Ian Jacob Breneman

The respondents brought a motion to quash the appellant's appeal, arguing that the order appealed from was interlocutory and therefore the proper appeal route was to the Divisional Court with leave.

The Court of Appeal agreed, finding that the order dismissing the appellant's motion to compel witness attendance for examination on jurisdictional grounds was interlocutory and did not finally dispose of any party rights.

As such, the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction, and the appeal was quashed.

The Court allowed the appeal and quashed the National Energy Board authorization for offshore seismic testing in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait.

It held that the Board’s approval process triggered the Crown’s duty to consult, and that the Crown may rely on a regulatory process to fulfill consultation obligations where that process is adequate.

On these facts, consultation was inadequate given the significance of Inuit treaty harvesting rights, the potential impacts of testing, limited participation opportunities, and insufficient accommodation.