I think the independent nations of tribes in BC will have something to say about this pipeline!
So I think that if you are asking about whether or not the federal government has a valid claim, we ought to be asking whether they even have sovereignty over the land in question that will be used for the pipeline.
That is the premise that I was looking for from this debate. Care to expand on it further?
I'm not sure how Canada is structured, but within the provinces, are there not powerful local tribes that assert claim to their sovereignty? If Trudeau is saying this is good for all Canadians, then the Indians who own that land and have sovereignty over that land can ask him... is this good for all our people? Then if the answer is no to this simple question, you cannot in good conscience continue with the project. Sunk cost be damned!