TransCanada Project Consultation Meetings Complete First Step

BC Métis Federation continues to assert the Métis interests, rights, and concerns of our Métis members and partners communities we represent. BC Métis Federation and partner communities continue to be actively engaged to ensure proper consultation and the leadership is following a consultation policy which ensures coordinating engagement to support our members and communities most directly impacted.

Please read the BCMF’s full press release below.

Monday, November 17th , 2014

(Fort St. John, BC) BC Métis Federation continues to assert the Métis interests, rights, and concerns of our Métis members and partners communities we represent. BC Métis Federation and partner communities continue to be actively engaged to ensure proper consultation and the leadership is following a consultation policy which ensures coordinating engagement to support our members and communities most directly impacted.

This past week BC Métis Federation and TransCanada project representatives attended meetings in Prince George, Hudson Hope, Dawson Creek and completed in Fort St. John. TransCanada was joined by contracted environmental companies Golder and Associates as well as Tera Environmental. The community engagement focused on a review of the proposed Towerbirch and Mainline Merrick additional TransCanada project expansions. These are two new proposed pipelines that would carry sweet* natural gas primarily in north central and north east British Columbia.

The meetings were well attended with approximately 120 people in total during one of the four community engagements facilitated by the BC Mètis Federation. BC Mètis Federation Vice President Rene Therrien participated as the key representative and was supported by policy analyst Cynthia Kolada, cultural ambassador Beverly Lambert plus a few other board members and numerous community leadership from each community.

BC Métis Federation Vice President Rene Therrien stated, “We are ensuring our communities are properly engaged. We made everyone welcome and encouraged open dialogue and questions with TransCanada and the representatives. What was also very important was our approach to provide Métis culture at these meetings and there was a real sense of community. I believe we have accomplished initial important work and demonstrated the importance of our Métis cultural values.” BC Métis Federation President Henry concluded, “Thank you to our partner communities and members. I was able to attend the final meeting in Fort St. John and the turnout was strong with several important questions and discussions. We know this was only a first step to engage with TransCanada on these projects and that there will be more engagement in the future. Our team is meeting with TransCanada to review outcomes, discussions and next steps in relation to their project timelines and current engagement activities planned for the future. This will include site visits and follow up dialogue. As such I want to thank TransCanada for the recognition of the importance to work together and ensure strong Métis engagement. BC Métis Federation is arranging a number of other community engagement sessions on several projects and we are ensuring Métis communities have proper consultation and understand the process of how these projects are moving forward within the various regulatory applications. It is clear our members want to protect their Métis cultural way or life, protect the environment, understand potential socio-economic impacts, and understand the values of proponents, such as TransCanada and others. It is clear this was a very successful week and TransCanada understands the importance of engaging in a way that is respectful and supportive. We acknowledge this work and also recognize there are community expectations for additional work going forward. I look forward to working with TransCanada to further review how best to support future steps.” For more information about the BC Métis Federation website go to www.bcmetis.com.

Media Inquiries:

Keith Henry, President
BC Métis Federation
#300-3665 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC V5R 5W2
Office 1-604-638-7220
Cell 1-778-388-5013
Email k.henry@bcmetis.com

You can now follow BC Métis Federation President Keith Henry on Twitter @keithhenrymetis

You can follow the BC Métis Federation on twitter @bcmetis

[ilink url=”https://bcmetis.com/wp-content/uploads/BCMF-Press-Release-November-17th-2014-TC-Consultations.pdf” style=”download”]Click here to download the PDF version of this press release[/ilink]

*Nov 18 -CORRECTION: The original release yesterday stated incorrectly that TransCanada was shipping Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) instead of the correct “Sweet Natural Gas”. Article has now been updated with correct information.

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