Another First Nations challenge of the Trans Mountain Pipeline has been shut down after the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear an appeal to the project.
On Thursday, the court rejected a challenge by the Squamish Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, the Ts’elxweyeqw Tribes and Coldwater Indian Band.
The latest development serves to put to rest several years of challenges and disputes regarding the pipeline expansion.
In February, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that the government’s approval was to stand and that they had done the required amount of consultation necessary to move forward with its construction.
Construction work on the expansion began in BC in June as workers began installing a 7km section in Kamloops.
The project is expected to employ approximately 600 people in the region at the height of its construction period.
“Construction spending in the Kamloops area is expected to be more than $450 million over the next two years with additional workforce spending of more than $40 million for goods and services at local businesses. After expansion, Trans Mountain’s annual contribution to the City of Kamloops in taxes will increase by $1.2 million to $2.8 million,” stated a news release.
Five other appeals to the project were also dismissed earlier this year by Canada’s top federal court.
Alberta Attorney General Doug Schweitzer called the decision by the Supreme Court a “positive step.”
“It’s another positive step to development, to making sure we get this pipe built. It’s critical to have that here in Canada, so we’re encouraged by that,” said Schweitzer.
According to the official Trans Mountain webpage, the pipeline is expected to inject $12.6 billion into Canada’s economy and provide an additional $46.7 billion in federal and provincial tax revenue.
