Thirty-one First Nations organizations say they plan on challenging Enbridge’s controversial Northern Gateway pipeline project in court.
The announcement comes in the wake of a decision by the Harper government on Tuesday that gives the green light to the project as long as it satisfies 209 conditions set out by the National Energy Board.
The First Nations organizations say the roughly 1,800 kilometre proposed pipeline, which would run from Alberta’s oil sands to the B.C. coast, violates Aboriginal rights and laws.
University of Saskatchewan law professor Dwight Newman says there is always room for improvement in the ways the government consults with First Nations as it attempts to bring them on board with the pipeline project.
“Taking steps to engage in further consultation I’m sure would be welcomed by First Nations and if there are First Nations that feel that hasn’t happened enough, the way to respond to that of course is to take further steps and consult further and there’s always an opportunity to continue doing that,” he says.
Some of the organizations threatening legal action include the Council of the Haida Nation, BC Assembly of First Nations and Union of BC Indian Chiefs.
The B.C. government is also currently opposed to the $6.5 billion pipeline project.