A representative of the Western Indigenous Pipeline Group will be meeting with the newly-formed cabinet in Ottawa this week.

Whispering Pines-Clinton Indian Band chief Mike Lebourdais says he has asked for meetings with a number of ministers as the House of Commons reconvenes, with several new cabinet ministers in key portfolios.

“We do have a lot of interest from the Salish Sea bands, the bands in the Nicola and the Fraser Valley area. We want to express our partnership with Toronto Dominion (TD) Securities and our pipeline operator, and make sure that Canada is fully aware and understands that we are capable of buying and running this pipeline.”

He says there are more Indigenous groups under agreement than he thought there would be by now.

“I want them all, I want all the title and rights holders along the pipeline. Because those are the most impacted First Nations, in Alberta, British Columbia, the Salish Sea. And so these are the guys who should have a first shot at buying this pipeline, and that’s who we’re looking to represent.”

The Western Indigenous Pipeline Group is looking to buy a 51 per cent majority of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline. It is one of three Indigenous groups who plan to bid on ownership of the pipeline.