B.C. First Nation sues government, forest firms in wake of repeated flooding

By Morgan Brayton
Parksville Qualicum Beach News
January 8, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Halalt First Nation on Vancouver Island has filed a class-action suit with the Supreme Court of British Columbia, asserting that negligent forestry practices and infrastructure failures have caused significant harm to their lands and community. The plaintiffs claim the defendants are responsible for ongoing flooding and water damage. …The federal government is accused of constructing the Esquimalt and Nanaimo (E&N) Railway through the reserve with inadequate drainage capacity. …The provincial government is accused of failing to manage watershed impacts from forestry, construct effective flood protection, and maintain the Trans-Canada Highway. …The forestry defendants (Mosaic Forest Management, TimberWest, Island Timberlands, and North Cowichan) are accused of overharvesting. …The Municipality of North Cowichan is accused of engaging in forestry operations in a manner that contributed to increased surface runoff. …None of the defendants have yet filed a response with the court.

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