16 May Old treaties face new laws: Supreme Court decision to help streamline mine permits (The Province)
Canada’s Supreme Court — in a ruling that could help clarify the complex process needed to gain a mining permit — said on Friday a proposed vanadium mine on land owned by an aboriginal group must have a full environmental assessment before development proceeds. The ruling is important because it makes clear that in this case — and probably others — that modern Canadian laws apply to treaties between native Indian groups and the federal government, no matter when the treaties were signed. Separately, the federal government has already promised to look at ways to streamline the complicated method of granting permits for mines, which companies complain can last for many years… go to article