$5 billion hydro project shelved after losing Aboriginal support - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

SebC · 10-22-2010, 01:21 PM

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busin...#ixzz12uLgiXZF

Quote:

A $5-billion hydroelectric project on northern Alberta’s Slave River has been shelved by joint venture partners TransCanada Corp. and ATCO Ltd. after losing support by a key local Aboriginal band.

The run-of-river project would have generated between 1,200 to 1,30 megawatts of power from the massive river which flows north to Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, but was opposed by Smith’s Landing First Nation.

The NWT band was concerned about flooding on its traditional lands south of the territories border and turned down running a new feasibility study on the project.

Anyone else getting the sense that this is less about "traditional values" than pure NIMBYism?

Envitro · 10-22-2010, 01:27 PM

Not to sound very non-PC, but native/aboriginal reserves and any kind of technological or social progress don't really go hand in hand

Sluggo · 10-22-2010, 01:28 PM

More like sticking it to the man. ATCO probably spent 10-100 mill jumping through all the regulatory hoops before they even get a chance to ask the locals if they really want it there.

Ducay · 10-22-2010, 01:34 PM

Good on 'em; They need to protect their ancestral lands, so that each band member has access to equal lands in which to leave rusting cars and garbage.

HeartsOfFire · 10-22-2010, 01:36 PM

Quote:

The run-of-river project would have generated between 1,200 to 1,300 megawatts of power from the massive river which flows north to Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, but was opposed by Smith’s Landing First Nation.

So... enough to easily power a small town, or one time-travelling DeLorean for a single trip?

Caged Great · 10-22-2010, 01:41 PM

The Aboriginals have every right to do whatever they want. If a deal does not make any sense, then why should you agree to it.

Like with the ring road project, the wording that the city was using was rather ambiguous and could've have been construed in such a manner to allow a housing development along that entire portion of the ring road. Well, the aboriginals did not want that for obvious reasons, and rejected it. If it wasn't for that bs detail, they probably would've accepted it.

However, because they reneged on the deal at the last minute, they get vilified, even though they were completely justified.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was sort of wording problem in this case as well.

shermanator · 10-22-2010, 01:46 PM

What is Canada's greatest red wine?
"They took our land!"

TylerSVT · 10-22-2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducay

Good on 'em; They need to protect their ancestral lands, so that each band member has access to equal lands in which to leave rusting cars and garbage.

Pretty much.

I wont speak my mind on this subject to avoid sounding racist... but they seriously hamper a city of a million people because they are greedy... let us build the damn ring road already.

If i was PM i would just bulldoze the land and when they put up a fight, just shoot them all... All the do is whine all day long..

Like "we dont want your road going through OUR land" and then "But we NEED your ambulances and fire stations etc..."

drewboy12 · 10-22-2010, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caged Great

The Aboriginals have every right to do whatever they want. If a deal does not make any sense, then why should you agree to it.

Like with the ring road project, the wording that the city was using was rather ambiguous and could've have been construed in such a manner to allow a housing development along that entire portion of the ring road. Well, the aboriginals did not want that for obvious reasons, and rejected it. If it wasn't for that bs detail, they probably would've accepted it.

However, because they reneged on the deal at the last minute, they get vilified, even though they were completely justified.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was sort of wording problem in this case as well.

Fixed

vanisleflamesfan · 10-22-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

Pretty much.

I wont speak my mind on this subject to avoid sounding racist... but they seriously hamper a city of a million people because they are greedy... let us build the damn ring road already.

If i was PM i would just bulldoze the land and when they put up a fight, just shoot them all... All the do is whine all day long..

Like "we dont want your road going through OUR land" and then "But we NEED your ambulances and fire stations etc..."

Wow wow wow wow wow...

Is this how you try to "avoid sounding racist"?

vanisleflamesfan · 10-22-2010, 01:57 PM

Why must every thread that involves First Nations people turn into a free pass for the racists to come out and spout any kind of garbage that they want?

Would you make these kinds of comments in a thread about Black people? Or Asians? The perception of a free pass to take shots at First Nations really sickens me.

vanisleflamesfan · 10-22-2010, 02:07 PM

There is a large movement among Sub-Arctic First Nations communities to return to traditional land use activites (hunting, trapping) as a way to reduce their reliance on government support. Flooding the land seriously threatens their way of life and their ability to provide for themselves economically. It is short sighted to suggest that we should in some way be able to reneg on the contracts we negotiated (Treaty 8 in this case) just because we want the land now.

If economic conditions have changed so much as to render the treaties outdated, reopen negotiations and re-settle the land claims. That is the sollution that many First Nations people want.

vanisleflamesfan · 10-22-2010, 02:07 PM

Okay enough post-whoring from me.

Mazrim · 10-22-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Like with the ring road project, the wording that the city was using was rather ambiguous and could've have been construed in such a manner to allow a housing development along that entire portion of the ring road.

If you can show this ambiguous portion of the agreement, I'll believe you.

Mean Mr. Mustard · 10-22-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

Pretty much.

I wont speak my mind on this subject to avoid sounding racist... but they seriously hamper a city of a million people because they are greedy... let us build the damn ring road already.

If i was PM i would just bulldoze the land and when they put up a fight, just shoot them all... All the do is whine all day long..

Like "we dont want your road going through OUR land" and then "But we NEED your ambulances and fire stations etc..."

Really? Because advocating their extinction based on them wanting to do with their land what they want, seems I don't know, somewhat racist.

SebC · 10-22-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanisleflamesfan

Would you make these kinds of comments in a thread about Black people? Or Asians? The perception of a free pass to take shots at First Nations really sickens me.

The difference between Black people and Asians and First Nations people is that only First Nations people have extra rights above and beyond those of other Canadians.

vanisleflamesfan · 10-22-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebC

The difference between Black people and Asians and First Nations people is that only First Nations people have extra rights above and beyond those of other Canadians.

So the fact that we negotiated Treaty with these people gives you the right to be racist?

Resolute 14 · 10-22-2010, 02:16 PM

Brilliant Tyler... /facepalm.

As to the story, the headline makes it seem like the reserve changed their mind on the issue, but the story suggests it never had support in the first place. The evidently have the power to say no and enforce it. No worries there.

Mean Mr. Mustard · 10-22-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebC

The difference between Black people and Asians and First Nations people is that only First Nations people have extra rights above and beyond those of other Canadians.

That were agreed to with treaties, now I am as white as they get and I do have problems with some of the treaties in terms of giving people money when they turn 18. But to ignore all of the issues on reservations and to blame the natives for living in squalor doesn't do much to address the root cause of the issue. Frankly a societal change is necessary in which people are more accepting towards people regardless of race.

Like it or not, while there are some great benefits associated with being status - they do face discrimination every single day.

SebC · 10-22-2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanisleflamesfan

So the fact that we negotiated Treaty with these people gives you the right to be racist?

I didn't say that.

I will say that I do believe that if the rights I have are adequate for me, they're adequate for everyone, and that the special rights granted to First Nations people may even be harming them.