SUPREME cow; OF BRITISH COLUMBIA SEAL VICTORIA REGISTRY JAN I 5 2018 I 8 2 4 No. Victoria Registry IN THE SUPREIVIE COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WEST MOBERLY FIRST NATIONS, and ROLAND WILLSON ON HIS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OTHER WEST MOBERLY FIRST NATIONS BENEFICIARIES AND: OF TREATY NO. 8 PLAINTIFFS HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA, and BRITISH COLUMBIA HYDRO AND POWER AUTHORITY DEFENDANTS NOTICE OF CIVIL CLAIM This action has been started by the plaintiff(s) for the relief set out in Part 2 below. If you intend to respond to this action, you or your lawyer must (13) ?le a response to civil claim in Form 2 in the above?named registry of this court within the time for response to civil claim described below, and serve a copy of the ?led response to civil claim on the plaintif?s). If you intend to make a counterclaim, you or your lawyer must ?le a response to civil claim in Form 2 and a counterclaim in Form 3 in the above- named registry of this court within the time for response to civil claim described below, and serve a copy of the ?led response to civil claim and counterclaim on the plaintiff(s) and on any new parties named in the counterclaim. JUDGMENT MAY BE PRONOUNCED AGAINST YOU IF YOU FAIL to ?le the response to civil claim within the time for response to civil claim described below. Time for response to civil claim A response to civil claim must be ?led and served on the plaintif?s), if you were served with the notice of civil claim anywhere in Canada, within 21 days after that service, if you were served with the notice of civil claim anywhere in the United States of America, within 35 days after that service, (0) if you were served with the notice of civil claim anywhere else, within 49 days after that service, if the time for response to civil claim has been set by order of the court, within that time. CLAIM OF THE PLAINTIFFS Part 1: STATENIENT OF FACTS The Parties The Plaintiffs 1. The Plaintiff West Moberly First Nations ("West Moberly") is a "band" as de?ned in the Indian Act, RSC 1985, 1-5, and is an "Aboriginal people" within the meaning of section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, 11. West Moberly is one of the successor First Nations to the Hudson?s Hope Band of Indians, who adhered to Treaty 8 in 1914. 2. The Plaintiff Ronald Willson is the duly elected Chief of West Moberly, a registered lndian, and a member of West Moberly, He brings this action on his own behalf and as a representative on behalf of all other West Moberly bene?ciaries of Treaty 8. The Defendants 3. The Defendant Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of British Columbia ("British Columbia?) is named in this proceeding pursuant to s. 7 0f the Crown Proceedings Act, RSBC 1996, 89, and is that emanation of the Crown that holds the beneficial interest to the lands and waters material to the issues in this proceeding, subject to the interests of the Plaintiffs. 4. British Columbia has power to manage and regulate the lands and waters material to the issues in this proceeding pursuant to ss. 109, 92(5) and 92A of the Constitution Act. 1 86 7, and subject to s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and Treaty 8. 5. The Defendant British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority Hydro?) is a British Columbia Crown corporation, continued pursuant to s. 2 of the Hydro and Power Authority Act, RSBC 1996, 212, and is for all its purposes an agent of the government of British Columbia in accordance with s. 3 of the Hydro and PowerAuthoritv Act, RSBC 1996, 212. British Columbia is responsible for the actions of BC Hydro undertaken as British Columbia's agent. 6. The Attorney General of Canada is the representative of Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada ("Canada"), and is named in this proceeding pursuant to section 23(1) of the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, RSC 1985, C-50. Canada has power to manage and regulate the lands and waters material to the issues in this proceeding pursuant to s. 91 of the Constitution Act, 1 86 7, including its jurisdiction over navigation and shipping, sea coast and inland ?sheries, and "Indians, and Lands reserved for the Indians?, subject to s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and Treaty 8. Treaty 8 7. Treaty 8 (or the "Treaty") is a treaty within the meaning of s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. Treaty 8 was originally made and concluded in 1899 at Lesser Slave Lake between Her most Gracious Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland ("the Crown") and the Chief and Headmen of the Indians of Lesser Slave Lake and adjacent country. The Treaty was rati?ed by Order in Council 363 on February 2, 1900. 