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Kelowna  

FN's open for business

Calvin Helin is First Nations and he is also a part of a proposal to build a pipeline in the same place the rejected Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline was proposed.

The son of a Tsimshian Nation Chief, an author and public speaker, Helin is also the president of Eagle Spirit Energy, a First Nation’s backed company.

Helin was in Kelowna on Thursday for a public speaking session at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon alongside a representative from Vancouver’s Aquilini Investment Group Inc., who has financially endorsed Eagle Spirit’s proposed pipeline.

During Helin’s presentation he noted it was the first time he had delivered this speech to an audience that was not primarily First Nations.

He started off the presentation talking about change and First Nation’s people’s history of adaptation to change. He said there is a wide misconception that companies can not do business with First Nation’s people, but Aquilini's partnership with Eagle Spirit proves otherwise. 

He said the economy is changing in Canada and the way big projects were done in the past in Northern B.C. were to push through with the government’s consent, but not to include those living in the area who would be impacted. Helin emphasized several times that when the Eagle Spirit pipeline was proposed, every First Nations community along its route was to be addressed and their concerns considered.

He stated the main issue was the environment and what effects the pipeline would have to the region. According to Helin, Eagle Spirit’s proposal has a first class environmental model as well as the support of every First Nation chief along the route of its own proposed oil pipeline through northern B.C.

Helin addressed issues from the port the pipeline would use, to bitumen, to shipping, to the the U.S. use of oil.

First Nations, according to Helin, recognize the importance of alternative oil export markets to the national economy and that northern B.C. is the best place for a pipeline to reach the Asian market.

The pipeline being proposed runs between Fort McMurray, Alta. and Prince Rupert, and has an estimated cost of $14 billion. Helin said he could see the completion date for the project being four years.

He ended his presentation with the statement that First Nations are open for business but companies must take time to talk to people, and not just First Nations but all people who live in northern B.C. who would be impacted by the outcome of a pipeline.

The former lawyer’s presentation was only 30 minutes long, but was well received by those in attendance.



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