Ontario's Business Dealings with Indigenous Peoples
Ontario Offers First Nations a Stake in Massive Expansion of Electrical Infrastructure
For
the people of Canada and Quebec reconciliation means building a new and
modern relationship with Indigenous nations which harmonizes the
natural and social environment in a manner that upholds the rights of
all. To us reconciliation is not about trying to "integrate" Indigenous
nations into an economy whose aim and direction is based on paying the
rich, treating people like things and using nature and its bounty to
enrich those in power. Yet, it appears that this latter conception of
reconciliation is what is being put forward as if it were consistent
with our conception despite the fact that these are in complete
contradiction with one another.
On September 22 Hydro One, Ontario's major transmission and distribution utility, announced a new "equity partnership model" with First Nations on new capital transmission line projects with a value exceeding $100 million. The model "offers First Nations a 50 per cent equity stake in all future large scale capital transmission line projects," Hydro One says. Hydro One was a public utility until it was privatized in 2015. The province is now the controlling stakeholder with a 47 per cent stake.
The transmission projects between London, Windsor and Sarnia are said to require a $1 billion to finance and are proposed to be developed in phases through 2030. They required an Order-in-Council declaring three of the transmission line projects as "priorities," streamlining the Ontario Energy Board's (OEB) regulatory approval process in order to begin work on them immediately.
Hydro One has also said it will increase its "Indigenous procurement spend to five per cent of all materials and services by 2026 and ensuring that 20 per cent of its corporate donations and sponsorships support Indigenous communities."
The model will apply to the five transmission lines Hydro One is currently developing in southwest Ontario. At the time the lines were announced Ontario's Minister of Energy Todd Smith made it clear the aim was to use public funds to provide the infrastructure the auto and agri-food monopolies based in southern Ontario demand. "Our government is supporting the incredible growth in Southwest Ontario by accelerating the development of five new transmission lines that will power the new Stellantis and LG Energy Solutions battery plant, the growing greenhouse sector and other job creators." He added, "As our government reduces the price of doing business, including by lowering electricity prices by 15-17 per cent for large commercial and industrial customers, we have seen significant new investment. Today we are demonstrating our commitment to build the critical infrastructure to support those new jobs."
In the most self-serving fashion Hydro One Chief Human Resources Officer Megan Telford said of the model, "For too long, First Nations have borne the impacts of infrastructure development in their traditional territories without seeing the benefits. We recognize that we did not always get it right, and this equity model signals a significant shift in how Hydro One will work with First Nations. For our collective success we must continue to push existing boundaries. Hydro One is committed to its journey of taking meaningful action to advance reconciliation and we will continue to listen to and learn from Indigenous communities with a focus on building trusting and long-lasting relationships."
What
Telford does not mention is that the aim of these new models is to use
the funds at the disposal of various First Nations-backed investment
arms to pay large monopolies who are demanding Ontarians pony up so
that these same monopolies can get their hands on the lands and
resources to enrich narrow private interests. It is not a model that
favours the interests of the Indigenous peoples, beginning with the
fact that they do not give informed consent.
It is nonetheless presented as being good for everyone, including the Indigenous peoples while the projects are totally out of their control. That transmission lines will need to go through Indigenous nations' lands is a major issue which Hydro One, the government and the companies setting up shop are aware of. What happens when the demands of the rich to get paid or they will leave are rejected by the Indigenous nations or people living on their territories?
All of this is left hidden as the people living in the regions to be affected do not have a say in what is taking place or the direction the province is taking. It is all done behind the backs of the people with the value created from their labour. It is not reconciliation, but a new form of using public funds to pay the rich.
This article was published in
Volume 52 Number 25 - October 4, 2022
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmld2022/Articles/D520253.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca