Métis take province to court over highway

The Labrador Métis Nation is taking the province to court over a gravel highway that will cross 96 waterways and wetlands in southern Labrador.

Métis leaders are worried the work may damage environmentally sensitive areas.

The Labrador Métis Nation has gone to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland with a claim that it was not consulted before the provincial environment and transportation ministers granting construction permits for the third phase of the Trans-Labrador Highway.

The Métis say they have recognized hunting, fishing and forestry rights, and the province was wrong to issue permits for the work without their approval.

"They absolutely ignored us," said Chris Montague, president of the Labrador Métis Nation.

"We continually told them that they were destroying habitat – they ignored us."

The Labrador Métis Nation took the provincial government to court before, when the province was working on phase two of the Trans-Labrador Highway.

While the Métis lost that case, it was successful on another front. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans ordered the provincial government to reinstall nine culverts, after the Métis complained the fish habitat was being damaged.

Montague said the Labrador Métis Nation feels it must pursue its claim in the courts.

Five days of hearings on the case have been reserved in November.

A spokesperson for Transportation Minister Tom Rideout said he will not comment while the matter is before the courts.