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BC Gov Granted Intervener Status in FN Court Fight Over Trans Mountain Pipeline

Wednesday, 30 August 2017 14:51

BC Gov has some conditions, including meeting all deadlines in current process.

OTTAWA - The Federal Court of Appeal is allowing British Columbia to be an intervener in a legal fight against the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, but with some conditions.

Several First Nations and municipalities filed legal challenges against Ottawa's approval of the $7.4-billion project that would triple the capacity of the Alberta-to-B.C. pipeline and increase tanker traffic from the Vancouver area to the south portion of Vancouver Island.

B.C.'s new NDP government, which has been opposed to the project, applied to be an intervener on Aug. 22, missing the initial deadline of April 13 that fell before the May provincial election.

Justice David Stratas said in the ruling that while B.C.'s involvement in the case comes late, the hearings set for Oct. 2 to 13 will go ahead as scheduled.

That means the province must meet the same Sept. 1 deadline to submit a 15-page document of facts that the Alberta government, which is also an intervener, has had months to prepare.

B.C.'s Environment Minister George Heyman says the government welcomes the decision that will allow officials to represent the province's interests in court.

(The Canadian Press)

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