Environment groups ask Federal Court to force minister’s hand on caribou protection

EDMONTON — Environment Minister Peter Kent’s failure to reconsider emergency protection for woodland caribou in northeastern Alberta has prompted environmental groups to ask for the Federal Court’s help.

Six months ago, the Court called Minister Kent’s decision not to recommend emergency protection for woodland caribou “out of the blue,” and ruled that it ignored scientific evidence and must be set aside. The Minister was instructed to reconsider the government’s position, but has yet to show any signs of activity on the file.

Ecojustice, on behalf of the Pembina Institute and Alberta Wilderness Association, has asked the Court to amend its ruling to include a deadline to force a response from the Minister. Read more »

Posted January 25, 2012 by AEN

Alberta court denies Maxim coal plant challenge

CALGARY — An Alberta court has rejected Ecojustice's challenge, launched on behalf of the Pembina Institute, of the Alberta Utilities Commission's (AUC) approval of a controversial coal-fired power plant expansion.

In June, the AUC endorsed an expansion of Maxim Power Corp.'s Milner plant in Grande Cache, Alta., a move that could allow the company to avoid new federal greenhouse gas regulations that effectively require a 50 per cent cut in emissions. Read more »

Posted October 21, 2011 by AEN

Alberta court to decide if it will hear Maxim coal plant challenge

CALGARY — Tomorrow, an Alberta court will hear an Ecojustice application to appeal Maxim Power Corp.’s controversial Milner coal plant expansion.

The groups seek to overturn the Alberta Utilities Commission’s (AUC) hasty approval of the Milner project, which allows Maxim to avoid incoming federal greenhouse gas regulations.

Ecojustice, on behalf the Pembina Institute, will appear before the Court of Appeal of Alberta tomorrow. The hearing will determine if the appeal can proceed or not. Read more »

Posted October 4, 2011 by AEN

Conservation groups: Canada’s tar sands extraction violates international wildlife treaties

Oakland, CA — Today, conservation groups represented by Earthjustice and Ecojustice Canada submitted a petition to Interior Secretary Salazar asking him to report to President Obama that Canada’s destructive tar sands extraction undermines international efforts to protect endangered and threatened species. Read more »

Posted September 22, 2011 by AEN

Proposed caribou recovery strategy violates SARA

EDMONTON — The federal government’s draft woodland caribou recovery strategy — released today, four years overdue — is illegal and fails on multiple fronts to comply with requirements under the Species at Risk Act, Ecojustice said today.

“This is not a recovery plan. This is barely a survival plan,” said Melissa Gorrie, Ecojustice staff lawyer. “SARA requires that recovery plans be based in science, but this plan clearly prioritizes political and industrial interests over that of the animals it is supposed to protect.” Read more »

Posted August 26, 2011 by AEN

Alberta Caribou Protection Lost in Secret Forestry Deal

With a long overdue federal recovery strategy for Alberta’s critically threatened woodland caribou anticipated to be only weeks away, the Government of Alberta has quietly signed a new 20 year Forest Management Agreement (FMA) with Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries (Al-Pac) that closes the door on protecting caribou habitat in northeastern Alberta. The agreement seems to ignore the protection scientists say is critical for woodland caribou and other wildlife affected by forestry and oil sands industries in the FMA’s 58,000 km² swath of north central and northeastern Alberta. Read more »

Posted August 17, 2011 by AEN

Alberta Utilities Commission faces court challenge over approval of Milner coal plant expansion

CALGARY — Ecojustice and the Pembina Institute are taking the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to court over its decision to grant Maxim Power Corp.’s coal plant expansion interim approval without a public hearing. Read more »

Posted August 3, 2011 by AEN