Blanket opposition to development is bad for Indigenous communities: Ken Coates in the Globe – MLI

Ken Coates takes to task politicians who project their own opposition to development onto Indigenous groups.

Not all Indigenous peoples oppose development — but you’d have a hard time explaining that to many politicians who continue to staunchly oppose projects like Kinder Morgan and Energy East.

July 11, 2017

Federal NDP leadership candidate and current Ontario MPP, Jagmeet Singh, is the latest politician to jump into the critical world of Indigenous affairs by offering quick and simple solutions to complex issues.

He has declared that he will, if elected prime minister, adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, stop the Kinder Morgan pipeline to the B.C. coast and kill the Energy East pipeline for good measure. These are no doubt popular positions in some NDP circles, and even with significant numbers of Indigenous communities, but it is a mistake to project them uncritically onto Indigenous peoples.

Read More: http://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/blanket-opposition-to-development-is-bad-for-indigenous-communities-ken-coates-in-the-globe/