Quebec-Labrador’s First Nation Chiefs oppose TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline

The First Nation Chiefs of Quebec-Labrador in Canada has passed a resolution that officially opposed the development of North American energy company TransCanada’s Energy East Tar Sands pipeline.

The resolution was passed at a meeting of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL), which is a political organisation comprising 43 Chiefs of the First Nations in Quebec and Labrador.

AFNQL regional chief Ghislain Picard said: “First Nations in Quebec-Labrador are not anti-development, they in fact want to participate and benefit from development on their lands.

“But they will continue to oppose and fight projects that pose a real danger to their Nations, whether it be Tar Sands pipelines like Energy East, Tar Sands rail projects like at the Belledune port, uranium mining or offshore oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.”

Since its announcement in 2013, Quebec-Labrador’s First Nations have been analysing the project, thereby coming to an opinion that the pipeline would pose a serious threat to the lands and waters, as well as to the future of the residents.

Picard further added: “Now that our Chiefs have decided to reject the pipeline, we will be asking that Quebec and Canada respect such decision if they are to fulfil their Constitutional obligations and if they are to respect the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“Consulting First Nations doesn’t hold much meaning if strong opposition to projects that threaten First Nations’ survival is to be ignored.”

The resolution passed makes it clear that the First Nation Chiefs of Quebec-Labrador might exert their own inherent jurisdiction over the Energy East pipeline project on account of their inherent power to govern, as well as protect their territories and people.