A coalition of environmental groups have won a temporary injunction suspending exploratory drilling by TransCanada in critical beluga habitat off of Cacouna, Quebec.
The drilling was to find a place for a proposed oil port that TransCanada would build as part of its controversial Energy East pipeline project, which would bring highly polluting tar sands crude from Western Canada through Quebec on its way to foreign markets.
Drilling has been suspended until October 15, because beluga whales are considered to be most at risk during this time.
The judgement reveals that the government lacks information on how the proposed oil port would impact this species, which is listed as "Near Threatened" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Congratulations to the David Suzuki Foundation, Nature Québec, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and the Quebec Centre for Environmental Law for their hard work.
Join the more than 44,000 Quebecers who have said No to tar sands by signing our petition opposing the TransCanada Energy East project.
Photo: Kyle via Flickr
