An immediate green shift away from oil and gas could rob many Canadian First Nations of a prosperous future, says an outspoken Indigenous leader and B.C. MLA.

Ellis Ross, the former chief councillor for the Haisla Nation, located near Kitimat, and the current MLA for Skeena has been a strong advocate for building an independent and vibrant Indigenous economy through the responsible development of natural resources.

“First Nations have fought for so long to be included in the economy and now there are groups who want to block First Nations from a better future,” says Ross.

“Calling for an oil and gas shutdown in Canada right now would leave many First Nations behind – again.”

Taking those opportunities away from First Nations, who in the past have not had the ability to seize their own economic destiny, would erase decades of progress, he says.

Calls by environmental leaders and some politicians for Canada to pivot away from fossil fuels in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t take into account the potentially enormous impact on First Nations, Ross says.

According to the latest filings by the Indian Oil and Gas Commission (IOGC), over 500 of 619 First Nations in Canada have designated lands for oil and gas exploration and potential development. Now, 36 First Nations actively collect royalties from oil and gas production on their lands and many have businesses that support this development, on and off-reserve land.

Research by the Canadian Energy Centre found Indigenous employment in oil and gas represents 8.6 per cent of the industry’s workforce. Across all other industries in Canada, Indigenous people represent 5 per cent of the workforce on average, suggesting the elimination of oil and gas would disproportionately affect more Indigenous people than other industries.

As well, participation by First Nations in the energy economy has also launched many band-owned businesses that support responsible oil and gas development. The oil sands industry alone is supplied by nearly 400 Indigenous-owned companies representing  65 communities in Alberta, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

For Ross, the benefits that have come out of projects like LNG Canada and Coastal Gaslink for First Nations and many northern communities are enormous, and he wonders what proponents of a hard green shift expect will replace these economic opportunities if oil and gas projects cease to exist for these communities.

“The private sector, including oil and gas, is still the best long-term solution to close the standard of living gap that First Nations face,” says Ross.

LNG Canada’s export terminal, under construction in Haisla territory, and the associated Coastal GasLink pipeline, represent a $40-billion dollar opportunity for Canada.

According to Coastal GasLink, over $825 million of local and Indigenous contracting has been awarded to support the construction of the pipeline, with an estimated total of $1 billion available.

With calls to use COVID-19 as the platform to abandon oil and gas in pursuit of a so-called “Green New Deal” for Canada, Ross is frustrated that proponents claim to speak on behalf of all First Nations when making the pitch to make an immediate shift.

“These environmental groups who like to co-opt Indigenous voice, and use it to solely to advance their agenda, don’t like to acknowledge the Indigenous voice and people who rely on oil and gas as an equal voice in this discussion.”

Building Trades of Alberta, a group representing 18 local unions and more than 60,000 skilled trades workers, is urging federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson to approve the $20.6 billion Frontier oil sands mining project.

In a Jan. 8 letter to Wilkinson, executive director Terry Parker said Frontier “could be an economic game changer for country and Alberta, and a precedent-setting project when it comes to environmental standards in the oil and gas industry.”

“Consultations that have taken place for the past decade have ensured strict environmental standards and protections will be in place, and communities are engaged,” Parker said in a statement. “We’re hopeful (Wilkinson) will do the right thing and move Frontier forward.”

Frontier has the backing of all 14 impacted Indigenous communities in the Fort McKay area, its greenhouse gas emissions would be about half the oil sands industry average and the project would more quickly return land back to traditional uses, Parker said.

Alberta’s skilled trades workers join Indigenous communities and the government of Alberta in urging Ottawa to approve Frontier. A decision is due by Feb. 28.

“The construction of this mega project is expected to provide up to 7,000 jobs,” Parker said. “When it’s complete, the day-to-day operations of Frontier will employ around 2,500 people within its 41-year life span.”

The project is expected to generate approximately $70 billion in government revenues – including $55-billion in provincial royalties and taxes, and $12-billion in federal income and capital taxes.

Teck Resources Ltd., the Vancouver-based mining giant, is proposing to produce up to 260,000 barrels a day of bitumen from the Frontier leases, located  approximately 110 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.

The project would use truck and shovel technology. It would have two open pits, an ore preparation plant, a bitumen processing plant, tailings preparation and management facilities, cogeneration facilities, support utilities, disposal and storage areas, river water intake, a fish habitat compensation lake, bridge, roads, airfield and camp.

A joint review panel of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the Alberta Energy Regulator found last July the project is in the public interest.