Tsleil-Waututh Nation challenges Port Authority plan to dredge Burrard Inlet for larger tankers
The First Nation filed for judicial review, citing concerns about increased oil tanker traffic and risks to marine ecosystems and Indigenous rights.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation has filed for judicial review to overturn permits issued by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for dredging in Burrard Inlet, saying the approval process was "rushed" and ignored community concerns.
The plan calls for dredging along the northern and southern edges of the navigation channel underneath the Second Narrows Bridge, beginning in September. The work would allow Aframax-class tankers loading at the Westridge Marine Terminal to carry fuller loads; currently they load to approximately 80 percent capacity due to the inlet's depth.
Chief Justin George said the dredging brings risks including increased oil spill hazards, changes in marine shipping patterns, and shoreline erosion that would compound existing cumulative impacts on the nation's ability to practice their way of life. "Tsleil-Waututh has a sacred stewardship obligation," he said in a statement. The nation attempted to resolve concerns through good-faith discussions but said those efforts were ignored.
The port authority received all federal permits in June. The federal budget does not include specific references to the project beyond promises to "improve access" to overseas markets.
