Cheam First Nation in British Columbia has filed a Federal Court challenge against Ottawa’s decision to designate the proposed Pacific Link oil pipeline as a project of national interest, allowing it to undergo an accelerated federal regulatory review. The First Nation alleges that the federal government failed to provide sufficient project information and conduct adequate consultations regarding potential impacts on Indigenous rights before announcing the designation on October 1. The proposed pipeline, to be developed by Trans Mountain Corporation in coordination with Pembina Pipeline, would transport approximately one million barrels of crude oil per day to Canada’s West Coast, supporting export diversification.
