Prentice says he'll revisit contentious Alberta aboriginal policies

Alberta Premier Jim Prentice says he'll revisitpolicies that have led to the "ripening" of a welter of lawsuits
and controversies between the provincial government and FirstNations over energy development.

"I'm not naive enough to think there haven't been issues,"Prentice told The Canadian Press in an interview. "I know therehave been. But I'll deal with them."

The last couple of years have seen almost all of the changesAlberta has made to how its energy industry is governed come underlegal and political attack from First Nations.

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In court actions, as well as judicial and legislative reviews,aboriginals have argued the province is systematically narrowing thescope of their influence over how development proceeds, especiallyin the oilsands.

Aboriginals have refused to participate any longer ingovernment-run environmental monitoring and have boycotted talks onnew provincial rules for how industry must consult First Nations.

The province's dealings with aboriginals have added tointernational criticisms of Alberta's development policies.That will change, Prentice promised, starting with the AboriginalConsultation Office, a new provincial program in which governmentbureaucrats decide when and how much consultation is necessary.Itis opposed by every First Nation in the province.

We can't have consultation legislationthat none of the people who are being consulted support.- Jim Prentice

"It clearly has to be revisited," said Prentice, who serves ashis own aboriginal affairs minister. "We can't have consultation legislation that none of the people who are being consulted support.

"There's going to have to be further discussions with FirstNations leadership and chiefs. A number of them have flagged it forme personally."

Prentice added he wants new talks on Alberta's plan to balancedevelopment and the environment in the oilsands. All area FirstNations oppose the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan and have argued against it at an ongoing legislative review.

"We'll start with the plan that we have and continue withadditional consultation and collaboration on it," Prentice said.

"It has been a contentious issue, and I know that. For sure, I willsit down and hear their specific concerns."

He also said he wants to ensure the province's energy regulatoris making fair decisions on who gets the right to address publichearings on energy development.

"There's been questions raised province wide about that issue,not only in the context of First Nations, but elsewhere. We need toensure we have the appropriate test of standing so that the systemis balanced and fair and it works to the satisfaction of both thepeople in the energy industry and people who are directly and adversely affected by decisions that are made."

I want to understand why it's not working and how we geteveryone back working together.- Jim Prentice

Prentice wants First Nations in the oilsands area to rejoingovernment-led environmental monitoring programs that he helped initiate when he was in the federal cabinet.

"I want to understand why it's not working and how we geteveryone back working together."

Prentice said the aboriginal cabinet job is important to him.

"I know the chiefs. I know the communities. I have a deephistory as a former federal minister. I'm passionate about it and Iwant to be involved."