Gitanyow and Gitxsan concerned about RCMP C-IRG violence, construction of PRGT pipeline to begin on August 24

Published by Brent Patterson on July 8, 2024July 8, 2024

APTN Video: The C-IRG on Gitxsan territory, November 2021.

Construction on the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline is now scheduled to begin on Saturday August 24.

The 800-kilometre pipeline would carry fracked gas from Hudson’s Hope in northeastern British Columbia across Gitanyow and Gitxsan territory to the Ksi Lisims LNG terminal near the Nass River estuary on Nisga’a territory in northwestern BC.

From there it would be exported to countries including Japan and South Korea.

While Calgary-based TC Energy currently owns the pipeline project and was the entity that gave notice of the construction date, the pipeline project was expected to change hands by the end of June and then be owned by Houston, Texas-based Western LNG.

The environmental certificate for the pipeline says it must be “substantially started” before November 25, 2024.

The initial work on the pipeline will reportedly be on Nisga’a territory.

The Nisga’a Lisims government supports the pipeline.

The Gitanyow and Gitxsan are opposed to it.

Concerns about RCMP CRU/C-IRG violence

Matt Simmons of The Narwhal has reported: “[Tara Marsden, Wilp sustainability director for Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs] said enforcement actions related to Coastal GasLink opposition against Indigenous land defenders by the RCMP’s Critical Response Unit (formerly known as the Community-Industry Response Group, or C-IRG) have changed the way the Gitanyow community thinks about the pipeline.”

On a PBI-Canada webinar this past March, Marsden also commented: “Our learning is that consent only works when we say yes, if we say no, even if we say no with science behind us, and our knowledge and our laws behind us, then we will be met with force from the C-IRG, from militarized invasion and occupation and intimidation and harassment.”

The Narwhal further reports: “Neighbouring Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs are also concerned about the project’s implications, including potential police intervention if community members oppose the pipeline. Simogyat (Chief) Molaxan Norman Moore previously told The Narwhal he feels the government isn’t acting in good faith.”

On that same PBI-Canada organized webinar earlier this year, Kolin Sutherland-Wilson, a Gitxsan leader and Councillor of the Kispiox Band, added: “In my experience with [the C-IRG], I’ve noticed even as part of their training they receive anti-Delgamuukw, anti-Aboriginal rights and title argumentative training. I can’t tell you how many times where I’ve simply gotten into a shouting match with an officer and his whole position is adamantly well the courts never recognized your title, that it doesn’t exist.”

Project timeline

The Narwhal notes: “TC Energy’s plan to begin constructing the pipeline on Nisga’a lands would likely postpone any potential conflict with opposing parties while achieving a substantially started designation from the environmental assessment office. Such a designation would secure government approval for the pipeline indefinitely.”

Western LNG has stated: “Commercial operations [of the Ksi Lisims LNG Project] are anticipated to commence in late 2028 or 2029.”

So, while construction in 2024 may begin on Nisga’a territory, the expected in-service date means that work on the pipeline will move onto Gitanyow and Gitxsan territory within (much sooner than) a 4-5 year period.

CRCC “systemic investigation” timeline

The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) launched a “systemic investigation” into the RCMP C-IRG on March 9, 2023, after receiving nearly 500 formal complaints about the unit that included allegations of excessive force, illegal tactics, arbitrary detention, destruction of property, racism and Charter of Rights and Freedoms violations.

The last update from the CRCC on that investigation was posted almost eight months ago on November 23, 2023.

While the CRCC has said it strives to complete systemic investigations within 12-18 months, it is now at 16-months without any clear indication of when the investigation will be made public and completed.

It is also not clear if the investigation will be completed, and remedies implemented, before the time the construction of the PRGT pipeline begins on Gitanyow and Gitxsan territories with the risk of further C-IRG/CRU violence.

We continue to follow this.

Image by The Narwhal.