OTTAWA — Environmental groups are challenging the Federal Court of Appeal’s June decision that quashed the Harper government’s 2014 approval of the $7.9 billion Northern Gateway pipeline.
While environmentalists were delighted that the verdict represented a major blow to the project, they were disappointed with some of the details of the ruling.
The appeal court determined that the Conservatives didn’t adequately consult First Nations, but it didn’t accept arguments from interveners from the environmental movement arguing against the validity of the federal panel’s approval of Enbridge Inc.’s proposal.
Lawyers with Ecojustice, representing the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, filed an application Wednesday seeking leave to appeal that decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.
“Environmental assessment panels are required, by law, to conduct a meaningful review of the long-term social, cultural, and environmental health impacts of major pipeline projects,” said Ecojustice lawyer Barry Robinson in a statement.
“When they fail to do so, as was the case in Enbridge and the Kinder Morgan project, those panel reports must be reviewable by the courts.”
Both Enbridge and the federal government announced Tuesday they wouldn’t appeal the decision. The company said it wants Ottawa to start a new round of consultations with Aboriginal groups, but Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr hasn’t said what option he’ll choose.
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