Top Stories : Trudeau touts controversial pipeline project in speech to supporters in B.C.
Trudeau touts controversial pipeline project in speech to supporters in B.C.
KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau touted the benefits of a liquefied natural gas project that s at the centre of an impasse with First Nations in a speech to supporters in Kamloops, B.C., on Wednesday.
In a campaign-style speech at the Liberal fundraiser, Trudeau did not address the arrests but heralded the massive project as one of his government s key achievements over the past year.
"We moved forward on the LNG Canada project, which is the largest private sector investment in Canada s history, $40 billion, which is going to produce Canadian LNG that will supplant coal in Asia as a power source and do much for the environment," he said.
The pipeline company says it has signed agreements with all First Nations along the route but demonstrators say Wet suwet en house chiefs, who are hereditary rather than elected, have not given their consent.
Later Wednesday, Trudeau told Radio NL that "we re going to have to do a better job" of dealing with First Nations rights and title.
"There s still work to be done right across the country in terms of having the opportunity for Indigenous communities to strengthen their governance models," he said.
"The federal government is not the one who should be deciding who speaks for which Indigenous community. Our responsibility is to support communities as they develop models that make sense. That s what we re in the middle of right now."
He told supporters at the fundraiser that he expected to hear "strong voices" at the town hall with very clear ideas about what his government should be doing.
"The challenge we have to have as Canadians is to be open to listening to people, to understand their concerns and their fears, and to work together to try and allay them," he said.
"We will always have in this country perspectives that vary widely."
Protesters wearing yellow vests carried signs that read "Carbon Tax Cash Grab" and "Trudeau for Treason" while taking part in a chant opposing a United Nations pact on migration signed by Canada. Conservative critics argue it threatens Canada s sovereignty.
"I go to sweat lodges with some of those people so I really know them intimately, and I do support their cause. I do support their right to their land. I don t support the aggressive way they were forced out of their position," said LaRiviere, who travelled from Prince George.
On the other side of the hotel parking lot, a group of Indigenous protesters opposed to the pipeline sang, drummed and held a banner reading "PM Trudeau: Canada needs climate action now."
Janice Billy said she supports the Wet suwet en because her First Nation, the Secwepemc, are also losing control of their lands.
"The people ... had no reason to be arrested. They are peaceful people. They were there protecting the land and water," she said.
Trudeau s visit to Kamloops marks the start of an outreach tour that will expand across the country.
"There are lots of opportunities for us to work together, on infrastructure, on supporting our young people. The federal government really believes in partnership with our cities."
RCMP planning to enforce court injunction over anti-LNG pipeline protest in B.C.