A big win for Trans Mountain, Osler and Canada: Supreme Court of Canada rules 9-0 against British Columbia, in favour of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project

On Thursday, January 16, 2020, Osler lawyers Maureen Killoran Q.C, Olivia Dixon and Sean Sutherland appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada on the “BC Reference Case” on behalf of both Trans Mountain and Enbridge to argue that proposed amendments to the B.C. Environmental Management Act are unconstitutional and specifically designed to target the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project. The B.C. legislation sought to regulate the shipments of “heavy oil” on federally regulated pipelines (and railways) through the Province of British Columbia. 

After a full day hearing, it took the Supreme Court of Canada less than 30 minutes to return a unanimous result in favour of Trans Mountain and all parties that intervened in opposition to the B.C. Legislation. Congratulations to Maureen and team on an important and outstanding result!  You can read more in the Financial Post and Globe and Mail as follows:

• "Supreme Court dismisses B.C. bid to limit heavy oil shipments across the province"
• "Supreme Court dismisses B.C. case against Trans Mountain pipeline"