Lafarge motion for leave to-appeal denied in alternative fuels case
The Ontario Court of Appeal will not hear an appeal from Lafarge Canada Inc about its alternative fuels application. That may mean an end to the cement giant’s lengthy legal campaign to halt an independent review of its proposal to burn tires, bone meal, plastics, and other waste materials in its cement kiln near Bath, Ontario.
Lafarge had hoped to have a decision overturned from a lower court that confirmed Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal could proceed with its hearing on the air and waste approvals given by the province.
The Court’s decision means Lafarge must face the Tribunal, appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, or abandon the project. Earlier statements to the Tribunal by Lafarge’s counsel indicate that the company would cancel the project rather than subject its proposal to the scrutiny of an independent tribunal.
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper & Gord Downie were represented by Rick Lindgren of the Canadian Environmental Law Association. Also involved in the case were lawyers Joseph Castrilli, representing The Tragically Hip, and Hugh Wilkins and Marlene Cashin of Ecojustice, representing Loyalist Environmental Coalition.
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper & Gord Downie will release more details about this decision as soon as they are available.
Other resources to be utilized in the transitional phase is Holcim’s onsite computer lab and a meeting area capable of holding 25 to 30 people. A "mini career center" is to be established there, with literature and other resources available.
Published under Cement News
