Treaty 8 Chief Denies Backing Pacific Link Pipeline as Ottawa Targets September 2027 Start
Updated
Updated · bignewsnetwork.com · Oct 7
Treaty 8 Chief Denies Backing Pacific Link Pipeline as Ottawa Targets September 2027 Start
1 articles · Updated · bignewsnetwork.com · Oct 7
Summary
Trevor Mercredi said his appearance beside Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith at last week's announcement did not signal Treaty 8 support for the Pacific Link pipeline.
The clarification follows Ottawa's decision to label Pacific Link a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act, giving it streamlined approvals while the government aims to start construction in September 2027.
Some 130 Indigenous communities had just two months to weigh the designation, and federal consultation records show many said they lacked enough project detail to judge impacts on their lands and rights.
Mercredi said the Major Projects Office bypassed its own Indigenous advisory council on whether the timeline was adequate and whether a proposed 10% Indigenous ownership stake was sufficient; he said both fell short.
Lawyers and Indigenous leaders warn that advancing the pipeline without free, prior and informed consent could trigger legal challenges and raise investment risk even as Ottawa pushes major projects to bolster the economy.