News Release

Wilderness Committee demands BC government enact anti-SLAPP legislation in light of Taseko court appeal

VANCOUVER - Taseko Mines Ltd. notified the Wilderness Committee this week that the company is appealing its court loss regarding defamation charges the mining company made against the Wilderness Committee in 2012.

Taseko’s litigation stemmed from comments the environmental group had made about the company’s failed New Prosperity open-pit mine project during the federal environmental assessment process. Last month a BC Supreme Court Judge ruled against Taseko, stating that the company should have dropped part of its claim earlier.

“Even after a court decision that was overwhelmingly in our favour, Taseko is now back at it – costing additional time and money and making it more difficult to exercise our rights to free speech,” said Joe Foy, National Campaign Director with the Wilderness Committee.

After Taseko had launched the lawsuit, a federal review panel rejected the New Prosperity mine project due to its potential impact on the environment and First Nations rights. In the Reasons for Judgement on the defamation case, Hon. Mr. Justice Funt stated that for Taseko “to continue to seek punitive damages and special costs after the release of the panel’s report attracts the Court’s rebuke.” Despite such a strongly worded judgement, Taseko has chosen to appeal the Court’s ruling.

The Wilderness Committee says that the mining company’s appeal is proof that BC needs anti-SLAPP legislation enacted as soon as possible. SLAPP stands for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.

“We feel that this case is a prime example of why SLAPP suits are so damaging to public discourse in BC,” said Foy. “This is no way to run a democracy. There ought to be a law,” he said.

Ontario already has anti-SLAPP legislation, which protects people from being harassed in the courts by companies that want to stop criticism of their projects. BC briefly had anti-SLAPP legislation, but the newly elected BC Liberal government eliminated it in 2001.

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For more information, please contact:

Joe Foy | National Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee
604-683-8220 (office), 604-880-2580 (cell)

Additional resources:

Notice of Appeal, Taseko Mines - February 19, 2016

Photo: WC National Campaign Director Joe Foy speaks outside the courthouse during legal proceedings in early 2015.