Natural Resources Committee on Dec. 6th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, James Maloney]

Thank you.

Mr. Rusnak, I believe you're going to use the balance of the time. You have about five minutes.

[Don Rusnak, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

That was my understanding, yes. I'll keep it in the five minutes. I'll try, anyway.

Thank you for coming. I know how busy your schedule is, so I appreciate that you're here today.

As the chair of the indigenous caucus, I represent a diverse group of individuals across the country. We have a very diverse group in that caucus. I also sit on the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.

We've heard a lot about consultation and participation in resource projects. Given the recent approvals of the pipelines, Line 3 and Kinder Morgan, can you elaborate on any of the benefit agreements or any of the participation that first nations are involved with in regard to those projects?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

The engagement is largely between the proponent, in this case Kinder Morgan, and communities. They sign benefit agreements. We understand that the total value of those agreements is around $300 million. The government has a responsibility to consult with indigenous communities, as we have done both through my own meetings with the chiefs and through many dozens of meetings held by officials in first nations communities, indigenous communities, that are affected by these major energy projects.

I want to say also that it's not only a question of meaningful consultation; it's also a matter of real action. In the ocean protection plan, there is real action. In the offer to share governance of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, that's real action. The work that's being done right now by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Transport Canada to protect the orca, killer whale, in the habitat that is so sacred to indigenous communities, is real.

What progress we have made, not related only to any given project, but working hand in hand with indigenous peoples, is directed to the same common objective. That objective is to leave the environment in a better place than we found it.

We have also established environmental monitoring committees. We did that in the first place, as members will remember, with the Pacific NorthWest LNG decision, and we're doing that, as well, with Kinder Morgan and with Line 3. There will be a monitoring process that will be fully inclusive of indigenous peoples, and there will also be an economic partnership pathway that will produce jobs, skills, and procurement opportunities for those communities.

[Don Rusnak, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

One of the things that is often used with respect to first nations or indigenous communities is they don't support resource development. You have the very publicized issues in the last couple of weeks surrounding Standing Rock.

I've been involved, as an indigenous person, in projects throughout this country and more specifically recently in my riding, where first nations co-operate with companies that have not only impact and benefit agreements, but also have a real stake in the project. It's benefiting the communities in a way that 20, 30, 50, or 100 years of INAC dependency hasn't.

In these projects, are there examples of that solid positive relationship bringing communities, which are sometimes destitute, out and allowing them to participate in the economy?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Yes, there are many examples. There are 39 in the case of Kinder Morgan.

You may remember in the PNW LNG discussion that there was a referendum in Lax Kw'alaams that supported the LNG project. We know it's divisive, and that there is not one view of resource projects. I dare say, if I can look to my honourable friend from the New Democratic Party, there may not be consensus in his party either over natural resource projects. Rachel Notley is the Premier of Alberta. I have met over the last number of months with union leaders and rank and file who are very happy that these projects have been approved.

There will be, no doubt, a debate in your caucus. There has been a debate in our caucus, as people have watched. Perry Bellegarde, the Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, was quoted as recently as yesterday saying that there is no one view. I heard another chief this morning say it's probably fifty-fifty.

Faced with that kind of diversity of opinion, it's left to government to decide. The government will decide on the basis of the facts, the evidence, the consultation, the economic possibilities, and the environmental stewardship, and then make decisions for which governments are ultimately accountable.

[The Chair, Liberal, James Maloney]

That's all our time unfortunately, Minister, and Deputy Minister. Thank you very much for taking the time to be here. This is the third time you have appeared before this committee, and on behalf of everybody around this table, I would like to say we're very grateful, and we appreciate your time.

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, James Maloney]

I'm going to suspend for a couple of minutes, and then we will come back and deal with committee business.

[Proceedings continue in camera]