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NATL61_010,012 03/08/2007 09:21 AM Page 12 Courts and Legislatures Jamieson, whose practice focuses“ If a project is particularly aboriginal and regulatory matters, important, either strategically, as to how to apply that test,explains or in terms of dollars involved, “the court is not necessarily going to on regulatory, environmental, and it may be prudent to seek notes that the Sappier decision shows aboriginal law. expertise from people who deal feel fettered by previous decisions. The majority of these cases have with aboriginal issues on an Clearly,the court is going to contin- revolved around issues concerning ongoing basis. ue to refine, and perhaps even mod- fishing and hunting, but what it ify, its past approaches when con- means to be an aboriginal right has with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP in” fronted with new situations.” As always been open, she adds.And while the such, he suggests,“If a project is particularly law is clear that the government owes a duty Calgary. “Otherwise, they run the risk of important,either strategically,or in terms of to consult, and if appropriate, take action to having their permits and other authoriza- dollars involved, it may be prudent to seek accommodate,when it has knowledge of an tions set aside by the court.” expertise from people who deal with abo- aboriginal right to interpetation, in practice Although there are certainly guiding riginal issues on an ongoing basis.” the act of consulting often gets delegated to principles as to what constitutes an abo- Developing a major resource project the resource developers. riginal right, in-house counsel must be often requires a myriad of federal, provin- “This decision reinforces how impor- careful not to treat all aboriginal groups cial and municipal permits and approvals, tant it is for companies contemplating across Canada in a similar fashion, says sums up Osler’s Jamieson. Any one of projects that have the potential to infringe Heather Treacy, a partner with Fraser these can give rise to the Crown’s duty to on aboriginal rights—forestry, energy, Milner Casgrain LLP’s Calgary office, and consult with aboriginal groups, which, mining, wind power and other projects Aboriginal litigation lawyer. As the site- should the Crown fail in its obligation for —to develop a reasonable and effective specific Sappier decision aptly demon- an approval, translates into a significant plan of action to assess and address abo- strates, different aboriginal groups may risk for resource developers. riginal rights in relation to their project,” have very different specific rights. Consequently, in-house counsel whose says Jamieson. And once potential What’s required is good communica- companies intend to pursue this type of infringements are identified, resource tion between the Crown, industry and development “must understand the Crown’s developers should take action to avoid or aboriginal groups, says Treacy. While it is duty, while effectively managing their own mitigate those infringements, if possible, incumbent on the Crown and industry to company’s consultation program to ensure she adds. consult, so too must aboriginal groups that the regulatory requirements are met “In-house counsel have to be alive to the ensure that they do not “frustrate” the and to increase the chances that the Crown’s fact that their company’s activities have the process, she adds. duty is fulfilled.” potential to infringe on aboriginal or treaty The law in this area is still evolving. rights, agrees Sandy Carpenter, a partner Carpenter, whose practice focuses on Bev Cline autochtones, en pratique ce sont les promoteurs de projets qui se façon. L’important, affirme-t-elle, est de maintenir une bonne voient déléguer la responsabilité. D’où l’importance pour les communication entre ces groupes, la Couronne et l’industrie. promoteurs des secteurs de la foresterie et de l’énergie de Selon Sandy Carpenter, associé chez Fasken Martineau développer un plan raisonnable visant à évaluer l’impact de leur DuMoulin LLP à Calgary, l’affaire Sappier montre que la Cour projet sur un droit ancestral. Il s’agit essentiellement de gérer les ne se sentira pas entravée par ses arrêts antérieurs.Au contraire, risques puisqu’un tribunal pourrait annuler un permis en bout elle va plutôt raffiner, voire même modifier ses approches de piste. lorsqu’elle se trouvera confrontée à de nouvelles situations. Puisque le droit est spécifique à un site, il ne sera pas néces- Dorénavant, il sera peut-être sage de consulter un expert des sairement reconnu ailleurs au pays,soutient Heather Treacy,asso- questions autochtones. ciée chez Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP à Calgary. Elle nous met en garde de traiter tous les groupes autochtones de la même –Yves Faguy 12 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association MARCH 2007