RE:RE:Cut off FN and Chiefs - then maybe the timeline will move upA) not true: they have no veto B) it most definitely isn't Trudeau's fault. The Supreme Court of Canada decided that First Nations that will be impacted have to be consulted and the information given during the consultation should be treated in good faith. This doesn't mean that they get a plug puller on all plans. It means you simply cannot ignore the First Nations people who will be living there during and after the projects completion.
Saying that, NOT is strategically placed for there not to be a reason any of the main 2 FNs groups would say no. Over the last 20 years, NOT has been integrating their business and training the FN people/hiring them to work on this project.
Like the French's understanding with "Metis" people way back when, its easier to do business with each other when your business is interwoven with each others success.
Anyone who believes First Nations have a Veto have their heads up their butts because what they have a "right" to is to be consulted properly and their concerns addressed in good faith.
So for example, if someone had an issue with moose migration patterns because of a highway being introduced, NOT may come up with the idea of fencing in the highway and putting in animal bridges to help alleviate the migration stress of that migration. The First Nations may not like that response, but because they were consulted and acted in good faith (with sound evidence animal bridges work [look at sudbury]) then they wouldnt have the ability to stall the project. Now if they consulted and then did not act in good faith by simply ignoring - that could cause the project back into assessment mode (rather then development). It doesn't kill a project, but it can definitely hamper someones plans if they don't do it and NOT is probably one of the most successful companies in Canada for consulting First Nations (Fortune Minerals coming in a close 2nd).
Heck one of the First Nations groups have taken it upon themselves to do an environmental road assessment because the provincial government, DOUG, not Trudeau, is dragging their heels on the road development.
Understand that this is not a "First Nations" issue anymore but rather a "Provincial government" issue now. Doug needs to get his butt in gear, but as previously stated by someone else on this forum --- he has essentially betrayed Canadians already in his 7 ish months in office (with him breaking 50% of all promises hes worked on so far) and probably wont do anything for this until re-election year.
I have little faith in Doug getting off his high horse and away from his bay street croonies. I believe in Vic, but Vic can only do so much when it comes to policy.