Coastal GasLink deal will see some First Nations take 10% equity of pipeline

The company behind a controversial gas line that’s been the site of blockades and violence says it has reached a deal with two Indigenous groups to sell them part of a stake in the project.

TC Energy says it will give CGL First Nations Limited Partnership and the FN CGL Pipeline Limited Partnership 10 per cent ownership after regulatory approval and once the Coastal GasLink Pipeline becomes operational.

Today 11 Member communities of the @fnmpc sign a historic option agreement to own an equity interest in @CoastalGasLink https://t.co/jm8B6FP587 #Indigenous #equity pic.twitter.com/fiNCNGJCgu

— First Nations Major Projects Coalition (@fnmpc) March 9, 2022

However, the deal doesn’t address opposition from Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders and their supporters, who are staunchly against the pipeline in their traditional territories in northern B.C.

Many of them have argued hereditary chiefs have not given the company permission to work on the land, saying the chiefs and clans have full jurisdiction.

“They are trespassing, violating human rights, violating Indigenous rights and, most importantly, they are violating Wet’suwet’en law,” a Gidimt’en spokesperson said in November 2021.

The 670-kilometre pipeline is part of a multi-billion dollar liquefied natural gas export terminal project near Kitimat on B.C.’s northern coast.

TC Energy says the two entities that have signed on to the new deal represent 16 First Nations communities along the project corridor.

“The equity option is in addition to 20 agreements Coastal GasLink has with Indigenous groups along the route which provide opportunities for contracting and employment as well as other long-term benefits,” the company says in a statement. “The equity option is exercisable after commercial in-service of the pipeline, subject to customary regulatory approvals and consents, including the consent of LNG Canada.”

Related articles: 

• Tensions building in Wet’suwet’en territory as B.C. pipeline conflict continues

• Three NDP MPs sign petition criticizing B.C. NDP government over pipeline protests

Protests over the pipeline’s construction began more than two years ago. People across the country have shown their support for the Wet’suwet’en since demonstrations began.

On Feb. 19, 2022 several Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs signed a statement following an attack at the Coastal GasLink facility near Houston. The chiefs expressed concerns over safety and said the Elders, Dinize, and Tsakë’ze do not support violence.

It’s still unclear who was responsible for the attack.