VANCOUVER - The Wilderness Committee is disappointed with the B.C. Supreme Court decision on Squamish vs British Columbia, over the Kinder Morgan pipeline, announced today. 

 

The B.C. Supreme Court ruled the provincial government’s consultation with the Squamish Nation before it issued permits for the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion was adequate. The judge pointed out the federal government has more jurisdiction and a greater responsibility to consult and that process is still under review at the Federal Court of Appeal.

 

“We look forward to the day Indigenous rights are fully recognized and protected in B.C. and Canada,” said Wilderness Committee Co-Executive Director Joe Foy. “We are of course disappointed that today’s court ruling did not protect Squamish Nation’s right to protect their homeland from this dirty pipeline project. But we note that the fight to stop the Kinder Morgan pipeline is far from over.”

  

The Squamish Nation is one of five nations awaiting the results of their challenge against Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in the Federal Court of Appeal, which is one of more than a dozen outstanding court cases pertaining to the pipeline expansion.

 

“The days of forcing megaprojects through without consent from Indigenous nations are over,” said Wilderness Committee Vancouver Island Campaigner Torrance Coste. “There can be no reconciliation in this country until the right of consent is respected, and we stand in solidarity with the Squamish and other nations fighting for their territories and their rights to self-determination.”

 

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Joe Foy | Co-Executive Director

604 880 2580, joe@wildernesscommittee.org

 

Torrance Coste | Vancouver Island Campaigner 

250 516 9900, torrance@wildernesscommittee.org