"The Supreme Court has given Canadians back their voice and, with it, their ability to influence major industrial development across the country," said Ecojustice lawyer Lara Tessaro, who represented MiningWatch Canada. "This landmark decision confirms that the government can no longer shirk the environmental protection duties that Parliament has assigned to it."

The proposed open-pit mine would be located adjacent to an area called the Sacred Headwaters, the birthplace of the Stikine, Nass and Skeena Rivers. If built, it would endanger wildlife, destroy three trout-bearing streams and risk toxic contamination of two watersheds. The proposed mining project would wipe out pristine Black Lake by converting it into a "tailings impoundment area" - a dumpsite for toxic mine waste.

"These are serious issues where the public needs to be able to have a say. That's what we thought the law said, and now the Court has backed us up," said Jamie Kneen of MiningWatch Canada.