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A long-awaited court decision coming Thursday will dictate the future of the controversial $9.3- billion Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion.

The outcome will provide either relatively smooth sailing, at least legally speaking; or more bumpy waters; or, potentially, the project’s death knell.

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It’s the biggest legal decision yet of challenges by First Nations and other critics of the approval by Justin Trudeau’s federal Liberal government and the National Energy Board.

The mega-project — supported by business groups in B.C., as well as some unions and First Nations — will triple capacity and is meant to open new markets for crude from the Alberta oilsands in energy-hungry Asia.

The Federal Court of Appeal decision has ramifications for further delays of the expansion, which the company has said has already been delayed by protest and permit challenges.

Photo by JONATHAN HAYWARD / THE CANADIAN PRESS

The court will decide whether several First Nations, including the Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish, were adequately consulted, as well as whether orcas have been properly protected.