8. In 1914, members of the Hudson's Hope Band of Indians, Dunne?za ancestors of the present-day West Moberly, adhered to Treaty 8. 9. Treaty 8 created reciprocal rights and obligations on the part of West Moberly and the Crown. 10. The Crown required and sought the consent of West Moberly?s ancestors to open the tract of land which the Crown wished to use and inhabit for settlement and other activities. 1 1. The Plaintiffs' ancestors gave this consent in exchange for the solemn promises made by the Crown, including that: a) entrance into Treaty 8 would not lead to forced interference with the Plaintiffs? mode oflife; b) the same patterns of activity would continue for the Plaintiffs' ancestors and their descendants after the Treaty as existed before it; and c) the Plaintiffs would be as free to hunt, trap, and ?sh as they had been before entering the Treaty. Centrality of the Peace at the time of Treaty 12. At the time of their adherence to Treaty 8, the Peace River was the central river in the region, navigated by the Dunne?2a, other Indigenous peoples, settlers, and trappers. For West Moberly's ancestors, the Peace River was not merely a "river highway? or resource from which they drew. The Peace River, its islands, surrounding lands, and con?uences with certain tributaries, including the Finlay, Parsnip, and Moberly Rivers (collectively the ?Peace?), was unique and central to the mode of life and cultural landscape of the Plaintiffs ancestors, which de?ned their history, knowledge, and traditional practices. The Plaintiffs' ancestors used and relied upon the Peace for their hunting, trapping, fishing, gathering, navigation, habitation, teaching, and ceremonial, spiritual, cultural and other traditional practices. '13. In entering into Treaty 8, the Plaintiffs' ancestors would not and could not have understood that the Crown could "take up" or destroy the Peace. Such activity was not contemplated by the terms of the Treaty, nor did the Crown ever communicate this as part of negotiations or otherwise. Treaty Rights 14. The Crown's solemn promises, in the context in which they were provided, guarantee the Plaintiffs? rights to meaningfully: a) continue their mode of life, including patterns of activity and occupation, without forced interference; b) maintain and access teaching, cultural, spiritual, and community gathering sites in order to pass on the Plaintiffs? mode of life; d) f) maintain access to resources and places which have a unique and central signi?cance to their hunting, ?shing, and trapping, or other aspects of their mode of life; hunt, ?sh, gather, and trap within their traditional territory, which includes travel on and access to the lands, habitat, ecosystems, trails, waters, and other infrastructure of the Peace; maintain their practical, cultural, and spiritual connection to the Peace; and conduct traditional, cultural, and spiritual activities at or in connection with the Peace (the "Treaty Rights?). 15. Pursuant to Treaty 8, the Defendants' obligations include the obligation: 3) b) C) d) to act honourably, ensuring that the enactment of regulations and the taking up of land do not interfere with the Plaintiffs' continued meaningful exercise of Treaty Rights; to manage and protect the lands designated under the Treaty, and adjacent lands, including the waters and ecosystems within those lands, in such a way as to: i. minimize impacts on Treaty Rights, and ii. ensure the continued meaningful exercise of Treaty Rights by the Plaintiffs; not to displace the Plaintiffs, forcibly interfere with their mode of life, or permit the doing of these things; not to interfere with the Plaintiffs' traditional patterns of activities; and not to interfere, or allow others to interfere, with the Plaintiffs' meaningful exercise of Treaty Rights. West Moberly and the Peace 16. After adherence to Treaty 8, the Peace continued to have a unique and central significance to the practices and mode of life of the West Moberly and their Dunne?2a ancestors. The Plaintiffs and their ancestors maintained a physical, practical, cultural, and spiritual connection to the Peace. The Peace is necessary for the meaningful exercise of some or all of the Plaintiffs' Treaty Rights. 