[IPSM] Dene Tha' victory: Lawsuit stops MGP hearings through Federal Court

[Macdonald Stainsby]

Court puts the brakes on Mackenzie pipeline hearings

Last Updated: Friday, November 10, 2006 | 1:55 PM CT
CBC News

The Federal Court of Canada has ordered the Joint Review Panel to stop 
its hearings into the multibillion-dollar Mackenzie Gas Project.

The court ruled Friday the federal government failed to consult 
Alberta's Dene Tha' First Nation about the proposed project.

The review panel had been scheduled to resume hearings in Inuvik next week.

The Dene Tha' First Nation went to court in 2005, saying it hadn't been 
properly consulted on the project.

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."
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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 Joint Review Panel has been looking at the environmental and 
socio-economic impacts of the proposed project.

The hearings began earlier this year and were expected to wrap up in April.

-- 
Macdonald Stainsby
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope
    --Bertholt Brecht.