The federal Liberal government says its consultation teams have met already with more than three-quarters of all Indigenous communities affected by the planned Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, according to the latest statistics supplied to CBC News. The Crown consultation teams carrying out this work — there are more than 60 people working on the consultations — have reached out in some way to all 117 communities. "Minister Sohi also continues to meet and build relationships with Indigenous communities along the route." The previous Crown consultation team believed, erroneously, that it could not add more conditions to the project than those the National Energy Board (NEB) already imposed as part of its Phase 2 consultation phase, the court found. The court said that, for the consultation to be considered successful, the consultation teams must engage in meaningful, "two-way" dialogue between the Crown and affected Indigenous communities.

Source: CBC News February 20, 2019 19:16 UTC