The federal government is studying the best options for Indigenous communities to reap economic benefits from the Trans Mountain pipeline but Ottawa is not planning to sell the project while legal and political risks remain.
“The Supreme Court of Canada has upheld the rule of law and put an end to the British Columbia government’s campaign of obstruction against Alberta energy," declared Alberta Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer.
Lawyers at Ecojustice plan to argue in front of the Supreme Court this week that environmental protection is an underlying principle of the Constitution, just like democracy and human rights.
Attorney General of Canada David Lametti has argued in a memorandum of fact and law submitted to the court that the reviews in question were "internal notes," not actual scientific peer reviews.
Lawyers for the Canadian government say it conducted a new round of consultations with Indigenous groups about the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion that was reasonable, adequate and fair.
Canada commissioned reviews of Tsleil-Waututh expert reports on oil spills without telling the First Nation, the Federal Court of Appeal heard Monday, and only provided them after talks had wrapped up.
Four British Columbia Indigenous groups are set to argue in the Federal Court of Appeal that the Canadian government failed to consult adequately with them before its latest approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
The CEO of Trans Mountain says he's "a little greyer" than he was 10 years ago when planning began for an expansion of the Edmonton-to-Burnaby oil pipeline but he's still proud to oversee the official launch of Alberta construction.
