Statement by Minister O'Regan in response to the Supreme Court of Canada Decision on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project

OTTAWA, ON, July 2, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O'Regan, released the following statement on the Supreme Court of Canada decision to dismiss the application for leave to appeal on the Trans Mountain Expansion project:

"The Government of Canada welcomes today's decision from the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) regarding the Leave to Appeal request of the Coldwater, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish Nations. The appeal sought to challenge a unanimous decision by the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA), which concluded that the renewed Crown?Indigenous consultations met the legal duty to consult Indigenous peoples on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX).

"The government approved TMX because it is an important project for Canada.

"Construction of TMX is underway and has already created more than 4,900 good, well-paying jobs, will help us gain access to new markets for our resources and generate revenue to help fund clean energy and climate change solutions.

"From the beginning, the Government of Canada worked to advance the consultation process on TMX with communities. Ministers engaged directly, project conditions were amended and accommodations were established, several of which were co-developed to respond to concerns raised.

"Throughout our renewed consultations process with Indigenous groups, we worked to address the issues originally identified by the FCA in its August 2018 decision. This was a responsibility the Government of Canada took very seriously, and it is work the government did in partnership with Indigenous groups.

"To those who are disappointed with today's SCC decision ? we see you and we hear you.

"The Government of Canada is committed to a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples and understands that consultations on major projects have a critical role to play in building that renewed relationship. Canada will continue to engage with Indigenous groups at each step of the project in the months and years to come, and in the spirit of partnership, to make sure we get this right."

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada