The Federal Court of Canada has ruled in favour of a northern Alberta First Nation that felt it had not been properly consulted on the multibillion-dollar Mackenzie Gas Project.
The court ruled Friday the federal government had failed in its duty to consult the Dene Tha' First Nation on the proposed project.
The Joint Review Panel has been holding hearings across the North on the Mackenzie gas proposal.
(CBC News)
The Joint Review Panel, which is holding public hearings into the project, is meeting on the weekend to figure out how the court ruling will affect it. The seven-member panel is scheduled to resume hearings in Inuvik next week.
Chief James Ahnassay said the ruling is a relief.
"Well, I am definitely happy with the ruling," he told CBC News Friday. "We have been ignored."
N.W.T. Premier Joe Handley does not want to see the project delayed any further.
"It is a major economic driver in terms of the project itself, but more because of exploration, development, construction, contracting, jobs," Handley said. "So it's pretty critical if it didn't go ahead."
The panel has been looking at the environmental and socio-economic impact of the proposed project. Some of its hearings are specific to an area, while others are more on general topics affecting residents along the entire route.
The hearings, which began earlier this year, are expected to wrap up in April.
Related
Internal Links
External Links
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
More Money Headlines »
- Air Canada shares fall in market debut
- Shares of the restructured Air Canada dropped below their initial public offering price of $21 on Friday as trading began in the country's biggest airline.
- Crude oil hits 17-month low
- Oil prices clawed back their early losses Friday after the next-month crude oil contract fell to its lowest level since June 2005.
- Inco tackles skills shortage for Voisey's Bay processing
- Managers with Inco Ltd. are counting on luring homesick Newfoundlanders to solve a skills shortage for the construction of a nickel processing facility.
- MySpace sued for copyright infringement
- The world's largest music group is suing MySpace.com, alleging the website lets its users upload copyrighted music and videos without authorization.
- Former Enron execs get lighter prison terms for co-operating
- Two former Enron Corp. executives whose testimony helped U.S. prosecutors get convictions against senior staff were handed reduced prison terms on Friday.
