The Federal Court of Appeal has ordered Ottawa to renegotiate the terms under which the Trans Mountain pipeline crosses a Coldwater Band reserve, raising new questions about the fate of Kinder Morgan Inc.’s federally approved plan to expand the pipeline.
Continue readingSpecific Claims Tribunal decision stands for Huu-ay-aht First Nation as Canada discontinues review
Canada withdrew its application for a judicial review of a Specific Claims Tribunal decision in Attorney General of Canada v Huu-ay-aht First Nation. The Specific Claims Tribunal decision awarding the Nation $13.8 million in compensation for breaches of duty will stand.
Continue readingCollision between Indigenous hunting and oil development rights set for legal showdown in B.C. court
Ratcliff represents the Blueberry River First Nation who are fighting to stop the incremental erosion of its land and treaty rights.
Continue readingColdwater Indian Band and Squamish Nation challenge Trans Mountain pipeline
Three First Nations have announced they’re taking legal action challenging the federal government’s approval of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
Continue readingSpecific Claims Tribunal awards $13.8 million to Huu-ay-aht First Nations
The Specific Claims Tribunal released a decision–its first addressing the issue of compensation–awarding more than $13.8 million to Huu-ay-aht First Nations for breaches of fiduciary duty committed by Canada between 1948 and 1969.
Continue readingRatcliff lawyers put First Nations Consultation at centre stage before NEB
In a heated final argument Thursday, Squamish First Nation lawyer Aaron Bruce told the NEB that it cannot recommend the Trans Mountain expansion project’s approval because the federal government “recognizes the current process is deficient to address First Nations concerns. We shouldn’t be here today.”
Continue readingBlueberry River First Nations wins important historical claim in Specific Claims Tribunal
The Blueberry River First Nations, represented by Ratcliff have won an important historical claim at the Specific Claims Tribunal of Canada.
Continue readingSupreme Court of Canada denies leave to Rio Tinto Alcan; Upholds Saik’uz and Stellat’en First Nations win at B.C. Court of Appeal
The Supreme Court of Canada denied Leave to Appeal to Rio Tinto Alcan, and dismissed Rio Tinto Alcan’s Application for Leave to Appeal from the earlier BC Court of Appeal decision in favour of the Saik’uz and Stellat’en First Nations.
Continue readingRatcliff lawyers Greg Mcdade and Kate Blomfield represent Yukon First Nations in filing a constitutional challenge to Canada’s amendments to Yukon’s development assessment legislation
Three Yukon First Nations — the Teslin Tlingit Council, the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, and the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation — filed a petition in Yukon Supreme Court on Wednesday with the assistance of Ratcliff lawyers Greg McDade and Kate Blomfield.
Continue readingFort Nelson First Nation gets Nexen fracking water license overturned
The Fort Nelson First Nation, represented by Ratcliff lawyers James Tate and Nathan Hume, has won a potentially precedent-setting decision from the B.C. Environmental Appeal Board that cancels the water licence of a natural gas fracking operation in northeast B.C.
Continue readingSaik’uz and Stellat’en First Nations successful in appeal against Rio Tinto Alcan Inc.
Ratcliff lawyers Greg McDade and Melinda Skeels succeeded at the BC Court of Appeal in Saik’uz First Nation and Stellat’en First Nation v. Rio Tinto Alcan Inc.
Continue readingRatcliff named one of Canada’s top firms in Aboriginal Law by Chambers
Recently, Ratcliff & Company LLP was ranked as one of Canada’s top law firms in Aboriginal Law in the category of boutique law firms by legal publisher Chambers and Partners.
Continue readingBlueberry River First Nations file claim challenging development in Northeast B.C.
Blueberry River First Nations, a Treaty 8 nation, filed a lawsuit challenging the cumulative impacts of the development of their traditional territory and the failure of BC to uphold promises made in Treaty 8. This lawsuit puts into question future development in the Northeast, including the Site C dam and natural gas extraction required to feed BC’s burgeoning LNG industry.
Continue readingRatcliff lawyers succeed before Specific Claims Tribunal with finding that Canada breached its fiduciary duty to the Huu-ay-aht First Nations
Ratcliff lawyers John Rich, Kate Blomfield and Emma Hume succeed in securing the Specific Claim Tribunal’s first compensation decision, successfully arguing that Canada breached its fiduciary duty to the Huu-ay-aht First Nations (“HFN”) multiple times and the HFN must be compensated.
Continue readingRatcliff gets the Supreme Court to set aside the approval of the Whistler Official Community Plan for failure to consult the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations
Ratcliff successfully applied on behalf of the Squamish Nation and the Lil’wat Nation to set aside the decision of the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development to approve the Official Community Plan (OCP) of the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
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