Province responds to chief's criticism of Saint John industrial park expansion project
'We should have been at the table,' Wolastoqey Grand Chief Ron Tremblay says
New Brunswick's Department of Indigenous Affairs says the province did consult with 16 First Nation communities about the Spruce Lake Industrial Park expansion project.
Responding to criticism that the groups weren't consulted, Indigenous Affairs Minister Keith Chiasson said First Nation chiefs were contacted at the beginning of the proposal process.
"The process that was followed was that in June, the letter was sent to all nations saying the [environmental impact assessment] was registered," Chiasson said in a Friday interview with CBC News.
"And at the end of June, the department sent an initial assessment letter to all 16 chiefs and consultation organizations."
Ron Tremblay is the grand chief of the Wolastoqey Grand Council, a body that supports the six Wolastoqey communities in the province. Earlier this week, Tremblay added to the hundreds of letters the City of Saint John has received urging council to turn down the expansion proposal.
Tremblay told Information Morning Saint John the Grand Council was not included in the process. That, he said, continues a track record of bringing them to the table late in the game.
"Unfortunately a lot of times it happens after the fact," he said.
"Especially with the Grand Council, we're usually alerted well into any discussions, where we're invited at the table after the aftermath of whatever's been discussed or decided already. So that's not proper consultation."
Chiasson said it comes down to how the "duty to consult" process works.
He said the "point of entry" for discussions is with elected chiefs and councils and it's up to them whether to bring in other governing groups, like the Grand Council.
Chiasson said the province did get feedback from Indigenous communities and that concerns were raised, but he said he wasn't comfortable speaking on behalf of the communities.
"There have been a couple of meetings to discuss the concerns that were addressed or were flagged and obviously it's an ongoing process. So we're kind of working through that now," he said.
Protests growing past city limits
The public hearing for the plan to create more development-ready land in the industrial park began May 12. Since then, more than 50 people have spoken out against the proposal, saying the planned expansion will have impacts on the environment and the nearby community that will last generations.
The city and supporters of the plan say the expansion is needed because of what presenters described as an uncertain economic future for the province, including low projected growth in GDP in the coming year and Saint John's potential for tariff exposure.
City staff say the area is ideal because of its access to water, electricity and other resources not available elsewhere in the city.
While the fate of the industrial park expansion is still in limbo, the opposition to it has extended past the boundaries of the rural community and even the city.
City staff have received letters and input from people living in other cities and provinces, including those from Fredericton and Halifax.
Lorneville residents say they've also taken their fight to the provincial legislature in hopes of speaking with the premier.
MP John Williamson, whose riding includes Lorneville, also wrote in opposition and attended a protest against the plan on the weekend before the public hearing started.
The city also recently received a letter from the Conservation Council of New Brunswick asking council to delay the expansion until environmental impacts are better understood.
The plan does have supporters. The city has received statements and letters of support from business groups such as Envision Saint John and Opportunities New Brunswick.
Council needs to hear from individuals and groups — for and against — before they vote on the proposal. But so far, due to sheer numbers, only those opposed have been able to speak during the previous two meetings — both lasting late into the evening.
The public hearing on the application will continue on June 3.
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With files from Information Morning Saint John