Legal battles grow for Gateway
At least 11 legal challenges have been filed against the federal government's approval last month of the Northern Gateway oil pipeline.
The Heiltsuk and the Kitasoo-Xaixais of the First Nations were the latest Monday to add their names to a list of groups that wants the Federal Court of Appeal to review the cabinet decision last month.
The First Nations, whose territory on the central coast of B.C. is along the tanker path of the project, said at news conference in Vancouver they would fight the pipeline in court "and, if necessary, on the land."
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said various First Nations were launching nine or more legal actions with the aim of halting Enbridge's pipeline project. Phillip dismissed the possibility of making a deal with Enbridge that would see the First Nations accept the project in exchange for a share of revenue, the CBC reported.
The environmental group B.C. Nature also said Monday it had filed an application with the court.
Last Friday, Ecojustice filed a separate application on behalf of ForestEthics Advocacy, Living Oceans and the Raincoast Conservation Foundation. The legal challenges claim the federal cabinet's decision last month is invalid because it's based on a flawed report from a joint review panel.
B.C. Nature's lawyer, Chris Tollefson of the Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria, said cabinet also was legally required to give its reasons for approving the pipeline, which it did not.
Ellis Ross, chief councillor for the Haisla, said the federal government has not consulted properly with First Nations.
"That day and age of us being ignored is over. This is a tremendous waste of taxpayers' money."
The Conservative government approved the pipeline on June 17 subject to 209 conditions imposed by the National Energy Board joint review panel, which OK'd the proposal last December.