Canada aboriginal head says development may be easier under new PM – by David Ljunggren (Reuters U.K. – December 9, 2015)

http://uk.reuters.com/

OTTAWA – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s move to reach out to aboriginal groups could make it easier for natural resource companies to complete major projects, some of which are stalled, a senior indigenous leader said on Wednesday.

Trudeau, whose Liberals took power last month, told aboriginal chiefs on Tuesday he wanted to radically improve relations with the government, which were often tense under the former ruling Conservatives.

He also pledged more funding for an indigenous population plagued by crime, ill-health and poverty, and stressed the importance of aboriginal rights.

“We’re totally optimistic and hopeful because the prime minister talked about building on a new relationship,” said Perry Bellegarde, who heads the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the umbrella group for the more than 600 aboriginal bands in Canada.

Asked whether Trudeau’s positive tone could make resource development easier, Bellegarde said as long as firms “respect inherent rights, treaty rights and indigenous peoples’ involvement, there could be ways to work through some of these concerns.”

He noted that no major pipelines had been built in Canada in recent years.

For the rest of this article, click here: http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-canada-aboriginals-idUKKBN0TS2N720151209