March 30, 2009
Corporate sponsorship of PNCIMA leads to debate on influence
Prince Rupert Daily News .
The issue of corporate influence in policy setting was a topic of discussion as local delegates headed to the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area meeting last week.
The central question was concern over the relationship between two of the three supporters of the event, Enbridge Northern Gateway and NaiKun Wind Energy Group, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the federal ministry that oversees the big blue liquid off the Canadian coast.
Concern was expressed on how much involvement a corporation, which would conceivably be affected by a management plan, should have when it comes to setting policy?
It was question Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen discussed during his teleconference with riding media members on Thursday.
“I am uncomfortable with it,” said Cullen. “Planning how we manage things is the role of government, clearly. That is what taxpayers vote for and that is what is expected from government to make those processes happen well and free of any bias.”
It is unclear what influence the proponents of major projects would have going forward if a PNCIMA is developed for an area that stretches from Campbell River to Stewart, but a representative from Enbridge said that the company would want to be involved.
“It’s very important that all potential users of this ocean management area be represented in the process,” said Enbridge’s vice president of Law and Regulatory Ken McDonald. “I think we will be involved so that people understand our project and how it would impact and the steps we are taking to make sure that a very sensitive marine environment is protected.”
When asked how much support money the Department of Fisheries and Oceans received from all supporters for the forum, a DFO media relations officer said that was information they would not release to the public.
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives author Garth Woodworth said that sponsorship, or support in this case, acted as perception setter for a company like Enbridge because it added weight to its organization as a community member.
Woodworth, who authored a CCPA piece suggesting that corporations can and should be made socially responsible, felt that influence was really what Enbridge was after.
“Sponsorship of the event will have the effect of raising Enbridge’s profile, giving them apparent legitimacy. Having their name on program material, banners and the website presents them in an ambiguous light,” said Woodrow.
Woodworth said that, for example, wherever an advertiser’s name appears, there could be a reasonable perception that the advertiser enjoys some degree of influence through its financial support.
Since the overall sponsor of the event is the federal government, Enbridge projects itself as being in partnership with the government.
This may tend to bring other stakeholders to a belief that Enbridge would inevitably have the support of government, and that fighting their plans will therefore be futile.
McDonald disagreed with Woodworth’s claim and said that this was about making Enbridge a firm partner in environmental protection.
As far an being consulted on the policy making for PNCIMA McDonald said he wasn’t sure what the outcome would be but Enbridge would be a part of it.
“Certainly as a stakeholder we’ll have a role in providing input into that plan,” said McDonald.
He also said that if an effective spill response plan is not developed first, construction of the pipeline would not go ahead.
As the federal representative for a large portion of the PNCIMA area, Cullen is in a tough spot between balancing needs and concerns for portions of his riding like Prince Rupert that would see little economic benefit to the plan and Kitimat, where the pipeline would create 50 jobs.
He has repeatedly stated that in his meetings with Enbridge he has made no promises to the organization about supporting the project and has told pipeline executives that a deal would be a tough sell to members of his riding.
He also claimed that the federal government had starved the process from the beginning.
Cullen felt it left environmental and business stakeholders with uncertainty and that the future of the PNCIMA process was unknown.
“The fact that PNCIMA is being held in Richmond rather than Prince Rupert or Haida Gwaii is offensive to me. We lobbied them hard that they would have to make major announcements and make your efforts for PNCIMA in the place where it most matters,” said Cullen.
