The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that Ottawa's plan to sell at least part of the Trans Mountain expansion project to indigenous owners has entered a new stage, with the federal government indicating it is prepared to provide financial backing to first nations and Metis communities to help them get a piece of the pipeline. The Globe's Wendy Stueck writes that in a letter to indigenous groups, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Ottawa would support indigenous communities with access to capital, meaning communities would not need to risk or use any of their own money to participate. The letter also states that taking part in the federal government's sales process would not prevent indigenous communities or indigenous-led proponents from participating in a commercial divestment process to acquire additional equity in Trans Mountain. Ottawa first announced its intention to explore the possibility of indigenous economic participation in TMX in March, 2019. "The letter sent this month represents the next step in the federal government's commitment that indigenous communities share in the economic benefits derived from Trans Mountain," Katherine Cuplinskas, Ms. Friedland's spokesman, said in an e-mail.