Injunction Halting Work On Ptarmigan Trail Extended Until April 11
(Sheshatshiu) A Federal Court judge extended an interim injunction halting
construction of the Ptarmigan Trail and suspending federal funding for the
project until at least April 11th.
The order against construction binds the Eagle River Development
Association from spending any federal money on the project, and prevents
any person from performing activities related to the construction of the
project. The order against the federal government restrains Human Resources
Development or ACOA from providing funding for the project until April
11th, when arguments will be made by the Province of Newfoundland to become
a party to the court action.
The Ptarmigan Trail is intended to link Goose Bay to the South Coast,
running south through the Kenamu River valley and east across the southern
slopes of the Mealy Mountains to Paradise River and Sandwich Bay, a total
distance of approximately 250 kilometers. It will cross many areas of vital
importance to the Innu, including Mishtua-utshasku and Iatnekupau (Parke
Lake). It also runs through the heart of the proposed Mealy Mountains
National Park. Work on the trail has already begun, and approximately 100
km of trail has been cleared.
Lawyers for the Innu Nation expect that a further extension of the
injunction will be granted after April 11th, when the courts will set dates
for hearing the full judicial review of the federal government's decision
to fund the construction of the Trail.
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[This is a victory, but a temporary one. The Innu Nation urgently needs
your support to make sure that the Ptarmigan Trail is never built. Please
fax, write, or call Minister of Human Resources Pierre Pettigrew, Minister
of the Environment Sergio Marchi, Minister of Indian Affairs Ron Irwin and
Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps and ask them to stop the Trail!
The Province of Newfoundland is also intending to join the action. Please
write, fax or call Premier Brian Tobin and Minister of Tourism, Culture and
Recreation Sandra Kelly to express your concerns about the Trail.
More information on the Ptarmigan Trail and ways you can support the Innu
Nation is on our WWW site.]
Larry Innes Visit the Innu Nation WWW site:
Environmental Advisor http://www.web.net/~innu
Innu Nation
P.O. Box 119, Sheshatshiu, Labrador, Canada A0P 1M0
phone: (709) 497-8398 email: innuenv@web.net fax: (709) 497-8396
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