One of the people behind a lawsuit against Cameco and the village of Pinehouse is not deterred by their court loss.
Candyce Paul says even though the judge was harsh in the ruling against them, she believes the lawsuit challenging the collaboration agreement was worthwhile.
In the ruling, the judge noted the court should not have been used as a venue for a political debate about uranium mining.
Paul is disappointed with the loss. She says they are considering their options, including a possible appeal.
“We are reviewing the court ruling and then we will gather everyone involved together and come to a consensus on how we should proceed.”
The Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench ruling was delivered last Friday in a case that was heard back in April.
A group of environmentalists challenged the $200-million collaboration agreement between the northern village of Pinehouse and uranium giants Cameco and AREVA. They claimed the agreement was too secretive and did not take into consideration the long-term negative impact of uranium mining on the province’s north. Paul stands by the claims.
“There are concerns that northern Saskatchewan citizens are facing from uranium mining on their health, on animals, on the environment, on the whole ecosystem.”
Paul says these concerns are not frivolous and should have been considered by the judge in the case.
Not only did the group lose the case, they were ordered to pay $16,000 in court costs to the defendants.