Northern Gateway facing legal doom: eight new First Nations lawsuits

Enbridge is facing a startling number of new First Nations lawsuits, challenging the constitutionality of the Harper’s government decision in June to approve the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline.  

Eight First Nations -- from Haida Gwaii to Yinka Dene territory west of Prince George – have launched legal challenges, since Friday.  Nine more, were launched earlier this year, said the West Coast Environmental Law organization.

Many of Aboriginal leader plaintiffs represented at a Vancouver media briefing on Monday said their people worry about the risks of pipeline and supertanker oil spills. 

“To run tankers through our territory -- we find this to be a real threat to the Gitxaala [people],” said acting Gitxaala Chief Councilor Clarence Innis.