17. In 1916, the Crown in right of Canada designated and approved a reserve on the west side of Moberly Lake for the use and bene?t of the Hudson's Hope Band of Indians, following their adherence to the Treaty (the "Reserve"). Moberly Lake is linked to the Peace River via the Moberly River. 18. In 1971, when the Hudson's Hope Band of Indians split into the West Moberly and the Halfway River First Nation, the Crown retained the Reserve for the use and bene?t of West Moberly. Damming of the Peace River 19. British Columbia enacted and enacts legislation governing the production, transmission, distribution, and regulation of electricity in British Columbia. 20. In or around 1962, British Columbia created BC Hydro as a Crown corporation, in part to enable the development of hydroelectric construction projects on the Peace River. 21. In or around 1968, BC Hydro completed the W.A.C. Bennett Dam at the head of the Peace River Canyon (?Bennett Dam?), approximately 50 km northwest of the Reserve. 22. The Bennett Dam flooded the Peace River to the north and west of the dam, as well as the Parsnip and Finlay Rivers, to create British Columbia's largest reservoir, the Williston Reservoir. The Bennett Dam and Williston Reservoir caused extensive changes to the environment and landscape in and around the Peace River system, ?ooding lands previously used by wildlife and the West Moberly, and resulting in a fundamental change to the aquatic ecosystem. Construction of the Bennett Dam and creation of the Williston Reservoir signi?cantly impacted and continue to signi?cantly impact West Moberly?s ability to meaningfully exercise Treaty Rights. 23. British Columbia and Canada granted the neceSSary approvals for BC Hydro to construct the Bennett Darn, but failed to adequately consult with or accommodate West Moberly. 24. In or around 1980, BC Hydro completed the Peace Canyon Dam on the Peace River, approximately 21 km from the Bennett Dam near the foot of the Peace River Canyon. The Peace Canyon Dam is approximately 25 km north of the Reserve. 25. The Peace Canyon Dam ?ooded the section of the Peace River between the Peace Canyon Dam and the Bennett Dam, forming Dinosaur Lake Reservoir over lands previously used by wildlife and the West Moberly, and resulting in a fundamental change to the aquatic ecosystem. Construction of the Peace Canyon Dam and creation of the Dinosaur Reservoir significantly impacted and continue to significantly impact West Moberly's ability to meaningfully exercise Treaty Rights. 26. British Columbia and Canada granted the necessary approvals for BC Hydro to construct the Peace Canyon Dam, but failed to adequately consult with or accommodate West Moberly. The Site Dam 27. By 1978, BC Hydro had identified Site C, approximately 7 km southwest of Fort St. John, as a potential location for a third dam on the Peace River. In 1980, BC Hydro applied for an Energy Project Certi?cate to initiate Site darn construction. BC Hydro?s application was referred to the British Columbia Utilities Commission the independent agency responsible for regulating electric utilities pursuant to the Utilities Commission Act, SBC 1980, c. 351. [n 1983, the BCUC recommended against issuance of an Energy Project Certi?cate until future demand forecasts could justify an immediate start to construction, and only after consideration of energy supply alternatives demonstrated that Site would be the best project to meet anticipated shortfalls. The BCUC recommended that any determination of these matters be referred to the BCUC for further consideration. 