A BC Supreme Court Judge had strong words for both sides while staying a 2019 permit involving a Cache Creek area quarry last week.
That permit allowed CN to continue work on their McAbee Quarry, following a request for an expedited renewal.
But the Court has now ruled that the Ministry of Mines had not properly consulted with Secwepemc First Nations before approving the permit.
The ruling asks for the province to return to the negotiating table with the SSN, who represent the Tkâemlups and Skeetchestn Bands, though it did not shut down activities at the site.
But Justice Geoffrey Gomery didn’t let the Bands off the hook without some strong words.
He said that the Nation also fell short of good-faith communication by trying to involve issues outside of the Quarry in the dispute.
The Judge accused the Nation of attempting to use the pending inquiry as leverage in pursuit of other objectives.
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