Lawyer Mulling Over Potential Oilsands Lawsuit

Friday, April 11, 2008 at 15:04

A lawyer in La Ronge is contemplating suing the Alberta government on behalf of Aboriginal communities in northern Saskatchewan over oilsands pollution.

Harold Johnson stresses he hasn’t made a final decision on whether he will proceed with a statement of claim, because he still has to do more research.

However, based on studies that have been released to the public, Johnson believes there might be a case to launch a class action lawsuit.

Johnson notes those studies indicate acid rain caused by the oilsands is starting to take a toll on northern lakes and rivers.

He says taking on the Alberta government will be a challenge — but he says there is precedent for this sort of claim to be successful.

Johnson says if his legal action goes ahead, he hopes it will eventually lead to a slowdown of the activity in the Fort McMurray area — as well as a broader definition of government’s duty to consult that supercedes provincial boundaries.