In what could be a precedent-setting case, on November 18, 2005, Ontario's Court of Appeal certified a $750 million class-action suit alleging damages from environmental contamination caused by an Inco refinery in a southwestern Ontario community. Inco sought leave to appeal of the Court of Appeal's decision in February 2006. Leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was denied in June 2006.
This case is believed to be the first class-action certified for long-term environmental damage in Canada. The case arises as a result of a report that was released by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in September 2000 stating that Inco had discharged contaminants into the natural environment that posed a risk to the environment and to human health for some of the residents of Port Colborne. The claim alleges that the release of this report had a serious impact upon property values in the Port Colbornearea.
Following several years of trial preparation and discovery, the two-month long common issues trial is scheduled to take place in September 2008, in Welland, Ontario.
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Chris advises on acquisitions and dispositions of mines and mining companies, project development and mine operations throughout Canada and the world. He has assisted in the structuring and negotiation of hundreds of ...
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Christine practices environmental and Indigenous law, providing advice in respect of major project development, environmental assessment, permitting, operational matters and acquisition and sale of industrial projects.
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Lawson Lundell's Project Law Blog focuses on updating proponents on issues emerging in the law and policy that applies to the development of major projects in Canada. The focus of the blog is on matters relating to environmental assessment and compliance, regulatory matters and Indigenous consultation.