Grand chief critcizes lack of consultation on Saint John industrial park expansion
Wolastoqey Grand Chief Ron Tremblay said the lack of consultation on plans to expand an industrial park in Saint John continues a track record of Indigenous input being an afterthought.
"The Peace and Friendship Treaty back in 1725 clearly stated that we never surrendered any land or resources to the Crown or the Crown dependents," Tremblay said to Information Morning Saint John.
"And under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that we needed free, prior and informed consent on all the matters that go forward, be it the province or municipalities or the federal government."
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 said First Nations were never consulted and if the expansion moves forward, it will impact an area of "enriched wetland" and "disturb a biological system that is vital to every species that is reliant on" the ecosystem.
In their pitch to council members when the public hearing process began, city staff said First Nation consultation falls under provincial jurisdiction.
When contacted by CBC News, City of Saint John staff directed questions about First Nation engagement to the provincial Department of Indigenous Affairs. The province was not able to respond before deadline.
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.
"Our mandate as the traditional governance is to protect our homeland, the waterways and the air for our children, our grandchildren and the next seven generations," Tremblay said.
WATCH | 'We should have been at the table,' Wolastoqey grand chief says:
"So when land gets threatened like this, we are very firm on our position that we have to look at all the ecosystems."
Tremblay said First Nation input often comes far too 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."
Protests growing past city limits
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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