B.C. First Nation blocks construction on bridge replacement project

CBC News

· Posted: May 12, 2025 10:26 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

A First Nation successful B.C.'s Interior is blocking entree to the R.W. Bruhn Bridge operation tract successful Sicamous, B.C., implicit the alleged exclusion of its workers and businesses from the government-funded infrastructure project.

Since 10 a.m., Monday, 4 dump trucks from the Splatsin Development Corporation (SDC) person been parked astatine some ends of the bridge, halting operation connected the caller four-lane replacement.

The enactment was initiated by Splatsin First Nation and SDC successful effect to what they picture arsenic a signifier of breached agreements by the Aecon Group Inc. and Emil Anderson Construction, the 2 firms contracted to physique the bridge.

"This is benignant of our lone recourse … to acceptable up these blockades to get immoderate attention," said Kukpi7 (Chief) Mike Christian, who besides chairs the SDC board. 

"Our members, you tin benignant of notation to a batch of them arsenic impoverished. That's wherefore we're warring back, due to the fact that each small spot of economical [opportunity] helps."

The span replacement task is being carried retired by Aecon-Emil Anderson Construction General Partnership (AEGP), a 50-50 associated task delivering the $224-million task for the state of B.C. The enactment includes the operation of a caller multi-use span implicit the Sicamous Narrows, road widening, and intersection upgrades.

Despite being located successful Secwépemc territory, SDC says the assemblage has been sidelined from meaningful information successful the project. 

"This was presented arsenic a two-year opportunity. Instead, they've fixed america conscionable 3 months of meaningful work," said Grahame Go, CEO of SDC, successful a statement Monday. "What we've experienced alternatively is firm opportunism —exploiting our concern for their payment and past sidelining america to chopped costs."

Among the circumstantial grievances outlined by Splatsin are the removal of an Indigenous-operated exigency aesculapian vehicle, the removal of SDC trucks from the tract contempt a 50/50 trucking statement with the SDC, and predominant last-minute docket changes that resulted successful occupation insecurity for Indigenous crews. 

The federation besides says Indigenous workers were sometimes arbitrarily sent location without explanation, and that substance acquisition agreements benefiting Indigenous suppliers were "undermined."

Christian said what the assemblage wants is clear: "A signed statement from the Ministry of Transportation oregon the 2 companies that they're going to straighten this contented … instrumentality to the missive of the contract."

He says that portion this whitethorn origin immoderate inconvenience to commuters, postulation is inactive allowed done a designated detour route. 

Province 'working intimately with each parties'

In a connection to CBC News, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit said it is "aware of what's happening astatine the Bruhn Bridge project."

"We admit the heavy taste roots that Splatsin has to the area," the connection read. "We are moving intimately with each parties to code the concerns being raised and to resoluteness the issues arsenic rapidly arsenic possible."

The ministry added it continues to show the concern and encouraged motorists to cheque DriveBC for updates.

Neither Aecon Group Inc. nor Emil Anderson Construction responded to CBC's petition for remark by deadline.

First Nation says it's a broader trend

In its statement, Splatsin said the exclusion it is experiencing is not an isolated incidental but portion of a broader inclination of contractors circumventing obligations nether B.C.'s Indigenous information framework.

The Neskonlith Indian Band, besides a Secwépemc community, issued a connection of enactment connected Friday, saying it shares Splatsin's concerns and vexation implicit however the B.C. Infrastructure Benefits (BCIB) exemplary has been implemented.

"These practices are not lone discriminatory but correspond a important setback for the advancement and prosperity of our people," Kukpi7 Irvin Wai of Neskonlith wrote. "We are not asking for peculiar attraction … lone for just and transparent entree to opportunities that interaction our onshore and our people".

Splatsin is calling connected the state to enforce its Indigenous Opportunities Implementation Plan and guarantee that the principles of reconciliation are upheld.

"This concern was expected to beryllium astir inclusion and shared opportunity," Christian said successful the statement. "Instead, it's go one-sided and disrespectful."