Alberta First Nations Consultation & Accommodation Handbook
Date
2014-03
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Canadian Institute of Resources Law
Abstract
Alberta has had two attempts to develop a First Nation’s consultation and accommodation process. The first in 2005 was controversial for First Nations and frustrating for resource companies. The First Nation Consultation Policy (2013) was released on August 16, 2013. There were some conceptual improvements such as the centralization of First Nation Consultation and a consultation levy on resource companies. There are notable failures including the process of developing the new policy and the continued misunderstanding of the governing Treaties. Aboriginal consultation in Alberta after the new Policy will still be a frustrating, complicated, and expensive exercise despite government, industry, First Nations’ and public hopes. It need not be so. In this report, this latest attempt is described and critiqued with best practices from other jurisdiction suggested to correct the flaws.
Description
We would like to thank the Alberta Law Foundation for their generous support in the
development of this occasional paper for this project. We would also like to thank the
attendees at the Focus Group on January 28, 2013 and the participants at the First Nations
Round Table on Aboriginal Consultation and Accommodation on November 18, 2013 for
their thoughtful comments. To our colleagues at CIRL and the Faculty of Law at the
University of Calgary, your unending support and stimulating discussion is appreciated.
Keywords
Alberta First Nations Consultation, Aboriginal consultation and accommodation
Citation
David Laidlaw & Monique Passelac-Ross, Alberta First Nations Consultation & Accommodation Handbook, Occasional Paper #44 (Calgary: Canadian Institute of Resources Law, 2014)