Newfoundland (Attorney General) v. Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corp., [1988] 1 SCR 1085

nfld. (a. g.) v. churchill falls (labrador) corp., [1988] 1 S.C.R. 1085

Her Majesty's Attorney General of Newfoundland                         Appellant

v.

Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Limited                              Respondent

and

Québec Hydro Electric Commission                                                             Respondent

and

Royal Trust Company                                                                       Respondent

and

General Trust of Canada                                                                   Respondent

indexed as: newfoundland (attorney general) v. churchill falls (labrador) corp.

File No.: 19736.

1988: May 3, 4; 1988: June 9.

Present: Dickson C.J. and Beetz, McIntyre, Lamer, Wilson, Le Dain and La Forest JJ.

on appeal from the court of appeal for newfoundland

                   Contracts ‑‑ Interpretation ‑‑ Statutory Lease ‑‑ Clause 2(e) of part I of lease properly construed by Court of Appeal and Trial Division.

                   Held: the appeal should be dismissed.

Statutes and Regulations Cited

Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Limited (Lease) Act, 1961, S.N. 1961, c. 51.

                   APPEAL from a judgment of the Newfoundland Court of Appeal (1985), 56 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 91, 168 A.P.R. 91, affirming a judgment of the Trial Division (1983), 49 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 181, 145 A.P.R. 181. Appeal dismissed.

                   James R. Chalker, c.r., James Thistle and Anne Marie Rose, for the appellant.

                   Maureen P. Greene, for the respondent Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corp.

                   Thomas Heintzman, Q.C., André E. Gadbois, Q.C., and David I. W. Hamer, for the respondent Quebec Hydro Electric Commission.

                   J. Vincent O'Donnell, Q.C., for the respondent Royal Trust Co.

                   Randell Earle and Thomas Williams, for the respondent General Trust of Canada.

                   The following id the judgment delivered by

1.                       The Court ‑‑ The judgments of the Trial Division of the Newfoundland Supreme Court and of the Newfoundland Court of Appeal are reported: (1983), 49 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 181, 145 A.P.R. 181 (S.C.T.D.), aff'd (1985), 56 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 91, 168 A.P.R. 91 (C.A.)

2.                       We are all of the view that the Trial Division of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal have both arrived, albeit by different routes, at the correct construction of Clause 2(e) de la Part I of the Lease executed and delivered pursuant to the Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Limited (Lease) Act, 1961, S.N. 1961, c. 51.

3.                       The appeal is dismissed with costs.  However, no order as to costs was requested by Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Ltd., and there will be no such order with respect to this respondent.

                   Appeal dismissed with costs.

                   Solicitors for the appellant: Chalker, Green & Rowe, St. John's.

                   Solicitor for the respondent Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corp.: Maureen P. Greene, St. John's.

                   Solicitors for the respondent Quebec Hydro Electric Commission: McCarthy & McCarthy, Toronto.

                   Solicitors for the respondent the Royal Trust Co.: Lavery, O'Brien, Montréal.

                   Solicitors for the respondent General Trust of Canada: O'Dea, Strong, Earle, St. John's.