First Nations look to prosper from port project

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The new Prince Rupert container port will provide an economic boom for northern B.C. Area First Nations want to share in that prosperity, not threaten it, as some fear.

Those are the words of Lax Kw'Alaams chief band councillor, Gary Reece as he responded to criticism that claimed a recent court injunction by local First Nations was a dangerous money-grab that recklessly endangered the revival of the area's economy.

"We have always wanted to see this [project] happen," Reece said. "We just want to be consulted and accommodated, and the courts have said that, yes, we should be."

Lax Kw'Alaams and the Metlakatala band-the two closest First Nations villages to Rupert and having land claims in the area-filed a court application in mid-January asking that the project be put on hold until proper consultation was held by the federal government and its agency partnered in the project, Western Economic Diversification.

The application caused uproar with non-Native citizens, local business and media, local and provincial, blasting the bands for their action. To demonstrate their good faith though, the bands, along with the Allied Tsimshian Tribes, said they would postpone the court action until Feb. 24 (after press time), which they deemed an appropriate time for the new government to respond to the matter.

Reece said the main topic of discussion will be how the Lax Kw'Alaams and Metlakatla bands can share in the prosperity that will be created by the project.

"This is a huge opportunity. There are going to be a lot of jobs coming available and we want our people to get some of those jobs, to get training for the jobs," explained Reece. "We're putting together a package that addresses these and other matters that we'll be bringing to the table with the port and the feds."

The Rupert container port project is the newest such project in North America and is part of the federal government's new Pacific Gateway initiative, and will alleviate the congestion at current West Coast ports and open considerable economic opportunities for Canadian importers and exporters.

Maher Terminals will operate the project and is investing $60 million, equal to the shared commitment by the federal and provincial governments. Such a huge increase in traffic is anticipated that CN Rail is upgrading its northern line and facilities to the tune of $30 million.

The project has northern B.C. and all of western Canada excited about the prospects, which should also spread to Rupert-area First Nations, according to Lorne Keller, vice-president of marketing and development for the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

"Phase One of the project, the construction, will create between 100 to 150 full-time jobs. And then there's the spin-off activity, for supplies, equipment, fuel, goods to the terminal; there will probably be one job created for every position at the terminal." said Keller. "I don't know what percentage of those jobs will go to First Nations people but I would think it would be reflective of the population, about 40 to 45 per cent."

Keller pointed out that more than 40 per cent of the jobs in the local longshoremen's union belong to First Nations and their average annual salary is $80,000. A huge increase in jobs means more money injected into the local economy.

He cited other opportunities: Canada Customs will have between 30 and 40 new hires for the project alone and have already targeted training for First Nations. There will be container stuffing jobs, warehouse work, and an expansion of the fishing industry, with refrigerated containers shipping locally-processed products to Asian markets, which could create another 200 jobs.

Project construction begins in March and will be "full blown" in April, said Keller, with the project expected to be up and running by the third quarter of 2007. As a result, he said, recruiting and training is already underway.

"We fully support anything that will benefit Prince Rupet. That's why we purchased the area tree farm license and have been working to get the pulp mill running again," said Reece. "Those places, the city, the federal and provincial governments, they all collect taxes from these projects, but we don't, so we're looking to come to some other kind of agreement."