Vaughn Palmer: By the time the public learns what Fraser signed, it may be too late to do otherwise
Opinion: Reinforcing the impression that the parties had gotten nowhere on the pipeline was the federal minister, Carolyn Bennett.
VICTORIA — When the legislature convened Monday, there were mounting questions about the weekend agreement between the federal and provincial governments and five Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs.
One had to read almost to the end of Sunday’s joint statement to discover that the parties had even discussed the pipeline at the focus of weeks of protests and blockades.
“On Coastal GasLink project, the parties engaged in direct discussions and explored means to come to a resolution,” it read in part.
“All parties at the table recognize that the differences related to the CGL project remain.”
Reinforcing the impression that the parties had gotten nowhere on the pipeline was the federal minister, Carolyn Bennett.
“What was made clear is that it remains unresolved,” she told broadcaster Simi Sara during an early morning interview on CKNW radio.
“The hereditary chiefs … still do not approve this project.”
Why didn’t federal and provincial negotiators secure Wet’suwet’en help in persuading the blockaders and protesters to stand down?
“I think the chiefs felt that it wasn’t their place to dictate to other Nations what to do,” replied Bennett.
But on the bright side: “For us to come together to be honest about where we are on these two separate issues, I think was truly important.”
What’s next for the pipeline standoff? “This is something that the parties in B.C. will deal with,” said Bennett
before scurrying back to Ottawa where symbolic gestures trump actual on-the-ground progress every time.
Next to offer his take on the deal was Scott Fraser, B.C. minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. He said the main accomplishment from
three days and three nights of talks was agreement on “a path forward” to deal with Indigenous rights and title.
The path still has to be ratified by the Wet’suwet’en people themselves.
In exchange for that measure of recognition, why didn’t governments negotiate a trade-off on the pipeline?
“This was not like collective bargaining,” Fraser told reporters. “It was about addressing issues, the key issue that we were asked to come to the territory for was to address rights and title issues.”
But then he added, briefly escaping the confines of his message box, “you could argue the elephant in the room (was) this Coastal GasLink project.”
Judging from postings from Wet’suwet’en representatives on social media Monday,
the hereditary leaders haven’t budged in their opposition to the aforesaid pachyderm.
“The hereditary chiefs are opposed to any pipeline going through their territory,” said one. “We’re not resting, we’re not giving up, we’re not standing down, we’re not asking other people to stand down,” read another.
Against that backdrop, Premier John Horgan used his time during the afternoon Question Period to try to dispel any doubts about the future of the CGL pipeline.
“The project is being built. It’s fully permitted, and it will proceed … and will be completed,” said Horgan in answering questions from the Opposition B.C. Liberals.
The premier delivered a half-dozen variations on those assurances. But he also confirmed that the provincial and federal governments had not even tried to persuade the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs to drop their opposition to the pipeline.
“I don’t believe it would have been appropriate for us to say that we were going to go to Wet’suwet’en territory and tell some individuals to have a different point of view,” said Horgan. “We had a frank discussion. There was disagreement. The project will proceed. Dissent is appropriate. Unlawful dissent is not.”
As he said this, the legislature was meeting with
the public excluded from the public galleries for the fifth day in a row because of one of those protests.
Having learned that the deal said nothing about the pipeline and the protests, the Liberals tried to find out what it did say. But they were rebuffed by Fraser.
“The work that we did do was done in camera, it was confidential,” he replied. “This will be brought back to the Wet’suwet’en people. We can’t talk about the details of what we discussed until that happens.”
When will British Columbians learn what was initialled on their behalf?
Fraser described a ratification process stretching over a couple of weeks that includes bringing the Wet’suwet’en clans together and a ratification vote among all of the people.
“My hope is that they will endorse the arrangement,” he told the House. “My expectation is that following that, Minister Bennett and myself will return to the territory to sign the agreement. It will be made public at that point in time.”
At which point, the terms will be a fait accompli, as was the case with the recent caribou rescue plan. That plan was also negotiated in camera by the federal and provincial governments and Indigenous leaders.
In closing for the government side, Fraser pleaded for the deal to be given some breathing room to improve its chances of being approved by the Indigenous people.
“I ask everyone who is watching today, everyone who cares about rights and title for Wet’suwet’en people … We have a process that’s been agreed to by the Office of Wet’suwet’en, and they’re taking it to their people. Let’s let that happen and not try to divide everybody throughout this process. Let’s bring calm and space for the good work to happen.”
Trust us in other words. And by the time the public learns what he signed, it may be too late to do otherwise.
vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-by-the-time-the-public-learns-what-fraser-signed-it-may-be-too-late-to-do-otherwise
So after 3 days and nights of chats with the hold-outs, 'a path forward' whatever the hell that means is the only outcome? Meanwhile, other Indigenous voices are speaking up about not being allowed at the table and have no idea whether or not they will be at the 'feast'. So much for respect and inclusion, eh.
