Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Fort MacKay to start Commerical Operation of Tar Sands Mining

As always, when it comes to writing these press releases the official Indian Act government of the population is considered and treated as the only voice that the nation should have. There are serious heath concerns, random violence and the worst environmental nightmare imaginable on this territory (misspelled in the article below) of Fort MacKay. The money poured into buying off the locals by Suncor and Syncrude, and now with Albian Sands (Shell) sees little for the population, who have seen the areas where the elders used to maintain traplines turned into deserts of white sand as far as the eye can see. The community itself sits right on top of the tarsands, leaving some to wonder when the whole community will be evacuated.

The community of Fort Chipewyan, downstream approximately 200+ kms from Fort MacKay, will have to stand against the shiefs of the MacKay community, as this project will have to go through the usual rubber stamp process that is called the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (not one single tar sands project has been denied). Chip will oppose, but it will likely mean little and the elders and youth of MacKay will see their leaders send them further away from their traditions and into respiratory problems and possible cancers. Fort Chipewyan will be poisoned thanks to the council of Fort MacKay. There is nothing to celebrate in that.

--M

Fort McKay First Nation oil sands project one step closer to realization

OTTAWA, May 7 /CNW Telbec/ - New regulations created under the First
Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act (FNCIDA) will allow on
reserve oil sands development to occur at Fort McKay First Nation. An
agreement among the Government of Canada, the Province of Alberta and Fort
McKay First Nation provides a comprehensive framework that ensures the project
will meet provincial environmental, health, safety and operational standards.

"This is an important milestone for the Fort McKay First Nation, one that
puts them in a better position to expand their economy," stated the Honourable
Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal
Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians. "This New Government's goal is
to support economic development in First Nation communities and to create
certainty for industry partners pursuing projects on reserve land. I salute
the efforts of all those involved."

To ensure a uniform application of regulatory enforcement, the Province
of Alberta has agreed to administer and enforce the regulations on behalf of
the Government of Canada. The details of this process are outlined in a
trilateral agreement among the Government of Canada, the Province of Alberta
and Fort McKay First Nation.

"FNCIDA has provided the framework that allows our First Nation to adopt
oil sands regulations on reserve," said Jim Boucher, Chief of the Fort McKay
First Nation. "This puts Fort McKay on a level playing field with industry
partners and establishes the path to develop large scale commercial projects."

The First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act was developed
to address the regulatory gap that First Nations and their industry partners
face when pursuing complex commercial and industrial development projects on
reserve lands. The goal of the Act is to support economic development in First
Nation communities and to create certainty for industry partners when pursuing
projects on reserve land.

The Act was introduced into the House of Commons on November 2nd, 2005
and received Royal Assent on November 28, 2005. These specific regulations
were approved by the Governor-in-Council on April 19, 2007.

The regulations are available for viewing in the Canada Gazette.

Oilsandstruth.org is not associated with any other web site or organization. Please contact us regarding the use of any materials on this site.

Tar Sands Photo Albums by Project

Discussion Points on a Moratorium

User login

Syndicate

Syndicate content