Court dismisses oil sands challenge

Canada’s highest court has rebuffed attempts by a coalition of environmental groups to force a sweeping review of a Petro-Canada led oil sands project.

The Supreme Court issued a terse and blunt decision in turning down a bid by the Prairie Acid Rain Coalition, the Pembina Institute and the Toxic Waste Society of Alberta to see the entire Fort Hills project come under an environmental probe, expanding the terms beyond the impact on a single creek in the area.

But a panel of three judges said the federal Fisheries and Oceans Department operated within its powers when it turned down the coalition’s request.

The environmentalists insist the verdict exposes weaknesses in Canada’s environmental legislation and put pressure on the government to close the “loopholes” because the rapid expansion of the oil sands has national consequences.

They claim that air pollution from plants crosses from Alberta into neighboring Saskatchewan, while wastewater is being poured into the Athabasca River and drains north into the Northwest Territories.

The Alberta Wilderness Association also argues that a boreal “treasure” will be pushed one step closer to destruction if Fort Hills, with UITS Energy and Teck Cominco as junior partners, proceeds to 2009 start-up and reaches its initial goal of 100,000 barrels per day.

—Gary Park