• Sign up for the Daily Digest E-mail
  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn

BOE Report

Sign up
  • Home
  • StackDX Intel
  • Headlines
    • Latest Headlines
    • Featured Companies
    • Columns
    • Discussions
  • Well Activity
    • Well Licences
    • Well Activity Map
  • Property Listings
  • Land Sales
  • M&A Activity
    • M&A Database
    • AER Transfers
  • Markets
  • Rig Counts/Data
    • CAOEC Rig Count
    • Baker Hughes Rig Count
    • USA Rig Count
    • Data
      • Canada Oil Market Data
      • Canada NG Market Data
      • USA Market Data
      • Data Downloads
  • Jobs

Baffin Island Inuit can appeal seismic fight to Supreme Court

March 10, 201610:27 AM The Canadian Press0 Comments

OTTAWA – The Supreme Court has announced it will review two decisions of the National Energy Board related to energy development and aboriginal consultation.

In a decision released Thursday, the high court ruled it will hear a judicial review of a board decision to allow seismic testing in the waters off the east coast of Baffin Island, which was opposed by the Inuit village of Clyde River, Nunavut.

The court also said the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation in southern Ontario can appeal an energy board ruling that approved the expansion of Enbridge’s Line 9 pipeline from the Alberta oilsands to a Montreal refinery.

Clyde River, a coastal village of about 1,000 people, says the federal government was wrong to delegate responsibility to consult with local people to the company behind the seismic tests.

The Chippewa made a similar argument — that it’s the government’s job to ensure indigenous people have a voice in energy development in their territory and that it can’t be shifted to a company.

The Supreme Court’s ruling on the issue will help settle how much consultation is required when the stakes are high for aboriginals, said lawyer Nadar Hasan, who represented Clyde River.

“Is it good enough just to hold ordinary hearings where the effected aboriginal communities are allowed to blow off some steam, or does it require meaningful give and take? Or even in some cases, does it require consent?

“These are open questions and questions we’re going to ask the SCOC to answer.”

Clyde River, supported by all other communities in the region and by northern wildlife regulators, said the Norwegian consortium that wants to do the testing hasn’t allayed concerns that the loud explosions the tests require will disturb the marine animals local families rely on for food.

The company, Petroleum Geo-Services Inc., presented in court a long list of meetings it held in Clyde River. But Hasan said company officials didn’t answer basic questions, overwhelmed local officials with huge data dumps and failed to translate important documents into Inuktitut.

“They made a show of showing up and meeting with the communities and saying ‘This is how it’s going to be,’ ” Hasan said.

“That’s not what consultation is. Consultation is give and take.”

The Thames First Nation is concerned about the safety of Line 9, which runs through its traditional territory.

The pipeline is already operating and carrying oilsands bitumen to Suncor Energy’s refinery.

The Supreme Court says it will hear the two matters together.

Hasan said it will likely be between four and six months before a hearing is held. The court typically takes more time after the hearing to arrive at its ruling.

— By Bob Weber in Edmonton. Follow him on Twitter at @row1960

Enbridge Line 9 Suncor

Follow BOE Report
  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn

Sign up for the BOE Report Daily Digest E-mail

Successfully subscribed

Latest Headlines
  • July 9th Alberta Crown Land Sale totals $25.3 MM – Montney and Clearwater prospects command premiums – StackDX Intel
  • Discount on Western Canada Select narrows to $10 a barrel
  • Vermilion Energy Inc. Announces Closing of the Saskatchewan Asset Sale
  • Brazilian oil could find new destinations in the face of Trump’s tariffs
  • Gibson Energy Confirms 2025 Second Quarter Earnings Release Date and Provides Conference Call & Webcast Details

Return to Home
Alberta GasMonthly Avg.
CAD/GJ
Market Data by TradingView

    Report Error







    Note: The page you are currently on will be sent with your report. If this report is about a different page, please specify.

    About
    • About BOEReport.com
    • In the News
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Editorial Policy
    Resources
    • Widgets
    • Notifications
    • Daily Digest E-mail
    Get In Touch
    • Advertise
    • Post a Job
    • Contact
    • Report Error
    BOE Network
    © 2025 Stack Technologies Ltd.