Ermineskin v. Canada, 2002 FCT 890

Date: 20020819     

Docket: T-1254-92

Neutral citation: 2002 FCT 890

CALGARY, Alberta, Monday, the 19, day of August, 2002.

PRESENT:      THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE TEITELBAUM                               

BETWEEN:                                                                                                                                                  

CHIEF ERMINESKIN, LAWRENCE WILDCAT, GORDON LEE, ART LITTLECHILD, MAURICE WOLFE, CURTIS ERMINESKIN, GERRY ERMINESKIN, EARL ERMINESKIN, RICK WOLFE, KEN CUTARM, BRIAN LEE, LESTER FRAYNN, the elected Chief and Councillors of the Ermineskin Indian Band and Nations suing on their own behalf and on behalf of all the other members of the Ermineskin Indian Band and Nation

                                                                                                                                                        Plaintiffs

- and -

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF CANADA, THE MINISTER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AND THE MINISTER OF FINANCE

                                                                                                                                                    Defendants

                                               REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER

[1]                 The plaintiffs Chief John Ermineskin et al. have filed into the Office of the Registry of the Federal Court a motion for an Order pursuant to Rules 237(3) or 238 of the Federal Court Rules, 1998 permitting the Ermineskin plaintiffs to examine for discovery as deponent for the Crown or otherwise, Mr. E. A. Moore. The grounds for the said motion can be found in the Notice of Motion.

[2]                 On two previous occasions, namely September 21, 1995 and August 20, 1997, Mr. Justice MacKay refused a similar request by the present plaintiffs to have Mr. E. A. Moore examined as a Crown deponent, pursuant to Rule 237(3).

[3]                 This is the third attempt by the plaintiffs to achieve what was twice before refused.

[4]                 For the same reasons given by the Honourable Justice MacKay, on the above mentioned dates, the application to order Mr. E. A. Moore to be examined for discovery as a deponent for the Crown is denied.

[5]                 The plaintiffs request, in the alternative, that they be allowed to examine Mr. E. A. Moore as a non-party, pursuant to Rule 238. I am not satisfied that the plaintiffs have been unable to obtain the information either informally from Mr. E. A. Moore, or from the Crown's deponent, Mr. Eickmeier. The plaintiffs have not established that the Crown's deponent ought to be supplemented by Mr. E. A. Moore.

[6]                 Accordingly, the Ermineskin plaintiffs' application to have Mr. E. A. Moore examined as a non-party, pursuant to Rule 238, is denied.

                                                                            ORDER

THIS COURT ORDERS that the application to order Mr. E. A. Moore to be examined for discovery either as a deponent for the Crown pursuant to Rule 237(3), or as a non-party pursuant to Rule 238, is denied with costs.

                                                                                                                                    "Max M. Teitelbaum"

                                                                                                                                                       J. F. C. C.

                                                    FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA

                                                                 TRIAL DIVISION

                              NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKETS:                                        T-2022-89 and T-1254-92

STYLE OF CAUSE:                           Chief Victor Buffalo et al. v. Her Majesty the Queen et al.

Chief John Ermineskin et al. v. Her Majesty the

Queen et al.

PLACE OF HEARING:                     CALGARY, Alberta

DATE OF HEARING:                       July 16, 2002

REASONS FOR ORDER

AND ORDER :                                  TEITELBAUM, J.

DATED:                                                August 19, 2002

APPEARANCES:

Mr. Ed Molstad, Q.C.                                                                FOR PLAINTIFF SAMSON

T-2022-89

Ms. Maria Morellato                                                                 FOR PLAINTIFF

ERMINESKIN

T-1254-92

Mr. Allan Macleod, Q.C.

Mr. Clarke Hunter                                                                      FOR HER MAJESTY THE

Mr. Ray Chartier                                                                         QUEEN

Mr. S. H. (Stan) Rutwind                                                            FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

FOR ALBERTA

                                                                                 - 2 -

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Parlee McLaws                                                                            FOR PLAINTIFF SAMSON

Edmonton, Alberta                                                                       T-2022-89

Blake, Cassels & Graydon                                                        FOR PLAINTIFF

Vancouver, British Columbia                                                    ERMINESKIN

T-1254-92

Macleod Dixon LLP                                                                  FOR HER MAJESTY THE

Calgary, Alberta                                                                          QUEEN

Alberta Justice Constitutional                                                   FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

& Aboriginal Law                                                                         FOR ALBERTA

Edmonton, Alberta