The Federal Court of Appeal has granted the B.C. NDP government intervener status in the legal challenge against the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
Several First Nations and municipalities filed legal challenges against Ottawa’s approval of the $7.4-billion project that would triple the capacity of the Alberta-to-B.C. pipeline. It would also increase tanker traffic from the Vancouver area to the southern part of Vancouver Island.
The B.C. NDP government applied to be an intervener on Aug. 22, missing the initial deadline of April 13 that came before the May provincial election. The NDP has voiced their opposition to the pipeline.
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In the ruling, Justice David Stratas said B.C.’s involvement in the case comes late but the hearings will go ahead as scheduled. The hearings will run from Oct. 2 to 13.
The province must meet the Sept. 1 deadline to submit a 15-page document of facts. Alberta, which received intervener status back in May, has the same deadline.
The court ruled the province must pay $7,500 to Trans Mountain, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Canada, for having to prepare a late response to the arguments. B.C. is also prevented from introducing new issues or evidence at the hearing.
With files from The Canadian Press
Alexa Huffman
