British Columbia does not have the right to restrict oil shipments coming across its borders, according to a BC Court of Appeal decision.
Made this morning, the decision is in response to a constitutional reference question filed by the province earlier this year.
That question asked whether or not the province has the authority to impose environmental laws which would allow them to regulate shipments from interprovincial pipelines.
In a unanimous decision, the 5-judge panel found that the proposed Environmental Act amendments would conflict with the federal government’s exclusive jurisdiction.
Currently, the National Energy Board holds the final say in issuing approval to interprovincial projects.
BC argued that the legislation was intended to protect its borders from environmental hazards.
But Alberta and the federal government argued that it was just an effort to further stall the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
