| Judge rules aboriginal elders, journalists can stay | | Print | |
| Written by Industry News Services |
| Tuesday, 09 March 2010 13:42 |
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by Winnipeg Free Press A federal court judge on Monday rejected a request by the federal government to bar journalists and aboriginal elders from a hearing into whether documents related to the construction of a dam in the 1960s ought to remain secret. Canada is claiming that more than 200 documents, such as briefing notes and correspondence, ought to be covered under solicitor-client privilege. The documents are at the centre of a case over whether the federal government failed to protect three bands when some of their land was flooded by the dam.After a morning of wrangling, the judge said all debate about whether the documents are privileged ought to be done as much as possible in open court. That allowed reporters and about 50 elders to remain in the courtroom, except when the two sides can't find a way to discuss the documents without revealing what's in them. The First Nations say the whole case, which is now in its 18th year, is a waste of time and taxpayers money. The federal government should simply negotiate, they say. |
