A 6.2 billion dollar “hydroelectric megaproject” is possibly in danger as the NunatuKavut Community Council says that Nalcor Energy (a Crown corporation) and the province have shirked their duty to consult the group and should compensate it. It claims that their Aboriginal rights will be harmed if the environmental hearings continue.
At issue are joint plans by Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia to harness power from the lower Churchill River. NunatuKavut had filed a land claim which includes territory involved in the hydroelectric project. However, the claim has not yet been approved by Ottawa for negotiation and any ensuing settlement would likely take years.
NunatuKavut’s attorney, Paul Dicks, argued that the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling in Haida Nation v. British Columbia (Minister of Forests) mandates that the duty to consult escalates with the strength of a land claim, regardless of whether or not it’s approved by Ottawa.
The environmental hearings commenced weeks ago, despite NunatuKavut’s objections.
Click here for the Winnipeg Free Press story.
And here for Nalcor Energy’s March 3rd public response.
And here for a CBS video press conference (33:32) by the Nunatukavut’s leader, Chris Montague.
And if you’re not click-here-weary by now, click here for Nunatukavut’s Land Claim Documents from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
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