Date: 20000929
Docket: T-1608-00
Ottawa, Ontario, September 29, 2000
Before: Pinard J.
Between:
CROISIÈRES A.M.L. INC.,
Plaintiff,
- and -
LA GOÉLETTE MARIE CLARISSE INC.,
Defendant.
Application by plaintiff for an order by the Court extending the two-year deadline mentioned in s. 572(1) of the Canada Shipping Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. S-9, in connection with an incident that occurred on June 27, 1997, pursuant to s. 572(3) of that Act.
ORDER
The motion is dismissed with costs.
Certified true translation
Suzanne M. Gauthier, LL.L. Trad. a.
Date: 20000929
Docket: T-1608-00
Between:
CROISIÈRES A.M.L. INC.,
Plaintiff,
- and -
LA GOÉLETTE MARIE CLARISSE INC.,
Defendant.
REASONS FOR ORDER
PINARD J.
[1] This application, filed by the plaintiff on August 31, 2000, is seeking an order by the Court extending the two-year deadline mentioned in s. 572(1) of the Canada Shipping Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. S-9 ("the Act") to allow a claim to be brought against the defendant in connection with an incident that occurred on June 27, 1997, pursuant to s. 572(3) of that Act.
[2] Assuming, without deciding the point, that s. 572 of the Act[1] is applicable in the case at bar, the extension of time sought cannot be granted because of the insufficiency, or absence, of explanations by the plaintiff of its failure to bring its action within two years of the incident that occurred on June 27, 1997.
[3] What the evidence showed in this regard was that the plaintiff simply sent the defendant a notice on October 20, 1997 and that on March 27, 1998 the latter acknowledged receipt of the notice and asked the plaintiff to send it the relevant documentation [TRANSLATION] "without prejudice and without making any admission". This latter request went unanswered and it was not until after the two-year period in question had expired, that is by a letter of September 8, 1999, that counsel for the plaintiff informed the defendant of the instructions they had received from the plaintiff to claim the sum of $84,966.59 [TRANSLATION] "corresponding to the damage caused by your vessel on June 27, 1997".
[4] In my opinion, these circumstances do not establish the existence of any reason for the delay prior to September 8, 1999 which could allow the Court to exercise its discretion intelligently and reasonably in accordance with the test applicable in Canadian courts, namely that applied and defined in Bath et al. v. Canada (1989), 29 F.T.R. 316, and Westfjord Fishing Ltd. et al. v. Chemainus Towing Co. et al. (August 22, 1994), T-1162-94.
[5] Accordingly, I can only entirely concur in the defendant's submissions as set out in paragraphs 30 to 37 inclusive of the written submissions contained in the Respondent's Record.
[6] The motion is accordingly dismissed with costs.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO
September 29, 2000
Certified true translation
Suzanne M. Gauthier, LL.L. Trad. a.
FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA
TRIAL DIVISION
NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD
DOCKET: T-1608-00
STYLE OF CAUSE: CROISIÈRES A.M.L. INC., and LA GOÉLETTE
MARIE CLARISSE INC.
PLACE OF HEARING: QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC
DATE OF HEARING: 14-SEP-2000
REASONS FOR ORDER OF PINARD J.
DATED: 29-SEP-2000
APPEARANCES:
MICHEL BEAUPRÉ FOR PLAINTIFF
GUY VAILLANCOURT FOR DEFENDANT
SOLICITORS OF RECORD:
KRONSTRÖM DESJARDINS FOR THE PLAINTIFF
ÉTUDE LÉGALE GUY VAILLANCOURT FOR DEFENDANT
[1]
572. (1) Nulle action n'est soutenable aux fins d'exercer une réclamation ou un privilège contre un bâtiment ou contre ses propriétaires relativement à toute avarie ou perte causée à un autre bâtiment, sa cargaison ou son fret, ou à des biens à bord de ce bâtiment, ou relativement à des dommages-intérêts pour mort ou blessures d'une personne à bord du bâtiment, occasionnées par la faute du premier bâtiment, que ce bâtiment soit entièrement ou partiellement en faute, à moins que les procédures ne soient intentées dans un délai de deux ans à compter de la date à laquelle l'avarie ou la perte ou la mort ou les blessures ont été causées.
(1) No action is maintainable to enforce any claim or lien against a vessel or its owners in respect of any damage or loss to another vessel, its cargo or freight, or any property on board that vessel, or for damages for loss of life or personal injuries suffered by any person on board that vessel, caused by the fault of the former vessel, whether that vessel is wholly or partly at fault, unless proceedings therein are commenced within two years from the date when the damage or loss or injury was caused.
(2) Une action n'est pas soutenable en vertu de la présente partie aux fins de recouvrer quelque contribution en raison du paiement d'une part excessive de dommages-intérêts pour mort ou blessures, à moins que les procédures ne soient intentées dans l'année qui suit la date du paiement.
(2) An action is not maintainable under this Part to enforce any contribution in respect of an overpaid proportion of any damages for loss of life or personal injuries unless proceedings therein are commenced within one year from the date of payment.
(3) Tout tribunal compétent pour connaître d'une action à laquelle se rapporte le présent article peut, conformément aux règles du tribunal, proroger les délais prévus aux paragraphes (1) ou (2) dans la mesure et aux conditions qu'il juge convenables, et s'il est convaincu qu'il ne s'est présenté, au cours de ce délai, aucune occasion raisonnable de saisir le navire du défendeur dans les limites de la juridiction qui lui est attribuée ou dans les limites des eaux territoriales du pays auquel appartient le navire du demandeur ou dans lequel le demandeur réside ou a son principal lieu d'affaires, il doit proroger les délais d'une période suffisante pour procurer cette occasion raisonnable.
(3) Any court having jurisdiction to deal with an action to which this section relates may, in accordance with the rules of court, extend any period described in subsection (1) or (2) to such extent and on such conditions as it thinks fit, and shall, if satisfied that there has not during such period been any reasonable opportunity of arresting the defendant vessel within the jurisdiction of the court, or within the territorial waters of the country to which the plaintiff's ship belongs or in which the plaintiff resides or has his principal place of business, extend any period to an extent sufficient to give that reasonable opportunity.
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