Energy and Climate Change

VANCOUVER:Living Oceans has stated in a submission to the National Energy Board (NEB) that Trans Mountain cannot commence construction until it fulfills a condition set by the NEB to show commercial support.

“The NEB’s conditions require Trans Mountain to prove commercial support exists for the project,” said Karen Wristen, Executive Director for Living Oceans. “But that was done under the old certificate that was set aside by the Courts and is no longer valid.  This condition must be met again under the new certificate issued by NEB.”

The groups submitted a motion to the Federal Court of Appeal this morning, asking for leave to launch a judicial review of Cabinet’s decision.

They argue that Cabinet failed to comply with its responsibility to protect critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales when it re-approved the project on June 18, 2019.

Spokespeople from the organizations issued the following statements:

Margot Venton, nature program director, Ecojustice:

Living Oceans is appalled by the re-approval of the Trans Mountain Pipeline project, coming as it does hard on the heels of a declaration by the federal government of a climate emergency.

“The facts are well known: it is impossible for Canada to meet its Paris climate commitments and build oil infrastructure with a 50-year lifespan as well,” said Executive Director Karen Wristen. “This is a mistake for the economy and the environment.”

VANCOUVER—The National Energy Board’s recommendation report issued today continues to fall short of the mark, according to intervenors in the assessment process.  Living Oceans Society and Raincoast Conservation Foundation earlier mounted a successful legal challenge to the NEB'S original recommendation, with counsel from Ecojustice arguing on their behalf that the Species at Risk Act demands no less than enforceable, effective mitigation measures to eliminate or reduce impacts to Southern Resident Killer Whales.

VANCOUVER – Ecojustice,  Raincoast Conservation Foundation and Living Oceans Society— conservation groups who fought the approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline project in a historic hearing last October — are calling today’s Federal Court of Appeal ruling “a critical win” for endangered killer whales, communities, the climate and the coast.

In a decision announced this morning, the court unanimously ruled that the federal government’s approval of the project violated its legal obligations to protect endangered orcas under the Species at Risk Act.

Vancouver: Reports are surfacing today of an oil spill that apparently occurred early Wednesday morning near Port Mellon in Howe Sound, near the site of the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill when a derelict barge sank. It is presently unclear how much oil was aboard; early estimates place the visible spill at 200 litres.