Indigenous groups heard from on last day of NEB hearings in Maritimes

The group tasked with overhauling the National Energy Board wrapped up its final day of consultations in the Maritimes by hearing recommendations from Indigenous groups.

Last November National Resources Minister Jim Carr created the panel to suggest how to reform the NEB.

The five-member Modernization Panel wasgiven the mandate to meet extensively with Canadians and present findings this May.

• Liberals name 5-person panel to help reform National Energy Board

On its second day in Saint John, the panelonce again opened the floor to Indigenous groups.

The only member of the panel from New Brunswick, Dave Besner, said he's lost count ofthe number of First Nations groups he's heard from so far.

"We've held nine meetings at cities across Canada and we've always had an Indigenous day," he said.

The importance of hearing from those groups, Besner said, couldn't be understated in the process.

"Part of our challenge was to make sure that Indigenous issues were addressed," he said.

NEB too close to industry?

Some of the concerns he's heard from Indigenous groups include the perception the National Energy Board is too close to the industry it oversees.

"The funding for some of the Indigenous knowledge studies comes from the proponent," Besner said, "and that for many people just doesn't feel right and so that's something that we'll have to talk about."

Presenter Rosalie Francis raised that very issue while speaking to the panel Wednesday morning.

As a member of the legal counsel representing eight Mi'kmaq communities across the province, Francis said funding needed to be addressed.

"I think funding for consultation certainly is an obligation of the Crown," she said.

Francis said the NEB process requiring applicants to provide support to engage First Nations communities, often places those very groups in a bind.

"That can put First Nations, us, in a very uncomfortable position as we may very well be opposed to a project," she said.

Not just Maritime groups

While the meeting was held in Saint John, it wasn't restricted solely to Maritime groups.

Ira McArthur drove from southeastern Saskatchewan to speak to the panel.

The chief of the Pheasant Rump Nakota Nation, like many others, thinks the future success of the energy board depends on properly consulting Indigenous groups.

"I think the government really needs to define what consultation is on their part," said Chief McArthur,"and Indigenous partners need to be able to define what our role is as well."

McArthur said the panel has madean honest effort to engage Indigenous groups, but meeting each one's unique traditional needs will be difficult.

Indigenous representation on NEB

But he does think success representation could be a measure of success.

"I guess a minimal success would see equal representation from Indigenous people on the NEB board," said Chief McArthur.

He also suggested there could be greater success with a separate board made up of Indigenous members working in conjunction with the NEB. The NEB Modernization Panel will complete its sessions in Montreal next week.