Minister apologizes for 'poor choice of words' about meeting with B.C. First Nations group
CBC
Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson says he has apologized to Coastal First Nations for what he says were a “poor choice of words” regarding a meeting he held with the group on Friday.
Hodgson was scheduled to meet with the alliance of nine First Nations, who are opposed to a bitumen pipeline to the northern B.C. coast, in the wake of Ottawa and Alberta signing an agreement which is meant to pave a path forward for such a project.
The minister brushed off concerns raised about the group’s president, Marilyn Slett, who said the timing and location of the meeting meant she wouldn’t be able to attend in person.
“It’s called Zoom,” Hodgson said when asked about Slett’s concerns during a Thursday interview with CBC’s Power & Politics.
“I think that’s what we’re using, David,” Hodgson told host David Cochrane.
The federal minister said he apologized to the group roughly 24 hours after he made the comments.
“My comments last night about a virtual meeting with Coastal First Nations were a poor choice of words, which I regret,” Hodgson said in a post on X.
“I have reached out to them directly to apologize and look forward to an in-person meeting at their convenience.”
Hodgson did say he would “happily make the trip” to meet with the group in person shortly after his “Zoom” comment.
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