Leaders and elders from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation are in Vancouver this morning in an attempt to overturn the federal government’s approval of Shell Canada’s Jackpine Mine expansion.
The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is asking the federal court to overturn Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq’s approval of Shell’s Jackpine project.
The First Nation feels their environmental concerns were ignored.
The Jackpine mine is located about 70 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.
The massive plan was approved last December, despite significant concerns from the review panel that considered it, which included 88 recommended conditions.
A band spokeswoman says the federal government made no real mention of the recommendations.
Court documents filed by the government argue that Environment Canada did meet with band representatives and responded to concerns that weren’t under provincial jurisdiction.
Shell first applied for the Jackpine mine expansion in 2007.
The project would open new mines, build processing facilities and increase Shell’s output by 100,000 barrels a day.
Members of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, local environmental groups and other First Nations plan to hold a rally outside the courthouse while the hearings are taking place.
