Tag: Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

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Alberta Economic Ft Mac Health

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Partners With Titan Tire to Address Old Tire Waste

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is partnering up with Titan Tire to address old tire waste. The partnership between band owned Acden and Titan Tire subsidiary Titan Tire Reclamation Corp. will help turn old tire waste into something positive instead of the environmental threat that used tires can pose when they are simply disposed of. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the processing facility was recently held. The facility is located off of Highway 63 close to the open mine pit operated by Suncor situated to the north of Fort McMurray. The new facility currently employs 15 workers but both companies hope to expand this number and say they could employ as many as 40 workers in the future. Used tires that are not repairable are baked in a thermal vacuum recovery device which breaks down the used tire materials, and the gases which are released during the process are captured and used to generate energy.

The new facility uses innovative technology to eliminate old tire waste and produce new products that are useful. Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam explained “We talk about the environment and the state of it, but we also find partners looking to do things that are more environmentally friendly in this region, Keeping tires out of landfills is one of our ways of promoting what we’ve been talking about. Reclamation is a big part of the future and lucrative enough to make a profit.” According to Paul Newton, the president of Titan Tire Reclamation Corp., “It’s a green story in an industry that has been looked upon and shunned as dirty.”

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Alberta Economic Ft Mac Politics

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Claims About Shell Canada Project Rejected by Court

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Shell Canada project
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Shell Canada project

A recent court ruling has rejected claims by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation concerning the Shell Canada project. The ACFN had claimed in federal court documents that Ottawa did not consult the group enough during the Shell Canada project review, and the group was hoping to have the project’s approval overturned by the court but this did not happen. AFCN Chief Allan Adams told the media “Regardless of this decision, it’s obvious to ACFN there has not been adequate consultation to thoroughly understand the long term impacts or proven ways to mitigate the destruction of these massive development projects.” Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq approved the Shell Canada project but attached 88 conditions which needed to be met.

When considering the claims by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation about the Shell Canada project Justice Daniele Tremblay-Lamer said “Within its jurisdictional authority, Canada has endeavoured to accommodate the ACFN with conditions binding on Shell and through more expansive regulatory schemes; in areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction, Canada has committed itself to collaborating with Alberta and offering support. The Project’s conditions were designed with a measure of flexibility precisely so that they could adapt to changes and developments in the Project, which is still at the preliminary stage. Canada’s accommodations, adequate in themselves, bear witness to the attentive, responsive consultation that Canada has afforded the ACFN throughout the process.” Jeff Mann, who is the spokesperson for Shell Canada, had no comment when asked about the court’s ruling. The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation group has not announced whether they will appeal the ruling or not.

 

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Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Fights Financial Transparency Law

financial transparency, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
financial transparency, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation are prepared to fight a federal law that requires financial transparency, and they could be facing sanctions in federal funding as a result. The ACFN has refused to publish their financial records which have been audited, and these records include the expenses and the salaries of the chief and the council for the group. Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam explains “We are transparent with our members. We tell them what our finances and salaries are and if they don’t like what they see, they can tell us or vote us out. This is none of Canada’s business.” The chief continued by stating that the new federal law in question puts the competitiveness of the businesses owned by the band at risk and it views aboriginal governments the same way as it views criminals.

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is not against financial transparency, but the federal law in question requires the band to publish consolidated statements from organizations owned by the band that would expose Acden Group Ltd. financial statements. Chief Adam stated “Everything is tied into the band’s corporation because Acden is tied to the band. This opens up our private business to our competitors, like our bidding wars. That’s bad for business and bad for our community. Now how is this fair?” Other bands of First Nation posted expenses in an online format earlier in the year but Chief Adam did not give a reason at that time why the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation would not do the same.