Transport committee  I'd like to start off by saying that, first of all, in the meetings we had with the minister and any federal officials, we stated up front that the meeting was not a consultation and that it was just a meeting to get an understanding from both sides. Consultation is a much deeper

Transport committee  I can add to that. I sat on the management committee of northern gateway, with all the other partners. We started with a minimum of 10%, but I said right up front that this was just the start. We were at thirty-three and one-third per cent but were going to 50% or 51%, because we

Transport committee  Okay, thanks. The way I understand consultation policy, the provincial Government of Alberta has one. When you enter into consultation, and it's mostly done with industry, you negotiate a memorandum of understanding of how that is going to unfold. Can I ask you, does this fed

Transport committee  Can I...?

Transport committee  If I can follow up, if you do have a policy, can I have it, please? Thanks.

Transport committee  I come from a community called Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement, and I was an elected councillor. We live in the pipeline corridor that comes from Fort McMurray to Fort Saskatchewan to Redwater, Edmonton, etc. The provincial government has a consultation policy for industry to come

Transport committee  We are the environment, so in our view, the way we believe life to be, we're responsible for ourselves and the environment, but we don't see a separation like a lot of people do. I should tell you that I'm a cultural anthropologist as well as a civil engineer, but I've been a p

Transport committee  Through Buffalo Lake, we have a 42-inch pipe, a 36-inch pipe, and a 24-inch diluent pipe. Our people are highly trained, and now with the latest technology with smart pipe, there are silicon chips embedded in the pipe, if you read some of the latest research being done in Calgary

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  I sat around the constitutional table from 1980 to 1982 as a young Métis leader from Alberta. Alberta is the only province in all of Canada with Métis land. We have our own provincial legislation called the Métis Settlements Act.

Transport committee  I wanted to give you a backgrounder to show you that I'm familiar with section 35 as much as anybody. Consultation has to take place within the context of the community that's being consulted, to take in their language, their culture, their lifestyle, the economic impacts, etc.

Transport committee  I think I stated in my opening remarks that I cannot speak on behalf of each individual community that requested consultation. That's their inherent right. As a steward, I respect that. I'm not going to say this is what should have been highlighted or not. That's for them to say.

Transport committee  Therefore, I'll end by saying that we strongly recommend that this parliamentary committee ensure that Transport Canada uphold the crown's constitutional obligations and the government's own stated principles and undertake deep consultation with our communities before implementin

Transport committee  [Witness speaks in Cree] I'd like to acknowledge that we are on unceded Algonquin territory and also say hello to elected chiefs, elders, and elected representatives of Canada, members of Parliament. We are here today to tell you that Aboriginal Equity Partners was denied the