The Elsipogtog First Nation is heading to court to try to halt SWN Resources seismic exploration work. Late this afternoon, the band council applied for an injunction that would suspend all exploration for natural gas by SWN. The notice was filed in the Court of Queens Bench in Fredericton. It names the Attorney General of New Brunswick, the Minister of Energy and Mines, SWN Resources, and the Assembly of Firstd Nations Chiefs in New Brunswick as defendants. The Band council is asking the courts to suspend all SWN operations in New Brunswick. It says thats required to preserve the peace and protect the rights of the First Nation. The document claims there is credible evidence that outside radical elements are converging on the area where SWN is doing seismic work. According to the application, theres a very real danger of a repeat of the clashes between police and protestors that happened near Rexton last month. It says exploration by SWN is illegal and unconstitutional because it violates aboriginal rights. Elsipogtog claims that the province failed to fulfil its duty to consult the first nation -- a failure compounded by the inaction of the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs in New Brunswick.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 21:11:30 +0000
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