Federal court rejects B.C. government's appeal against NEB's local bylaw ruling - Action News
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British Columbia

Federal court rejects B.C. government's appeal against NEB's local bylaw ruling

The provincial government says the Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed its application to appeal an NEB ruling that allows Kinder Morgan to bypass City of Burnaby bylaws during construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Province wanted ruling overturned that allows pipeline construction to be exempt from municipal laws

The $7.4-billion Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain expansion project will run through Burnaby Mountain. The pipeline is set to increase the capacity of oil products flowing from Alberta to the B.C. coast to 890,000 barrels from 300,000 barrels. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

The provincial government says the Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed its application to appeal a National Energy Boardruling that allows Kinder Morgan to bypass City of Burnaby bylaws during construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

The NEB ruled in December that the company isnot required to comply with two sections of the City of Burnaby'sbylaws on land and tree clearances.

Kinder Morgan had argued the bylaws were unconstitutional becausethey hindered its ability to go ahead with the federally approvedproject.

In February, the provincefiled leave to appeal the board's ruling with the Federal Courtof Appeal.

It argued that the the NEB erred by toobroadlydefining federal jurisdiction over interprovincial pipelines.

The government said on Friday the court dismissed its application to appeal.

"This, in effect, allows local permitting process to be needlessly undermined," said B.C. Environment Minister George Heymanin a statement.

Other legal battles

Last fall, British Columbia was granted intervener status in the Federal Court of Appeal hearing challenging the original NEB decision to approve the project.

Heyman says his government will continue to try and stop the project.

"Our government will continue to explore other legal ways to defend the interests of British Columbians against this unnecessary project," he said.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notleycommented on the decision on social media on Saturday, saying it was another win for the interests of Canada.

"To date, Alberta has won every case brought against Trans Mountain," she wrote on Twitter. "Your Alberta government will not back down until this pipeline is built and the national interest is secured."

With files from The Canadian Press