Alberta, First Nation in war of words as Teck oil mine decision nears
EDMONTON — Alberta’s Indigenous relations minister says a last-minute war of words with a First Nations leader over a multibillion-dollar oilsands mine is a case of bare-knuckle bargaining.
Rick Wilson says he hopes the spat with Athabasca Chipewyan Chief Allan Adam doesn’t hurt a federal decision on whether to green light the $20.6-billion Teck Resources Frontier project in northern Alberta.
“He (Adam) is a negotiator. He sees a spot where maybe he could get a little extra cash for his First Nation. Can’t blame a guy for that,” Wilson said in an interview Wednesday.
“Not everybody is going to agree to everything …. We all have to have some differences. And Chief Allan is not opposed to the (Teck) project.”