After a relatively trouble-free time in office as prime minister, the still-popular Justin Trudeau — a self-proclaimed environmentalist — is encountering the first truly significant criticism of his policies.
Paradoxically, that criticism is directed at Trudeau’s recent decisions on the environment and how best to protect it while not ignoring the obvious importance of economic concerns. He is keenly aware that the livelihoods of many Canadians are tied to the country’s resource sector, including the petroleum industry.
Trudeau’s recent announcement approving Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project and the rejection of the controversial Northern Gateway project remain front-page news.
Predictably, the rejection of the Northern Gateway pipeline, which would have conveyed bitumen from Alberta to B.C.'s coast, was praised by environmentalists and many First Nations, as well as Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. But that decision was soundly criticized by proponents who maintain that the project would benefit not just Alberta and B.C., but also the Canadian economy.
However, if anyone thought Trudeau’s approval of the Trans Mountain project would go down well in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, they obviously ignored the NIMBY phenomenon long entrenched among dedicated environmentalists in B.C. Not only did Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson roundly criticize the controversial approval, so did some Liberal MPs from B.C.
For her part, May said she’s prepared to use whatever means necessary to block such shipments, including going to jail.
But Trudeau’s worries go far beyond whether his decisions will undermine support for the Liberal party in B.C. The decisions could have implications for how indigenous people view themselves in Canadian society, especially those who see such projects as endangering their traditional lands and livelihoods.
Such concerns are taking place at a time when some within Canada’s First Nations communities, including younger militant women, are becoming frustrated by a range of seemingly endless serious social problems, including young aboriginals committing suicide out of despair.
Trudeau’s environmental actions are taking place at a time when aboriginal people in the U.S. are becoming increasingly militant and where protests by native people against a controversial pipeline in North Dakota escalated dramatically last week.
What started out last summer as a protest by local native Americans against a pipeline in a historically sacred area and that allegedly might endanger local waters, suddenly turned into massive anti-pipeline opposition. Thousands arrived to join the protest, creating a large protest camp that involved hundreds of former U.S. military personnel, and even some non-Americans.
Obviously aware the situation was turning into a crisis, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in an unprecedented back-down, suddenly announced the projected pipeline location was being changed.
These developments across the border are indicative of changes that might be occurring within other indigenous societies in North America and elsewhere, including Canada, where demonstrations were held supporting the anti-pipeline actions in North Dakota.
For their part, some Canadian First Nations chiefs were quick to express their unhappiness with Trudeau approving the Trans Mountain project.
One of them, B.C. First Nations Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, denounced Trudeau’s environment decision as an “absolute betrayal.” (Interestingly, he refused to attend the September “reconciliation” ceremony at the B.C. legislature with Prince William.)
Such negative attitudes are not limited to environmental issues. Despite Trudeau’s repeated commitment to improve the lives of Canada’s indigenous population — which he reiterated during a lengthy speech Tuesday at a meeting of the First Nations Assembly — many First Nations people say they want to see Trudeau live up to his high-sounding electoral promises with greater concrete commitments.
This should include significantly increasing funding to that long-suffering sector of the Canadian population still often locked in poverty without employment or adequate housing, plus lacking such things as guaranteed access to schools and proper medical care.
Harry Sterling, a former diplomat, is an Ottawa-based commentator.
