Indigenous leaders warn of protests, halting developments over shale gas exemption | CBC News
Top Indigenous leaders are warning that the Higgs government
has made “a serious mistake” on shale gas that may reignite protests
like those seen in the Rexton area in 2013.
has made “a serious mistake” on shale gas that may reignite protests
like those seen in the Rexton area in 2013.
They say the
province’s duty to consult Indigenous people is clearly defined, and the
government should have known how to proceed as it tries to restart the
industry in one part of the province.
“It’s not as if this is all
new,” said Roger Augustine, the regional chief for the Assembly of First
Nations in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. “The blueprint is
there.”
“There’s a lot of case law,” said Chief George Ginnish of
Natoaganeg First Nation. “There are actual court cases. … If he needs
clarity, we’ll certainly provide clarity if that’s what he needs.”