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 . WATCH | Energy minister defends deal between Ottaw

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