Gregory McDade Q.C., Managing Partner
Education:
- B.Ed., University of Calgary 1974 (with distinction)
- LLB from University of British Columbia
Professional and Other Memberships:
- Law Society of British Columbia 1979
- Appointed Queen’s Counsel (B.C.) 1996
- Former Board of Directors, incl. Chair, VanCity Enterprises Ltd.
- Former Board of Directors, Citizen’s Bank of Canada
- Honorary Board member, Sierra Legal Defence Fund Society
- Board of Directors, Centre for Integral Economics
Personal Profile:
Greg is the Managing Partner at Ratcliff & Company LLP and a senior litigation partner with John Rich, supervising all First Nations litigation.
Greg was born and raised in Alberta, took his law degree at UBC, was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1979, and appointed Queen’s Counsel (B.C.) in 1996.
Professional Experience:
- Current practice: Major Litigation, and business advice to First Nations on forestry, business and land use issues
- Advisor to some of B.C.'s largest First Nation communities
- Extensive experience before all levels of Court, including Supreme Court of Canada, Federal Courts, and BC Supreme Court and Court of Appeal
- Extensive public policy experience, including media and government relations
- Former Executive Director (founding), General Counsel: Sierra Legal Defence Fund (1990-7) (major environmental and administrative law litigation)
- Former criminal law and civil litigation practice in Kelowna (including numerous jury trials) (1978-1990)
Recent Experience:
Business, Major Project and Accommodation Agreements:
- Prince Rupert Port Accommodation (Coast Tsimshian), under negotiation
- Gateway Oil Pipeline (Carrier - Sekani), under negotiation
- Tree Farm Licence and Forest Licence purchases (Lax Kw’alaams and Squamish Nations)
- Sea - to - Sky Highway Accommodation Agreement (Squamish) (2004)
- GSX Pipeline Accommodation Agreement (Cowichan) (2003)
- Negotiated Province's first Forest and Range Agreement (Lax Kw'alaams)
- Ongoing forestry advice for a number of First Nations
- LRMP negotiations, North Coast (Lax Kw'alaams) and Sea-to-Sky (Squamish)
- Squamish Nation Xay Temixw Land Use Planning process (2001)
First Nation Litigation:
- Huu-ay-aht v. Min. of Forests (2005, BCSC) Province's FRA policy declared invalid;
- Squamish Nation v. MSRM, (2004, 2005, BCSC) inadequate consultation on Garibaldi ski hill;
- Tsawwassen First Nation v. Port of Vancouver, (2004) civil action re Port activities, (settled with Accommodation Agreement);
- Deh Cho Dene v. Canada, (2004-5, Fed Court) Mackenzie Valley Pipeline, (settled with Accommodation Agreement);
- Haida v. Minister of Forests, (2004), Supreme Court of Canada and BC Court of Appeal (2007), counsel for Intervenors (Squamish and Lax Kw'alaams), and (1996) counsel for Haida at trial on first Petition re TFL;
- Esquimalt and Songhees Nations v. Canada and B.C., (2006) Victoria Legislative Buildings site;
- Gitxsan v. Min of Forests (2002, BCSC) consultation re TFL transfer;
- Mathias v. Canada, (1997-9, Fed Court), Senior Co-Ccounsel (with John Rich);
- Squamish Nation action re former Kitsilano reserve; longest Federal Court trial in Canada [settled $92.5 Million].
Environmental Litigation:
- Greenpeace Canada v. MacMillan Bloedel (1996); Supreme Court of Canada decision re Clayoquot protests in 1994;
- Friends of Oldman River Society (1991) Supreme Court of Canada decision establishing enforceability of Canadian environmental assessment;
- NEB v Hydro-Quebec (1994); Supreme Court of Canada decision confirming constitutionality of environmental assessment;
- Wood Buffalo National Park (1992); Federal Court decision banning commercial logging in National Parks.
Public Policy Appointments:
- Burns Bog Ecosystems Review (1999 - 2000) BC Government
- Gulf Islands National Park Public Consultation (2000) Federal Government
- Inquiry into the Draining of Downton Lake (1996) BC Min of Environment
|
|
