Yahaan v. Canada

Yahaan v. Canada

The appeal was dismissed as moot because Pacific Northwest LNG had terminated the Project and surrendered or agreed not to transfer key authorizations, making revival speculative; consequently the Court declined to exercise its discretion to hear a moot appeal and refused a stay.

Source-derived case information.

Citation
2018 FCA 41
Parties
Appellant: Yahaan also known as Donald Wesley on his own behalf and on behalf of all the members of the Gitwilgyoots Tribe; Respondent: Her Majesty the Queen (Attorney General of Canada); Respondent: Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Respondent: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency; Respondent: Pacific Northwest LNG Limited Partnership; Respondent: Lax Kw'alaams Indian Band represented by its Mayor John Helin; Respondent: John Helin on his own behalf and on behalf of all other members of the nine tribes of Lax Kw'alaams; Respondent: Iyoo'ns also known as Carl Sampson Sr on his own behalf and on behalf of all the members of the Gitwilgyoots Tribe; Respondent: Metlakatla Band
Court
Federal Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Canada
Judgment Date
16 February 2018
Procedural Posture
Appeal From Federal Court Judicial Review Decision / Motions for Dismissal for Mootness and for Stay of Appeal
Outcome
Appeal dismissed as moot; motion to stay dismissed
Legal Topics
Duty to Consult, Mootness, Representative Standing, Judicial Review, Environmental Assessment
Source Language
en
Environmental Law Administrative Law Aboriginal Law Civil Procedure Duty to Consult Mootness Representative Standing Judicial Review +1 more

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Legal principles 5 Authorities cited 11 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 1
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Yahaan also known as Donald Wesley on his own behalf and on behalf of all the members of the Gitwilgyoots Tribe

Appellant

Her Majesty the Queen (Attorney General of Canada)

Respondent

Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Respondent

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Respondent

Pacific Northwest LNG Limited Partnership

Respondent

Lax Kw'alaams Indian Band represented by its Mayor John Helin

Respondent

John Helin on his own behalf and on behalf of all other members of the nine tribes of Lax Kw'alaams

Respondent

Iyoo'ns also known as Carl Sampson Sr on his own behalf and on behalf of all the members of the Gitwilgyoots Tribe

Respondent

Metlakatla Band

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Appeal From Federal Court Judicial Review Decision / Motions for Dismissal for Mootness and for Stay of Appeal

  1. 1 Is the notice of application seeking to set aside the Project approvals moot?
  2. 2 Should the Court exercise its discretion to hear the appeal notwithstanding mootness?
  3. 3 If not moot, should the appeal be stayed?

Ratio Decidendi

The appeal was dismissed as moot because Pacific Northwest LNG had terminated the Project and surrendered or agreed not to transfer key authorizations, making revival speculative; consequently the Court declined to exercise its discretion to hear a moot appeal and refused a stay.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed as moot; motion to stay dismissed

Orders

  • Motion by Lax Kw'alaams Indian Band and John Helin to dismiss the appeal allowed; the appeal is dismissed
  • Motion to stay the appeal dismissed