Clyde River wins right to appeal
Will take battle against seismic testing to the Supreme Court of Canada
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, March 14, 2016
OTTAWA
Clyde River finally received good news March 10 after a faltering two-year battle to block seismic testing in Davis Strait - the Supreme Court of Canada will hear its appeal.
"For Clyde River, it means that our concerns are legitimate and should be a cause for concern," said former Clyde River mayor Jerry Natanine.
Natanine has been the public face of the opposition in the fight against the National Energy Board's decision to approve seismic testing over a five-year period by a group of three companies.
"When the appeals court turned us down it was as if our case has no merit. This decision gives us legitimacy in our pursuit," he said, adding he heard the news over social media. "It was unbelievable. Really exciting."
The Hamlet of Clyde River, hunters and trappers and global anti-oil organizations such as Greenpeace protested the energy board's decision in fear of potential danger to marine creatures, saying Inuit rights were not considered strongly enough.
The news from the court came on the same day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama released a joint statement on climate, energy and Arctic leadership from Washington.
Under the heading about incorporating indigenous science and traditional knowledge into decision-making, the leaders state, "Canada and the U.S. are committed to collaborating with indigenous and Arctic governments, leaders, and communities to more broadly and respectfully include indigenous science and traditional knowledge into decision making, including in environmental assessments, resource management, and advancing our understanding of climate change."
Fisheries and Oceans Minister Hunter Tootoo, who is Nunavut MP, was in Washington with Trudeau when the Supreme Court decision was announced. He said he could not comment specifically on the Clyde River case because it is before the courts.
However, he said the Canadian government "is committed to modernizing and creating an environmental assessment process that people trust.
"Part of that is ensuring the duty to consult is something that's always done."
Lawyer Nader Hasan, who represented Natanine, the hamlet and the local hunters' and trappers' organization in the action, spoke with Nunavut News/North last April.
"The Supreme Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal have said time and time again that it is ultimately the Crown and not industry proponents who are responsible for meaningful consultation," he said. "We saw industry proponents going into these communities in Nunavut and not being able to answer questions and not following up with Inuit leaders and community members in a meaningful way."
