107th Year - Week 4
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
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Money raised to date:
$231,120 GOAL
$400,000
SIGHTS SET Biathletes medal in Whistler.
SPORTS/A10
SKIING FOR SHAMROCK The Smithers Ski and Snowboard Club held the first leg of the Shamrock Cup this past weekend at Hudson Bay Mountain, down the Cinderella run. For the full story, see the front page of Sports, A9. Nolan Kelly photo
SIMPLE LIFE Hazelton couple learn to live off the land.
THREE RIVERS/B2
INSIDE LETTERS A7 SPORTS A9 COMMUNITY A17 OUR TOWN A18 THREE RIVERS B1 CLASSIFIEDS B5
Lawsuits filed over Enbridge pipeline By Ryan Jensen Smithers/Interior News
Environmental groups and First Nations launched lawsuits Friday in Federal Court, seeking to block the Canadian government’s approval of Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. One lawsuit was brought forward by Ecojustice, on behalf of ForestEthics Advocacy, Living Oceans Society and the Raincoast
Conservation Foundation. At least three others were filed on Friday in Vancouver: by the Haisla Nation, the Gitxaala and the Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria. Ecojustice is also asking for an injunction to postpone the cabinet decision until the court case is completed. “Hopefully our court challenge will result in better decision making on this project,” said
Smithers resident and ForestEthics Advocacy campaigner Nikki Skuce. “There’s too much at risk not to try to use all of our tools in our toolbox to stop Northern Gateway. “In reviewing the 419-page [JRP] decision, we found areas where we can legally challenge it. Some of these include taking into consideration the federal recovery strategy for the humpback whale, geohazards along the proposed route and the
federal study showing tar sands can sink in an ocean environment with sediment present.” In December, the Joint Review Panel approved the pipeline move forward, but set 209 conditions for it to proceed. The federal government has the final say and is expected to give their final decision on the project this spring. According to Ecojustice, the JRP report is based on insufficient evidence and does not satisfy the environmental
assessment process. In its environmental assessment, the JRP determined the pipeline was not likely to have significant adverse environment effects, with the exception of cumulative impacts on some caribou and grizzly bear populations. “The panel reached that conclusion without considering all the necessary and available science,” Ecojustice lawyer Karen Campbell said. “This report only tells part of the story, and
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we are asking the court to ensure that this flawed report doesn’t stand as the final word on whether Northern Gateway is in the national interest.” NDP environment critic Spencer Chandra Herbert, in Smithers Friday as part of a tour of the region, said the lawsuits are consistent with what he has heard from residents. “There’s still very much an unbroken wall of people saying ‘No, Enbridge can’t proceed — they don’t have our permission,’” he said.
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