28. BC Hydro did not receive authorization to initiate Site dam construction at that time. 29. BC Hydro continued to consider the Site project internally in subsequent decades. In or around the late 20003, BC Hydro began meeting with First Nations about Site C. 30. In 2010, through s. ofthe Clean Energy Act, SBC 2010, 22, British Columbia exempted Site from requiring a certi?cate of public convenience and necessity from the BCUC under the Utilities Commission Act. 31. In 2010, BC Hydro began submitting its Site project plans for regulatory and environmental reviews, including under the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act, SBC 2002, 43, and the Canadian Environmental AssessmentAct, SC 1992, 37. A ederal- Provincial Joint Review Panel was established in August 2013 but was not mandated to consider whether the electricity to be produced at Site was required, whether other means were available to meet British Columbia?s energy needs, or whether Site would infringe West Moberly's Treaty Rights. 32. In May 2014, the Joint Review Panel concluded that Site would have signi?cant adverse environmental effects and signi?cant adverse effects on West Moberly that could not be mitigated. 33. In October 2014, Canada issued its Environmental Assessment Decision Statement, revised and re?issued on November 25, 2014 under s. 54 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, SC 2012, 19, approving Site with conditions. Canada has issued, or is expected to issue, further approvals to permit construction of Site C. 34. On October 14, 2014, British Columbia issued an Environmental Assessment Certi?cate for Site C. 35. In December 2014, British Columbia made its ?nal investment decision in favour of Site C. British Columbia has issued, or is expected to issue, further approvals to permit construction of Site C. 36. In issuing their approvals for Site C, neither British Columbia nor Canada assessed whether Site would infringe West Moberly's Treaty Rights. 37. On August 2, 2017, by way of Order in Council 244 244") pursuant to 3. 5(1) of the Uttiities on-mn?ssion Act, RSBC 1996, 473, the Lieutenant Governor in Council requested the BCUC to advise in respect of Site C. OIC 244 did not permit the BCUC to consider: a) whether BC Hydro?s demand forecast is accurate; b) the full range of energy supply alternatives; c) whether a certi?cate of public convenience and necessity should issue; or d) whether Site infringes Treaty rights. 38. On November 1, 2017, the BCUC reported in accordance with 01C 244 and advised that BC Hydro's demand forecast could be satis?ed through an alternative portfolio of assets and other mitigation strategies, and that the potential cost to ratepayers of this alternative portfolio would not necessarily be greater than the expected costs associated with Site C. 39. On December 11, 2017, British Columbia announced its decision to complete Site C. Speci?c impacts of the Site Dam 40. Completion of the Site Dam will result in the ?ooding of an additional 83 km of the Peace River. Another reservoir will be created west of the Site dam to Peace Canyon Dam. Amongst other impacts, Site and the associated reservoir will: a) destroy the existing aquatic ecosystem and result in a new aquatic ecosystem and ?sh community; b) destroy ?sh habitat; c) reduce ?sh density, making it more dif?cult to ?nd and catch ?sh in the reservoir; d) increase mercury levels in the reservoir for at least 15 to 25 years, with bioaccumulation in ?sh; e) ?ood the lower reaches of several tributaries, including 1 1.6 km of the Moberly River, which will become methylating, resulting in ?sh moving upstream into Moberly Lake with the same concentration levels as in the reservoir itself; f) pose a risk to health through contamination if ?sh are consumed in accordance with West Moberly?s traditional practices; 10 g) extirpate multiple ?sh species preferred by West Moberly and introduce invasive ?sh species into the Moberly River; h) prevent West Moberly from harvesting preferred species of ?sh; i) disrupt boat and shore-based river ?shing and practices along the proposed reservoir and Moberly River; j) destroy at-risk and sensitive communities, including wetlands, riparian and floodplain forests, tufa seeps, and mark fen; k) destroy plants gathered by West Moberly for spiritual, medicinal and food purposes; 1) destroy critical habitat for caribou, weakening the prospects for the recovery of caribou already facing extirpation as a result of the cumulative impacts of the Bennett Dam and other development in the region; m) pose signi?cant risk to the survival of other at?risk species; n) inundate or restrict access to habitation sites associated with the exercise of Treaty Rights; 0) destroy spiritual and cultural sites, including those used for gatherings and teachings; p) inundate traditional