aboriginal people is discussion on an equity position. There are going to be 40 units of economic opportunity for the first nations, funded by Enbridge, so it's about 10% of the value of the pipeline. It's in the millions of dollars. The financing will be conducted by Enbridge for the nations because, as you probably know, a lot of first nations don't have the financial capacity to put in their own funds. This will be paid back through their share of revenue on the pipeline.
In addition to that opportunity, they will have opportunities for procurement, provision of services, and training. There's a plan in place. Discussions have been going on for two years with Northwest Community College in Terrace, which is about 150 miles northwest of the proposed line, with the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, with Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek, and with the University of Northern British Columbia, with its main campus in Prince George.
This is to identify what employers will need: the types of employees and the kind of training they'll require. The opportunity has been given for first nations to participate in that. First nations chiefs and councils have been consulted with for some time. Not all, of course, are in agreement, and some have actually not had consultation because they have chosen not to.
So the job before Enbridge and the development team is of course to earn the trust of those first nations, to earn a social license with them, and to have acceptance to cross their traditional territories. In my previous life, I was the mayor of Prince George for 12 years and chairman for several years of the regional district—which takes in a large rural area—and we had incredible relationships with our first nation neighbours.
Three of the chiefs I have consulted with are very open to participating in this. The resistance grows the further west we go. We recognize fully that the introduction of the pipeline industry is new west of Prince George. There are three lines that come down out of northeastern British Columbia through Prince George to serve the southern coast, Vancouver, and the Lower Mainland. There's only one small gas line that runs from Prince George west to Kitimat. It's Pacific Northern Gas, supplying natural gas.
It's new, and there is a challenge, but the fact remains that we feel the economic opportunity, the educational opportunity, and the lifelong opportunity for first nations are there, and the partnerships are being developed. I think they will be developed over the next six months or so to where we need to be to receive that social license.