Federal Court of Appeal Rules Government’s Claim of Cabinet Confidence re: Sage-grouse was “Overbroad”

AWA learned today that we were given a favourable decision by the judges in the Sage-grouse Hearing held March 19th. Ecojustice is representing AWA, the Wilderness Committee, Grasslands Naturalists and Nature Saskatchewan. The Federal Court of Appeal expressed displeasure with the federal government’s overbroad claim of Cabinet confidence, and the Court made some good and relatively clear statements about the law in this area. The Court has now set a clear path forward, and is requiring the federal government to tell us what the Minister has done. The federal government may choose to appeal this decision. AWA should within the next few weeks know whether the Minister made a decision or not about recommending an emergency order to protect Sage-grouse.