Using Enbridge Northern gateway pipeline as a framework, explore how pipeline governance in Canada impacts the sovereignty of the Indigenous communities
There is a growing concession of the need to consider the impact of large scale industrial development of resources extraction on indigenous communities in Canada, especially, projects which may have direct environmental impact on these communities, specifically, the tar sand industry. The aboriginal rights are protected by the Canadian constitution and the Canadian government is vested with the due responsibility of consulting the impacted aboriginal communities to amend and incorporate their interest where appropriate or as required, (D'Arcy, Black, Weis, & Russell, 2014). However, this …show more content…
The Centralized power of extraction which is concentrated on the national, rather than provincial level creates room for uneven distribution of costs and benefits, hence, giving rise to conflict of interest. The government is more inclined towards the economic and political benefits of the projects, as opposed to the indigenous people, who are more inclined towards protecting their cultural and traditional heritage, (D'Arcy, Black, Weis, & Russell, 2014). The issue here is that the tart sand industry is supported to a varying degree by the three primary political parties in Canada, and Harpers government is inclined towards expanding the tar sand industry due to the quest for profits. Therefore, fostering commitments and relationships with the United States and Asia, specifically China, (D'Arcy, Black, Weis, & Russell, 2014). This parameter has led to the weakening of the environmental policies associate with resource extraction in Canada, promulgated under Harper’s regime through the Amendment of Canadian Environmental Assessment Act contained in Bill C-38, the 2012 Omnibus budget bill, (D'Arcy, Black, Weis, & Russell, …show more content…
The neglect faced by the indigenous communities in Canada has sparked a lot opposition by environmental groups such as the first nation, yinka Dene Alliance, and many others, contesting for the ban of the proposed pipeline project from their territory, (Tim Van Hinte, 2012). Although, the Canadian government claims to have been working in compliance with the indigenous communities conditions. This claim seems to be a facade, judging from recent court hearing between the federal government and the indigenous people, (Mail, 2015). The indigenous representatives argued that Canada violated its constitutional duty to consult with them before it approved the project, and has also not met all conditions associated with the project. While the government argue that “the federal review panel concluded the 209 conditions would mitigate nearly all the ecological risks, apart from threats to certain woodland populations of grizzly bears and caribou, which were found to be “justified” given the economic benefits, (Mail, 2015). On one hand, The Canadian government is asking the Federal Court of Appeal to uphold its controversial decision to approve the Northern Gateway pipeline project, on the other hand, the aboriginals, environmental groups and a union are asking the court to quash the decision because of an alleged failure to consider environmental threats or
There is a growing concession of the need to consider the impact of large scale industrial development of resources extraction on indigenous communities in Canada, especially, projects which may have direct environmental impact on these communities, specifically, the tar sand industry. The aboriginal rights are protected by the Canadian constitution and the Canadian government is vested with the due responsibility of consulting the impacted aboriginal communities to amend and incorporate their interest where appropriate or as required, (D'Arcy, Black, Weis, & Russell, 2014). However, this …show more content…
The Centralized power of extraction which is concentrated on the national, rather than provincial level creates room for uneven distribution of costs and benefits, hence, giving rise to conflict of interest. The government is more inclined towards the economic and political benefits of the projects, as opposed to the indigenous people, who are more inclined towards protecting their cultural and traditional heritage, (D'Arcy, Black, Weis, & Russell, 2014). The issue here is that the tart sand industry is supported to a varying degree by the three primary political parties in Canada, and Harpers government is inclined towards expanding the tar sand industry due to the quest for profits. Therefore, fostering commitments and relationships with the United States and Asia, specifically China, (D'Arcy, Black, Weis, & Russell, 2014). This parameter has led to the weakening of the environmental policies associate with resource extraction in Canada, promulgated under Harper’s regime through the Amendment of Canadian Environmental Assessment Act contained in Bill C-38, the 2012 Omnibus budget bill, (D'Arcy, Black, Weis, & Russell, …show more content…
The neglect faced by the indigenous communities in Canada has sparked a lot opposition by environmental groups such as the first nation, yinka Dene Alliance, and many others, contesting for the ban of the proposed pipeline project from their territory, (Tim Van Hinte, 2012). Although, the Canadian government claims to have been working in compliance with the indigenous communities conditions. This claim seems to be a facade, judging from recent court hearing between the federal government and the indigenous people, (Mail, 2015). The indigenous representatives argued that Canada violated its constitutional duty to consult with them before it approved the project, and has also not met all conditions associated with the project. While the government argue that “the federal review panel concluded the 209 conditions would mitigate nearly all the ecological risks, apart from threats to certain woodland populations of grizzly bears and caribou, which were found to be “justified” given the economic benefits, (Mail, 2015). On one hand, The Canadian government is asking the Federal Court of Appeal to uphold its controversial decision to approve the Northern Gateway pipeline project, on the other hand, the aboriginals, environmental groups and a union are asking the court to quash the decision because of an alleged failure to consider environmental threats or