Exploring Theme: "Specific Industry Environmental Issues"

NationTalk: Union of BC Indian Chiefs – Recent announcements that the new cost of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) has ballooned to $21.4 billion, and that the federal government will not invest further public funds into the project should be a major red flag for anyone considering economic participation or ownership of the controversial...

Indigenous Group: Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation); Wabaseemoong First Nation Business: Reed Paper (defunct) Issue: Mercury poisoning over a 50-year period resulting in 90% of the 1500 residents developing Minamata disease and the loss of their commercial fishery industry Comment: Aug. 18, 2016: Toronto Star – When Reed Paper dumped 9,000 kg of...

APTN National News – The Supreme Court of Canada has decided not to hear five challenges from environment and Indigenous groups from British Columbia on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. It means the multi-billion-dollar project has cleared another legal hurdle....

Indigenous Group: 81 First Nations in Alberta and BC Business: Kinder Morgan Canada (Government of Canada purchased Kinder Morgan on May 29, 2018) Issue: $7.4B pipeline project would triple the amount of oil being transported through Burrard Inlet, from 300K to nearly 900K barrels per day, and increase oil tanker traffic from one a week...

Outside – After 30 years, Ktunaxa First Nation, with help from the Canadian government and Patagonia, finally shut down the Jumbo Glacier ski-resort development. Members of the Ktunaxa Nation, along with environmental organizations and governmental agencies, announced a plan to create an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area over a swathe of the Purcell Mountains that...

Trans Mountain Expansion Project – Accommodation Measures As part of the re-initiated Phase III consultations, consultation teams had an expanded mandate to discuss specific accommodation measures to address the concerns of potentially affected Indigenous groups. The government has put forward eight accommodation measures that focus on building capacity and long-term relationships, marine safety, spill prevention,...

CBC – Energy companies must fulfil their environmental obligations before paying back creditors in the case of insolvency or bankruptcy, Canada’s Supreme Court has ruled. The top court’s ruling released Thursday overturns two lower court decisions that said bankruptcy law has paramountcy over provincial environmental responsibilities in the case of Redwater Energy, which became insolvent...

Indigenous Group: Mikisew Cree First Nation and Manitoba Métis Federation Business: Government of Canada Issue: Jan. 14, 2018: CBC – The case seeks a judicial review of changes made under the previous Harper government to the Fisheries Act, the Species At Risk Act, the Navigable Waters Protection Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act in...

Indigenous Group: Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) Business: N/A Issue: Feb. 28. 2018: QIA – As the Designated Inuit Organization representing the five High Arctic communities that border these waters, QIA expects to have a seat at the table when new decisions are made on allocation of conservation related funds. QIA has engaged with Parks Canada...

Indigenous Group: Multiple First Nations and Métis communities Business: Redwater Energy Corp Receiver Issue: In May 2016, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta stated that the receivers and trustees who manage company bankruptcies can avoid complying with provincial legislation, ignoring environmental and public safety obligations, in order to maximize profit for secured creditors. Comment:...

Indigenous Group: Ktunaxa First Nation Business: Jumbo Glacier Resorts Issue: Development of a ski resort at Jumbo mountain, a site for spiritual ceremonies of the Ktunaxa First Nation to honor Grizzly Bear Spirit, a principal figure in their religion. Comment: The Ktunaxa assert that charter protection for freedom of religion must include not only spiritual...

Trans Canada pulls plug on Energy East...

Petronas announced that they were cancelling the project due to changing market conditions...

Indigenous Group: 122 First Nations in Canada and the US Business: Trans Canada Pipelines Issue: Proposed pipeline crosses 155 First Nations territories Comment: Energy East is a proposed 4,500-kilometre pipeline that would carry 1.1 million barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in Eastern Canada and a marine terminal in...

Indigenous Group: Haida Nation Business: Petronas, a Malaysian national energy company is project lead Issue: The $11.4B Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal near Prince Rupert in BC and associated pipeline subject to conditions to mitigate the environmental impact on salmon and climate. Latest Updates: Sept. 27, 2016: Haida Nation – Approved by federal government....

The Province – The federal government is announcing two B.C. First Nations have agreed to be members of a new environmental monitoring committee for the proposed $11.4-billion Pacific NorthWest LNG project. The government says the agreement, the first of its kind, will include the Lax Kw’alaams Band and the Metlakatla First Nation, aboriginal groups whose...