The federal government is facing another lawsuit filed by a northern First Nation dissatisfied with the consultation process during the environmental assessment of the Pacific NorthWest LNG project.
Hereditary chiefs from the Gitxsan Nation travelled to Vancouver on Tuesday and will wear full regalia, alongside with other northern First Nations groups, to announce another legal challenge that is asking the federal court to do a judicial review of the approval due to a lack of consultation.
The Gitxsan are joining members of the Gitwilgyoots and Gitanyow, who took legal action on Oct. 27, 2016 to overturn the federal government’s approval of the $11-billion liquefied natural gas terminal based on Lelu Island.
Northern First Nations who oppose the project tout concern for damage to salmon habitat around Lelu Island.
In response to the first legal challenges in October, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency stated that Aboriginal groups participated in the environmental assessment working group during the project’s review and Pacific NorthWest LNG has said it has met with First Nations in the region since 2012.
More to come.