Holland moves to ease First Nations' fracking fears

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The six chiefs of Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick are slamming Mike Holland’s appointment as Indigenous affairs minister, saying his existing role as natural resources and energy development minister means he’s now in a “clear conflict.”

And they’re specifically worried Higgs might use Holland to “steamroll” the resumption of fracking.

But Holland says “nothing could be further from the truth,” and that there’s no way natural gas extraction will resume without First Nations’ sign-off – as Higgs noted in his recent State of the Province address.

Last Friday, a few hours after Holland and Saint John Harbour MLA Arlene Dunn separately announced they won’t reoffer in the next election, Higgs said Holland will take over the Indigenous affairs portfolio until he quits, which won’t happen until this year’s election is called.

That will most likely happen in October, as scheduled, Higgs said.

But while Holland is hanging around until the writ drops, Dunn has already quit her cabinet posts, and said she’ll resign as MLA in the near future.

On Monday, Brunswick News was sent a statement from the chiefs.

“By assigning the same minister to oversee both departments, Higgs has effectively welcomed the fox into the henhouse,” the statement read. “This move is a clear conflict of interest and yet another blow to Higgs’s credibility.

“What’s also concerning is the government’s track record when it comes to respecting the duty to consult. For years, Higgs has failed to provide any meaningful consultation with First Nations leaders on a wide range of files, including resource development.

“Now, he appears ready to use Holland – who also announced he won’t be running again – to steamroll ahead with his frack-filled plans before his time is up.

“Other missed opportunities to consult with Indigenous leaders include refusing to work with Indigenous communities on tax-revenue sharing agreements, overseeing a patriarchal government-appointed, non-Indigenous led review of systemic racism that continues to collect dust, and … perpetuating the idea that Indigenous people were coming to steal New Brunswickers’ homes.

“Following in the footsteps of former Aboriginal affairs minister Jake Stewart, we aren’t surprised these two veteran ministers are throwing in the towel. Anyone who stands beside Higgs for long enough eventually drowns.”

On Tuesday, however, Holland said he intends to use his remaining time in office to build on his existing relationships with Indigenous leaders, which he believes have been positive during his time as natural resources minister. And while he said he appreciates Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick’s statement, Holland said it left him a little confused.

“The points in that (statement) that discuss conflict of interest, and particularly as (it) talks about the development of natural resources being a conflict, and drilling down even further, the discussion around natural gas, there seemed to be a concern there that putting me in this (role) was not only a conflict but a path towards moving ahead with natural gas in some sort of a fashion that was non-inclusive. Quite frankly, nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.

“I’ve been very clear for quite a while in my role as minister of natural resources that development of natural resources, including natural gas, only happens with First Nations’ support. I maintain that same position having Indigenous affairs added to my portfolio.”

He then referenced Higgs’s comments during the State of the Province address, where he discussed fracking but stressed that First Nations’ sign-on was the only way it could ever proceed.

“Although I appreciate (Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick’s) feedback in any way, shape, or form, it wouldn’t be the case that this is an attempt to do something in a manner that is not inclusive,” Holland said.

He also said he began reaching out to chiefs hours after he was named Indigenous affairs minister, and plans to work on the file as hard as possible until he leaves.

“What I’ve said to staff in Indigenous affairs is that I’m going to treat this like it’s the first day of a four-year term. The only difference is that the clock runs out when the writ drops, so that sense of urgency will be applied as well.”

Mi’gwame’l Tplu’taqnn Inc., which represents New Brunswick’s Mi’kmaq First Nations, didn’t respond to a request for comment.