Canada’s federal government has announced that it won’t appeal a court decision that effectively killed the Trans Mountain pipeline, but will instead relaunch consultations in a bid to get the controversial project back on track.
The government said Wednesday that it will restart consultations with 117 indigenous groups impacted by the project, and discuss how to get the process right, said Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi.
Minister Sohi said the government was still moving forward to build the Trans Mountain pipeline that will carry crude oil from Alberta to British Columbia’s coast, though he insisted that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet will only make its decision after the new process is complete. No timeline for the consultations was given.
The Prime Minister’s Office has directed its energy regulator to re-examine the marine impacts of the Trans Mountain project. Minister Sohi said Canada is appointing former Supreme Court of Canada judge Frank Iacobucci as a representative to oversee the consultation process with Indigenous groups.
The minister was asked during a press conference Wednesday how he can hold consultations when it looks like the government has already decided to build the pipeline, which it bought from Kinder Morgan Canada Ltd (TSX: KMI). for $4.5 billion. Minister Sohi said the government wouldn’t cap the length of Indigenous consultations, and approach it with an “open mind.”
