Despite objections made by some members last week, Walpole Island is moving forward with a gas line project on the First Nation reserve.
Band council voted unanimously to resume construction, during a special meeting held at the Walpole Island Library on Wednesday.
Coun. Alan Jacobs made the successful motion approving the commencement of the Union Gas project immediately.
Construction is set to resume today (Monday, August 15.)
Council also approved that administration investigate steps to ensure a high standard of safety, including inviting an inspection agency to the community.
A report on safety is set to be brought back to council on Oct. 25.
James Jenkins, policy analyst for Walpole Island, told the Sydenham that the Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA) will be handling the inspection.
“The safety portion is in relation to inviting TSSA onto Walpole Island to inspect the project,” Jenkins said.
“Because we are administered federally, TSSA enters our territory to conduct inspections only upon invitation from the First Nation. Council wanted to ensure that we provide a high standard of safety.”
Emotions ran high in the Walpole Island band council chambers last Tuesday, as community members gathered to discuss the gas line project.
Multiple residents, including a delegation of grandmothers from the community, took to the microphone to express their frustration with Walpole Island’s partnership with Union Gas and the approval of the first phase of natural gas infrastructure expansion in the community.
Corrine Tooshkenig, who a day earlier had stepped in front of and grabbed a hold of machinery as crews were about to break ground on the project, reiterated her thoughts and feelings about the project.
“It’s a sad day that I come here and it was a sad day (on Monday),” Tooshkenig said. “When I became aware of this Union Gas project, this flier came out in the mail and the community didn’t know about it. This is a problem, no communication. Your projects and your decision making is made without the people’s knowledge.”
Walpole Island First Nation officials posted a press release on their website on Monday, July 27 last year announcing Walpole’s partnership with Union Gas and the approval of the first phase of natural gas infrastructure expansion in the community.
“Expansion of natural gas to Walpole Island has been an infrastructure goal for over 20 years and we are very happy to see the first phase of implementation finally realized,” Walpole Island officials stated in the press release.
“This expansion will provide a number of benefits to our community including decreased overhead for economic development ventures and governance operations, a more affordable alternative to heating homes and water for community members, and increased ability to attract economic development into our community. This phase of the project will be funded partially through funding from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and partially through the Walpole Island First Nation.”
Walpole Island official said the first phase of the project would include the installation of a pipeline under the Snye River, which will follow the Tecumseh Highway to the St. Clair River, then continue North to the WIFN Water Treatment Plant.
“It is estimated that the amount we will save on operations for our farming corporation alone will be in excess of $200,000 within the first year of connection,” Walpole Island officials stated.
“These are dollars that can be reinvested into the community. We have been working closely with Union Gas to develop this project for many years now and are excited to see the opportunity finally coming to fruition.”
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