The Site C hydro dam in northeastern B.C. may be more than a year into construction, but the federal government still hasn’t determined whether the mega dam infringes on treaty rights — and, according to a Federal Court of Appeal ruling this week, the government isn’t obligated to answer that question.
The Federal Court of Appeal has rejected a legal challenged filed by two British Columbia First Nations that argued the $8.8-billion Site C dam project violated their treaty rights.
The Prophet River First Nation and the West Moberly First Nation appealed a Federal Court judge’s decision to deny an application for a judicial review of the federal government’s approval of the project.
Posted: 04/21/2015 5:22 pm EDT Updated: 06/21/2015 5:59 am EDT
This month's bunker fuel spill in Vancouver's English Bay was a stark reminder of just what is at stake as resource industries lay claim to more and more of our coastline. The accident has already re-energized the debate over the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion and the increased tanker traffic that will accompany it. But, notably absent from this debate is the one group most Vancouverites look to on issues affecting our oceans -- the Vancouver Aquarium.
When B.C. Premier Christy Clark announced her support1 for the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project, she cited an unprecedented revenue-sharing agreement with the company that will deliver up to $1-billion to the province's coffers.
But as the message printed on rear-view mirrors warns, some objects may appear larger than they are: The deal that the Premier announced is a non-binding agreement, and the details now under negotiation will determine the true value of those dollars.
The B.C. government’s approval last week of the Kinder Morgan proposal to twin the Trans Mountain oil pipeline doesn’t mean the pipeline will be built – but it is a significant step forward.
In his Jan. 17, 2017 BC Views online column, “Fake news is all around us,” Tom Fletcher accused our organization and others of spreading “fake news”. We have a number of questions for Mr. Fletcher.
Coldwater Indian Band seeks leave to judicially review federal approval
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2017
Coldwater is challenging the Trudeau Government’s November 29, 2016 approval of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project in Federal Court.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — As the premier of British Columbia, Christy Clark is on the public payroll, pulling down a salary of 195,000 Canadian dollars in taxpayer money. But if that were not enough, she also gets an annual stipend of up to 50,000 Canadian dollars — nearly $40,000 — from her party, financed by political contributions.
Some critics called it bribery to get local politicians to back the pipeline.
Or hush money to at least not oppose Kinder Morgan while its Trans Mountain expansion project was in hearings before the National Energy Board.
A total of 18 community benefit agreements worth $8.5 million were reached by the pipeline firm in B.C. and Alberta along 95 per cent of the corridor over the past three years.
