Strong letter of support to the JRP from the Administrator on behalf of the National Coalition of Chiefs regarding Grassy Mountain
Clearly 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 Project
IAAC Reference Number 80101
Dear Sir:
RE: Grassy Mountain Coal Project
IAAC Reference Number 80101
I am writing to share with you the urgent need for support of the First Nations communities, businesses
and workers involved in Canada’s energy and natural resources industry. We have been following the
Grassy Mountain Project through the involvement of a number of Treaty Seven First Nations and
understand that the Project is shovel- ready and in the late stages of the regulatory process. We further
understand that all of the Treaty Seven First Nations have signed letters of support for the Project and
are 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 the
fall in demand from the COVID-19 situation, has caused an unprecedented crisis in the Canadian energy
and natural resources industries. While, sadly, many Canadians will be dismissive of the needs of these
industries and their hundreds of thousands of workers at this time, many First Nations are facing an
economic 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 rely
on economic benefits from pipelines passing through their territories. In addition, there are over 12,000
self identified Indigenous employees in the energy industry, and hundreds of Indigenous owned
businesses 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 people
enter the middle class, and that more First Nations achieve self-determination, including by building
revenue-generating capacity. It is the position, and the experience, of the National Coalition of Chiefs
that this will not be possible without strong First Nations’ participation in a strong energy and natural
resource industries.
As such, I am writing to ask that you consider that it is the Canadian public interest that the energy and
natural resource industries recover as quickly as possible, to ensure that the many Indigenous
communities, workers and businesses that rely on these industries can recover and thrive as well. I do
not need to tell you that poverty, hopelessness, and dependence are a major source of the social ills and
health 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 ensure
that the regulatory process proceeds expeditiously so that the economic benefits can begin as soon as
possible 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 of
participants during the Covid-19 crisis; and
The JRP issue its report as soon as possible after the hearing to allow Government to proceed
smoothly to the next step of the regulatory process.
Thank you for considering our views on this matter.
Sincerely,
Dale Swampy
President National Coalition of Chiefs
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(20min delay)