Federal Court of Appeal Decisions

Decision Information

Enoch Cree Nation v. Canada

Court (s) Database Federal Court of Appeal Decisions
Date 2014-11-03
Neutral citation 2014 FCA 256
File numbers A-75-14

Decision Content

Date: 20141103

Docket: A-75-14

Citation: 2014 FCA 256

CORAM:

NADON J.A.

PELLETIER J.A.

STRATAS J.A.

Docket: A-75-14

BETWEEN:

THE ENOCH CREE NATION as represented by CHIEF RON VINCENT MORIN and LYLE MORIN, NOLA WANUCH, JOHN THOMAS JR., BILLY MORIN, LORNA MORIN, LORNE MORIN, KELLY MORIN, WAYNE MORIN and SHANE MORIN, BAND COUNCILLORS acting on their own behalf and on behalf of ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ENOCH CREE NATION

Appellants

and

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF CANADA as represented by THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA, THE MINISTER OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS AND NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT, THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, PARKLAND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, CPL6 HOLDINGS LTD., ROBERT GILGEN, SILKE GILGEN, AARON SOOS and THE ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

Respondents

Heard at Edmonton, Alberta, on November 3, 2014.

Judgment delivered from the Bench at Edmonton, Alberta, on November 3, 2014.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:

NADON J.A.

 

 

Date: 20141103

Docket: A-75-14

Citation: 2014 FCA 256

CORAM:

NADON J.A.

PELLETIER J.A.

STRATAS J.A.

Docket: A-75-14

BETWEEN:

THE ENOCH CREE NATION as represented by CHIEF RON VINCENT MORIN and LYLE MORIN, NOLA WANUCH, JOHN THOMAS JR., BILLY MORIN, LORNA MORIN, LORNE MORIN, KELLY MORIN, WAYNE MORIN and SHANE MORIN, BAND COUNCILLORS acting on their own behalf and on behalf of ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ENOCH CREE NATION

Appellants

and

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF CANADA as represented by THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA, THE MINISTER OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS AND NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT, THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, PARKLAND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, CPL6 HOLDINGS LTD., ROBERT GILGEN, SILKE GILGEN, AARON SOOS and THE ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

Respondents

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

(Delivered from the Bench at Edmonton, Alberta, on November 3, 2014).

NADON J.A.

[1]               This is an appeal from an order dated January 20, 2014 of Mr. Justice Phelan of the Federal Court (2014 FC 63) dismissing the appellants’ motion. We dismissed the appellant’s motion for an injunction against the respondents, other than Her Majesty the Queen, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Environment and the Royal Bank of Canada, for carrying on any activities related to the development of an aerodrome or airport on lands situated next to the appellants’ reserve.

[2]               We have not been persuaded that there is any basis to interfere with the judge’s decision. In our view, the judge made no error of law nor did he err in the exercise of his discretion.

[3]               Although the appellants argue that the judge did not give proper weight to their evidence, we are satisfied, having regard to the standard of review, that on the evidence before him it was open to the judge to conclude, as he did, that the appellants had not shown that irreparable harm would ensue if the injunction was not granted. For example the evidence of harm adduced before the judge rose no higher than expressions of concern, albeit serious expressions, but not “a strong case of probability” that the harm will arise:  see Connaught Laboratories Ltd. v. Smithkline Beecham Pharma Inc., [1998] F.C.J. No. 1851, 86 C.P.R. (3d) 36 citing Attorney General v. Corporation of Manchester [1893] 2 Ch. D. 87.

[4]               In concluding, it appears to us that many of the concerns raised by the appellants could be addressed by proceeding to trial as expeditiously as possible.

[5]               The appeal shall therefore be dismissed with costs.

"M. Nadon"

J.A.

 

FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

Docket:

A-75-14

STYLE OF CAUSE:

THE ENOCH CREE NATION ET AL v. HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN ET AL

 

 

PLACE OF HEARING:

Edmonton, Alberta

 

DATE OF HEARING:

November 3, 2014

 

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:

NADON J.A.

PELLETIER J.A.

STRATAS J.A.

 

DELIVERED FROM THE BENCH BY:

NADON J.A.

APPEARANCES:

Will Willier

For The APPELLANTS

 

 

Kirk Lambrecht Q.C.

For The RespondentS

Parkland Airport Development Corporation, CPL6 Holdings, Robert Gilgen, Silke Gilgen and Aaron Soos

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Willier and Company

Calgary, AB

For The AppELLANTS

 

 

Shores Jardine LLP

Edmonton, AB

 

For The RespondentS

 

 

 

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