N.B. Mi'kmaw chiefs join challenge to N.L.'s Bay du Nord project

An organization representing eight Mi'kmawgroups in New Brunswick is joining a court challenge to the federalgovernment's approval of a new offshore oil project in Newfoundland.

Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'tagnn Inc. says a single spill from the Bay duNord offshore oil development could harm Atlantic salmon.

The group says Ottawa did not fulfil its duty to meaningfullyconsult with Indigenous communities about the proposed project ledby Norway-based Equinor.

The federal government gave Bay du Nord regulatory approval inApril, and the project would be located about 500 kilometresnortheast of St. John's if Equinor decides to go ahead.

• Federal government approves controversial Bay du Nord oil project

• Environmental groups sue feds to overturn Bay du Nord approval

Environmental law group Ecojustice filed an application on May 6in Federal Court for a judicial review of Ottawa's approval of Baydu Nord's environmental assessment.

The group says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault didn'tconsider the greenhouse gas emissions that would be released whenthe development's estimated 500 million barrels of recoverable oilare burned as fuel.

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