Federal government's AANDC holding back student funding from First Nation over anti-fracking protests
Ottawa putting financial squeeze on Mi'kmaq over anti-fracking protests: councillor
04. OCT, 2013
By Jorge Barrera
APTN National News
Ottawa is starting to put the financial squeeze on a Mi'kmaq First Nation in retribution for ongoing anti-fracking protests that have led to a looming confrontation at a highway blockade in New Brunswick, according to a band councillor.
The Canada Revenue Agency is pressuring the Elsipogtog First Nation to pay back $1.2 million and Aboriginal Affairs is threatening to hold back funds until the band agrees to pay the money, APTN National News has learned.
Elsipogtog band councillor Scott Sanipass said the debt goes back about three years and is for taxes owed from the salaries of non-First Nation people who have worked for the band.
"It is too coincidental. It popped up all of a sudden when everyone started protesting," said Sanipass. "They could have done it six months ago, two years ago, but it just shows up now."
The debt stems from a decision initiated by a previous co-manager of the band who chose to redirect payments destined to CRA into social services. The band is still under co-management.
Aboriginal Affairs has since informed the band it would hold back $800,000 owed the band plus 15 per cent of the band's block funding until the department gets a letter from CRA confirming it has made arrangements with Elsipogtog to get the money back, according to information obtained byAPTN National News.
The band is proposing to pay back the tax agency about $10,000 a week.
Aboriginal Affairs is also holding about $2 million in tuition payments owed the band.
"They are really pulling the financial strings on it bad," said Sanipass.
Meanwhile, the blockade on Route 134 continues near Rexton, NB, despite a Court of Queen's Bench granting an injunction against the protestors on Thursday. The injunction was requested by SWN Resources which has been trying to conduct shale gas exploration in the area.
An RCMP spokesperson said the injunction is directed at the protestors and does not impose any timelines on the police's operations in the area.
"It does not order the police to remove individuals within a certain time period," said Const. Jullie Rogers-Marsh. "We are working toward a peaceful resolution and we are continuing to talk to those participating in the blockade and hope to come to a peaceful resolution."
Elsipogtog Chief Arren Sock handed SWN an eviction notice Tuesday after his band council passed a resolution giving the community control over all unoccupied Crown lands in their territory.
Dozens of people have been arrested by the RCMP during the ongoing protests that began in the summer. The Mi'kmaq Warrior Society is also on the scene and previously attempted to seek help from the Canadian military based in Oromocto, NB.
New Brunswick Premier David Alward, who also handles his province's Aboriginal affairs file, is trying to arrange a meeting with the Elsipogtog chief and council. A provincial official said a planned meeting Thursday fell through. He said the situation is "just too sensitive" to provide any more details.
Mi'kmaq and Maliseet protestors have been reinforced by Acadians and local residents in the area. They fear shale gas deposit discoveries will lead to the soiling of local waters through fracking. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a controversial method of extracting natural gas by cracking rocks and rock formations by using high pressure to inject massive amounts of fluids into fractures, thereby creating large fissures for wells.
New Brunswick is covered by Peace and Friendship Treaties signed between the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet and the British.
Despite requests, Aboriginal Affairs and did not provide comment on the issue as of this article's posting.
A CRA spokesperson said privacy provisions prevented the agency from commenting.
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N.B. premier, First Nation to form group to end shale gas dispute
New Brunswick Premier David Alward meet with members of the Elsipogtog First Nation for a second day to discuss the shale gas protest in Rexton
Kevin Bissett, THE CANADIAN PRESS - October 7, 2013 7
FREDERICTON -- New Brunswick Premier David Alward and members of the Elsipogtog First Nation have agreed to form a working group to help end a protest over shale gas exploration that is now into its second week.
Alward and Chief Arren Sock left a three-hour meeting at a Fredericton hotel Monday to say they will continue talking in an effort to resolve the dispute.
"I can say that we have a consensus that we're working towards finding a peaceful resolution and we will continue that work," Alward said.
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A new shale gas protest site has popped up near Rexton, attracting hundreds of protesters. The protesters are blocking access to a compound where shale gas testing trucks remain idle. (CTV Atlantic)
He said the working group, which would include members from his government, Elsipogtog and the energy industry, is to begin its work immediately.
But Sock said there were still many details to be worked out.
"I'll have to go back to my community and consult with them and then try to figure out the terms and the logistics of the working group," he said.
The RCMP blocked Highway 134 near Rexton on Sept. 29 after a protest against shale gas exploration began spilling onto the road.
Protesters subsequently cut down trees across another part of the highway and have blocked an entrance to a compound used by energy company SWN Resources to store exploration equipment. The protesters, which include members of the Elsipogtog community, want SWN Resources to stop seismic testing and leave the province.
