Good riddance to bad governance

"In their ruling, the judges from the appeal court said Harper's government rushed the consultation process, with orders from the "highest level of government" directing that information of federal knowledge about the harmful impacts of the project "not be shared with any First Nation."

Court quashes Enbridge pipeline, slams Harper government for ignoring First Nations

In a stinging repudiation of former prime minister Stephen Harper's treatment of Canada's First Nations, the Federal Court of Appeal has asked the government to reconsider a 2014 decision to approve a major pipeline project to the west coast of British Columbia.

In a two to one decision made public on Thursday, the court agreed with the arguments of several First Nations, including the Gitxaala and the Haisla Nations, as well as environmental groups who triggered a legal war to block the Harper government's approval of Enbridge Inc.'s Northern Gateway pipeline.

The controversial multibillion dollar project was approved by Harper's government in June 2014, following a lengthy review, with more than 209 conditions. But Alberta-based Enbridge has not yet been able to get the project started and the court decision blamed Harper's government for messing up the environmental assessment.

The court decision, which could be appealed, makes it unlikely that the project can proceed without meaningful consultation with affected first nations, but not impossible.

Read more: http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/06/30/news/court-rejects-enbridge-pipeline-approval-slams-harper-government-ignoring-first