This is very good news, especially here on the shores of the Salish Sea, which was slated to absorb a seven fold increase in tanker traffic winding through thousands of islands, rocks, and shoals.
Federal Court of Appeal quashes construction approvals for Trans Mountain, leaving project in limbo
In a stunning blow, the Federal Court of Appeal has quashed the government’s approvals to build the project — a major victory for Indigenous groups and environmentalists opposed to the $7.4-billion project.
In the decision released Thursday, and written by Justice Eleanor Dawson, the court found the National Energy Board’s assessment of the project was so flawed that it should not have been relied on by the federal cabinet when it gave final approval to proceed in November 2016.
The certificate approving construction and operation of the project has been nullified, leaving the project in legal limbo until the energy regulator and the government reassess their approvals to satisfy the court’s demands.
The Trans Mountain expansion was opposed by most First Nations tribes who’s sovereign reserves the project would cross. Polling shows the Trans Mountain expansion is very unpopular in British Columbia, where most of the route is located.
What next?
Kinder Morgan Canada shareholders voted overwhelmingly Thursday to approve the sale of the Trans Mountain pipeline and expansion project to the Canadian government for $4.5 billion.
The vote comes shortly after the Federal Court of Appeals quashed the federal government’s approvals to build the massive project, handing a huge victory to Indigenous groups and environmentalists opposed to it.
The company held a special meeting Thursday morning at a Calgary conference centre where shareholders voted by a 99 per cent margin to approve the proposed sale to the federal government.
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