Opponents of the shale gas sector say the process used to extract the resource -- hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking -- could pollute drinking water. But proponents of the industry say such concerns are overblown and don't take into account the possibility of replacing coal and oil with cleaner burning natural gas.
Last Thursday, SWN was granted an injunction to end the blockade of their compound but the RCMP has not enforced it.
Sock said he hopes the RCMP don't enforce the injunction while talks are underway.
"Right now, I just hope that the company acts on good faith and maybe respects the work that the premier and I have so far got done," Sock said.
Alward again stressed that he doesn't have control over decisions of the RCMP and SWN Resources, but said he hoped a solution that satisfies all sides can be found.
"We are doing what we are able to do and certainly the company is well aware of what work is ongoing," Alward said.
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Shale gas protesters defy order to remove Rexton barriers
Tense atmosphere near staging area for SWN Resources Canada's exploration equipment
CBC News Oct 04, 2013
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Barricades remain in place on Route 134 near Rexton despite a court order to remove them that was issued on Thursday.
Protesters opposed to shale gas development blocked the highway and a staging area used by SWN Resources Canada on Monday.
Many of the protesters are members of nearby Elsipogtog First Nation. On Tuesday, Elsibogtog Chief Arren Sock issued an eviction notice to SWN Resources. The company ignored the notice. Instead, it went to court seeking an injunction to end the protest. It was granted Thursday by Court of Queen's Bench Justice George Rideout.
Shale gas protesters are defying a court order issued Thursday to remove barricades on Route 134 (Jen Choi/CBC)
Despite the order, protester Suzanne Patles had no plans Thursday to leave the site.
"I think that our rights supersede that injunction because we are asserting our rights," said Patles. "We are asserting our treaty rights. We are asserting our aboriginal rights. And we are asserting our title rights over the land and the water."
Tensions were high at the protest site on Thursday night. RCMP blocked all highway access to the area. At one point, the protesters formed a human chain across the road.
On Friday morning, the barricades remained in place.
Police are present and there are many ambulances standing by in the area, according to Radio-Canada producer Paul Ward.
Between 50 and 100 protesters remain at the protest site Friday. Their camp remains in place and there is no indication the protesters intend to leave the idea.
The protesters have been demanding to meet with officials from SWN Resources and the provincial government.
Premier David Alward stated Wednesday that he will not meet with anyone while they are breaking the law. On Friday, Alward's office issued a statement saying the premier is prepared to meet with the leadership of Elsipogtog First Nation.
"I wish to reiterate my willingness to meet with the chief and council of the Elsipogtog First Nation," said Alward in his statement. "I have always been available to meet the leadership of the First Nations community, and I will continue to make myself available to meet with them at any time."
The order instructs any peace officer to arrest, remove and remand anyone in contravention of the order not to impede traffic and to allow SWN to carry out its exploration activities without harassment.
Protesters said Thursday night the RCMP told them they would not be taking action for 24 hours. They plan a meeting at the protest site on Friday evening to discuss the situation.
The protesters are concerned about the potential impact of the hydraulic fracturing used to release shale gas on groundwater. The gas is released by injecting a mixture of air, water and chemicals into the earth to break apart shale rock formations to release the gas.
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Talks with N.B. premier buy Elsipogtog three days of 'peace'
07. OCT, 2013
By Jorge Barrera
APTN National News
ELSIPOGTOG FIRST NATION, N.B. - Ongoing talks between Premier David Alward and Elsipogtog Chief Arren Sock has bought at least three days of peace at an ongoing highway anti-fracking blockade in the northern region of the province.
Sock and a group of band councillors met with lawyers representing SWN Resources Canada late Sunday evening in Moncton. The lawyers reportedly stated that SWN would not be making any legal maneuvers to press enforcement of an injunction against the blockade handed down by a provincial judge Thursday as long as talks continued with the premier, according to Sock.
Alward and Sock met earlier in the day Sunday in Moncton and both said they planned to talk again Monday in Fredericton.
The time and place for the meeting was still being worked out as of this article's posting.
Sock said Monday morning he expected at least three more days of talks which would lead to "peace" during that time.
The injunction, which names several individuals at the protest site, has not yet been served.
The blockade has sealed-off a compound holding several SWN trucks. SWN has been conducting shale gas exploration work in the province.
The company has faced fierce opposition to its work not only from the Mi'kmaq, but also from Acadian and Anglophone residents in the area.
The RCMP arrested dozens of people over the summer as protests raged throughout the area.
The blockade is on Route 135, in Rexton, N.B., which sits about 80 kilometres north of Moncton and about 15 kilometres northeast of Elsipogtog First Nation.
RCMP vehicles have sealed off the blockade on both sides.
Celebrations commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Royal Proclamation are also planned for Monday at the blockade site.