Rail, oil policy hazardous to First Nation way of life, says Beardy – Northern Ontario Business
Mar. 10 2015
A second fiery CN derailment and spillage of oil near Gogama in less than a month has Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy calling out Canada’s reliance on fossil fuel and its aging infrastructure.
“As the fifth largest oil producing country in the world and the largest single source of oil imports into the United States, Canada utilizes an aging and climate change affected pipeline and rail transportation network that crosses First Nations territories. We are tired of being pawns in Canada’s addiction to oil,” said Beardy in a March 10 statement.
After a second derailment March 7, 40 kilometres north of the Mattagami First Nation, Beardy said Canada’s methods of shipping oil to market directly conflicts with Indigenous rights and public safety.
