OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada will hear an appeal from Rio Tinto Alcan over a multibillion-dollar power deal with British Columbia Hydro that is stalled because of objections by a native group.
The Carrier Sekani Tribal council had complained that the provincial utilities commission, which approved the deal, had a duty to consult natives before making its decision.
The B.C. court of appeal agreed and sent the matter back to the commission.
Rio Tinto Alcan turned to the Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear the case.
As usual, the court gave no reasons for its decision.
The power deal gives B.C. Hydro long-term access to a portion of the electricity produced at Alcan's Kemano generating station near Kitimat.
