A recent court ruling has raised concerns among environmentalists about species protection in B.C.
Delta: A Federal Court judge recently dismissed a legal challenge from environmental groups. They argued that expanding a big container facility on B.C.’s waterfront could harm southern resident killer whales and salmon.
Groups like the David Suzuki Foundation and the Georgia Strait Alliance filed the challenge last June against the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project. They claimed the federal government’s approval didn’t align with the Species at Risk Act.
According to them, the project would destroy a significant amount of Chinook salmon habitat, which is crucial for the endangered killer whales’ survival.
However, the Federal Court ruled that the decisions made by the federal environment minister and the cabinet were reasonable. They dismissed the environmental groups’ judicial review.
The groups expressed that the port expansion could jeopardize the whales’ survival and recovery, claiming it would destroy their critical habitat. They believe the approval process overlooked necessary protections for at-risk species.
The federal government countered in court, stating that the conservation groups misunderstood how the project would be regulated. They emphasized that the decisions made did not bypass future federal and provincial authorizations needed for the expansion.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on January 13, 2025.
Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press
