B.C. Indigenous Relations Minister hopes to have agreement from WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n people on their long-standing demand to define land rights within two weeks, but he says in the meantime the Coastal GasLink pipeline will proceed.

B次元官网网址淭here is still a difference of opinion around the Coastal GasLink project, but the permits are in place, itB次元官网网址檚 approved, itB次元官网网址檚 underway,B次元官网网址� Scott Fraser said Monday after meetings with hereditary chiefs over the weekend. B次元官网网址淚 made that clear.B次元官网网址�

Indigenous Relations Minister says talks were not a negotiation

B次元官网网址� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)

In the B.C. legislature, Premier John Horgan emphasized that the court injunction obtained by Coastal GasLink to stop roadblocks in the Smithers-Houston area remains in place.

B次元官网网址淭he project is being built, itB次元官网网址檚 fully permitted and it will proceed,B次元官网网址� Horgan said in response to opposition questions in the legislature. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be completed.B次元官网网址�

Fraser and federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett emerged from weekend talks in Smithers with what they call a B次元官网网址減ath forwardB次元官网网址� to implement a 1997 Supreme Court of Canada ruling on land rights for the Gitxsan and WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n people that left aboriginal title undefined.

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Fraser called on protesters who have been blocking roads and occupying offices in sympathy with a group of dissident hereditary chiefs to have patience.

B次元官网网址淚 ask people who are protesting, who care about rights and title of the WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n people, to give us time to address those things, because we have a historical opportunity to address those,B次元官网网址� Fraser said. B次元官网网址淭hose are the key root causes of the failure of governments to recognize rights and title issues for the WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n.B次元官网网址�

Pressed repeatedly by opposition MLAs to say what was agreed to and what assurance Coastal GasLink employees and investors have, Fraser said the discussions with hereditary leaders were B次元官网网址渋n cameraB次元官网网址� and have to be reviewed in the traditional clan process before being made public.

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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