Courtesy of Long LunchI thought it needed to be said againIts a...

Courtesy of Long Lunch
I thought it needed to be said again
Its a significant indication of support



Strong letter of support to the JRP from the Administrator on behalf of the National Coalition of Chiefs regarding Grassy MountainClearly the locals who matter are supportive and keen to see it up and running sooner rather than latter Posted on the 14/5 Grassy Mountain Coal ProjectIAAC Reference Number 80101Dear Sir:RE: Grassy Mountain Coal ProjectIAAC Reference Number 80101I am writing to share with you the urgent need for support of the First Nations communities, businessesand workers involved in Canada’s energy and natural resources industry. We have been following theGrassy Mountain Project through the involvement of a number of Treaty Seven First Nations andunderstand that the Project is shovel- ready and in the late stages of the regulatory process. We furtherunderstand that all of the Treaty Seven First Nations have signed letters of support for the Project andare looking forward to the economic activity that this Project could bring to their citizens.As you are no doubt aware, the combination of a fall in oil and other commodity prices, alongside thefall in demand from the COVID-19 situation, has caused an unprecedented crisis in the Canadian energyand natural resources industries. While, sadly, many Canadians will be dismissive of the needs of theseindustries and their hundreds of thousands of workers at this time, many First Nations are facing aneconomic disaster if these industries are slow to recover.There are 39 First Nations that produce oil and/or natural gas on reserve, and over a hundred that relyon economic benefits from pipelines passing through their territories. In addition, there are over 12,000self identified Indigenous employees in the energy industry, and hundreds of Indigenous ownedbusinesses who provide goods and services worth billions of dollars every year.All of this is now at risk. I know it is the mandate of our Government to ensure more Indigenous peopleenter the middle class, and that more First Nations achieve self-determination, including by buildingrevenue-generating capacity. It is the position, and the experience, of the National Coalition of Chiefsthat this will not be possible without strong First Nations’ participation in a strong energy and naturalresource industries.As such, I am writing to ask that you consider that it is the Canadian public interest that the energy andnatural resource industries recover as quickly as possible, to ensure that the many Indigenouscommunities, workers and businesses that rely on these industries can recover and thrive as well. I donot need to tell you that poverty, hopelessness, and dependence are a major source of the social ills andhealth gaps that plague our communities, and that the COVID-19 crisis will hit First Nations the hardest,if there is no strategic intervention.Specifically, with respect to the Grassy Mountain Project, we request that the JRP proceed to ensurethat the regulatory process proceeds expeditiously so that the economic benefits can begin as soon aspossible next year. To that end, we request that: The JRP schedule a process leading to a hearing as soon as possible; The JRP consider alternate hearing procedures if necessary, to ensure safety and health ofparticipants during the Covid-19 crisis; and The JRP issue its report as soon as possible after the hearing to allow Government to proceedsmoothly to the next step of the regulatory process.Thank you for considering our views on this matter.Sincerely,Dale SwampyPresident National Coalition of Chiefs