Kamloops-area Indigenous groups drop Trans Mountain legal challenges

KAMLOOPS (NEWS 1130) – First Nations legal challenges to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion are weaker today, now that Kamloops-area bands have dropped out of the process.

Trans Mountain’s Ali Hounsell tells Radio NL that Upper Nicola Band and the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation are no longer trying to block construction.

“That was a direct result of our continued efforts working with those two groups specifically. The conversations we had, understanding what their concerns were, seeing if we can address them, that ultimately led to their decisions to withdraw their participation in the Federal Court of Appeal,” Hounsell says.

The Federal Court of Appeal is still hearing from seven Chilliwack-area first nations, as well as the Coldwater Indian Band, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.