When Amarjeet Sohi assumed the role of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources in 2018, he stepped directly into one of the country's most divisive and politically charged files: the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion (TMX). The project was on the brink of collapse, presenting a critical test of national unity and economic vision.
A Project in Peril and a Court's Crucial Ruling
The situation was dire. The private-sector company, Kinder Morgan, had abandoned the project, deterred by overwhelming political and legal uncertainty. To prevent its complete failure, the federal government took the unprecedented step of purchasing the existing pipeline in 2018. However, a greater setback was imminent.
In August 2018, the Federal Court of Appeal delivered a stunning blow, overturning the project's approval. The court cited two fundamental failures: inadequate assessment of marine safety risks and, more significantly, a lack of meaningful consultation with impacted Indigenous communities. For Sohi, this ruling was gut-wrenching but illuminating. It underscored a vital lesson that cutting corners on environmental safeguards and Indigenous rights was a direct path to failure.
Bridging a Polarized Divide
The court's decision deepened existing national fractures. Many in Alberta viewed it as definitive proof that the system was rigged against their province, destined to keep its resources landlocked. Conversely, opponents saw TMX as a symbol of escalating emissions, ecological damage, and the violation of Indigenous rights. Sohi observed that, in a complex nation like Canada, both perspectives contained validity.
His mission became not to choose a side, but to forge a new path forward. The objective was clear: get the project built in a manner that would withstand legal scrutiny and, crucially, earn the buy-in from the Indigenous communities whose lives it touched. This required a fundamentally different approach.
A New Model of Consultation and Partnership
The federal government, under Sohi's purview, initiated a reset. Guided by retired Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci, they embarked on a sincere campaign of engagement. This wasn't a box-ticking exercise; it was about listening, learning, and building trust.
Sohi and his team conducted hundreds of meetings, visiting over 60 First Nations across Alberta and British Columbia. In many instances, he was the first federal Natural Resources minister to ever set foot in their communities, witnessing the potential impacts of the expansion firsthand. The consultation process was co-designed with Indigenous input, and capacity-building support was provided to ensure communities could participate effectively.
After 18 months of dedicated, on-the-ground work, the federal government re-approved the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion in 2019. This painstaking process demonstrated that federal leadership and a genuine partnership model were indispensable for navigating complex national projects. For Sohi, the TMX experience taught him that true nation-building requires patience, respect, and an unwavering commitment to inclusive dialogue.
