abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

6 Jun 2017

Author:
Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun (Canada)

Canada: Taseko Mines' libel lawsuit against critics of gold-copper mine to be considered on appeal after judge calls it a strategic lawsuit against public participation

"Ian Mulgrew: Mining firm's SLAPP at environmental protest to get public airing", 3 Jun 2017

A landmark provincial defamation case that scrutinizes big business’s use of [Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)]...will be [webcast and heard before the British Columbia] Court of Appeal. Taseko Mines Ltd. is appealing a…decision that tossed its libel action against the Western Canada Wilderness Committee over harsh criticism of the plan for storing toxic tailings at [a] proposed…gold-copper mine…The company…[is] denying it was a so-called [SLAPP]… [T]he lower court judge criticized [Taseko] for its behaviour and imposed special costs — awarded for conduct deserving rebuke...[saying] the company’s case was a SLAPP suit and an attempt to use the litigation process “to silence critics on a matter of public importance.”“In this case, (the company’s) seeking punitive damages was an economic threat,” he added…

[refers to MacMillan Bloedel (now part of Weyerhaeuser), Trans Mountain Pipeline]