The Federal Court of Appeal ruled today to allow six of the twelve legal challenges against the Trans Mountain pipeline to proceed. These challenges are limited to the adequacy of the consultation with Indigenous Peoples and related issues. Below I reproduce our media statement in response to the ruling from the Federal Court of Appeal.

Media Statement

Trans Mountain pipeline faces six legal challenges; court rejects all environmental appeals
For immediate release
September 4, 2019

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Federal Court of Appeal ruled today to allow six of the twelve legal challenges against the Trans Mountain pipeline to proceed. These challenges are limited to the adequacy of the consultation with Indigenous Peoples and related issues.

“It is significant that that the courts will once again hear from First Nations about the consultation process,” said said Dr. Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Greens. “Honouring the reconciliation process in Canada must require more than after the-fact engagement about a project the government always intends to approve. I am disappointed that the significant environmental risks that this project poses will not be taken up by the courts.

“The B.C. Green Caucus will continue its campaign to pressure government and engage the public as well. Because we know that continuing to invest in fossil fuel infrastructure is not just fiscally irresponsible, it is an economic liability. The Bank of Canada recently warned about future stranded assets in the oil and gas sector due to climate-related risk. This means TMX will only turn a profit if all global efforts to combat climate change by transitioning away from fossil fuels to clean alternatives fail.

“So is the federal government wishing for a failed global climate change strategy? The Liberals say they will use any profits from the TMX to fund Canada’s transition to a cleaner-energy economy. That  is like saying profit from the Titanic’s maiden voyage will be used to fund remodeling the ship. They are actively working to undermine the very thing they say they are working to improve.

“We can do better than banking on a future that continues to rely on fossil fuels decades into a climate disaster. And we can fund a clean energy economy without sacrificing our children’s environmental future.”

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Media contact
Macon L.C.  McGinley | Press Secretary
B.C. Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 |macon.mcginley@leg.bc.ca