trails, navigation routes, and spring water sources important to West Moberly when using the land to exercise Treaty Rights; and q) exclude or undermine West Moberly?s ability to hunt and trap preferred. species in a unique and centrally signi?cant area, and require members to travel to more distant or less suitable lands and waters to pursue hunting and trapping. Infringement of Treaty Rights 41. The Site Dam, in conjunction with the ongoing impacts from the Bennett and Peace Canyon Dams, will result in: a) no meaningful ability of West Moberly to exercise some or all of their Treaty Rights; 11 b) loss of West Moberly?s use and enjoyment of lands and waters (including the Peace), which are ofcentral significance to their traditional territory; 0) displacement of West Moberly?shunters, trappers and ?shers; d) disruption and curtailment of the continuity of West Moberly?s patterns of activities; e) loss of West Moberly?s preferred means of exercising their Treaty Rights; and f) forcible interference with West Moberly's mode of life. 42. The cumulative impact of the Bennett, Peace Canyon, and Site Dams is to turn the Peace River into a series of reservoirs, destroying the unique cultural and ecological character of the Peace, severing the physical, practical, cultural and spiritual connection the West Moberly have with the Peace, and infringing West Moberly's Treaty Rights. Part 2: RELIEF SOUGHT WHEREFORE the Plaintiffs claim as follows: 1. A declaration that, in causing and/or permitting the cumulative impacts of the Bennett, Peace Canyon, and Site Dams on the Plaintiffs' Treaty Rights, the Crown Defendants have: a) failed to uphold the Honour of the Crown; b) breached their obligations to West Moberly under the Treaty; and c) unjusti?ably inflinged West Moberly?s Treaty Rights. 2. A declaration that any Crown action, decision, or approval permitting the construction or operation of the Site Dam is unconstitutional, void, and of no force and effect on the grounds that it: a) fails to uphold the Honour of the Crown; b) breaches the Crown's obligations to West Moberly under the Treaty, and c) unjustifiany infringes West Moberly's Treaty Rights. 12 3. An interim, interlocutory and/0r permanent injunction prohibiting Canada and British Columbia from issuing any approvals required for the construction, completion, or operation of Site C. 4. An interim, interlocutory and/or permanent injunction prohibiting BC Hydro from centinuing 01' completing construction of Site and ?ooding the Peace River. 5. Costs. 6. Such further and other relief as this Honourable Court may deem appropriate. Part 3: LEGAL BASIS l. The Constitution Act, 1982, recognizes and af?rms the existing treaty rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada. 2. The Defendants are bound by Treaty 8, as both levels of government are responsible for ful?lling the promises in the Treaty, in accordance with the division of powers under the Constitution Act, 1867 (UK), 30 31 Vict, 3, reprinted in RSC 1985, App 11, No 5. 3. The Plaintiffs have rights under the Treaty against the curtailment by the Crown of the mode of life that the Plaintiffs enjoyed before entering the Treaty. 4. The exercise of the Defendants? rights under the Treaty, including any rights to make regulations or to take up lands, are subject to and burdened by the Defendants' obligations to the Plaintiffs under the Treaty, the Constitution, and the honour of the Crown. The Defendants must act in a way that seeks to preserve and accomplish the intended purposes of the Treaty and to ensure the continuing meaningful exercise of the Treaty Rights by the Plaintiffs. 5. The damming of the Peace is outside the scope of Crown actions permitted by the "taking up'I clause contained in Treaty 8, and constitutes a breach and infringement of the Treaty and the Plaintiffs' Treaty Rights, contrary to the Defendants' constitutional obligations and the honour of the Crown. 6. In the alternative, the cumulative impacts of the Bennett, Peace Canyon, and Site Dams constitute the taking up of land to such an extent as to breach and infringe the Treaty and the 13 Plaintiffs? Treaty Rights, contrary to the Defendants? constitutional obligations and the honour of the Crown. Plaintiffs? address for service: Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerrnan Woodward and Company Lawyers LLP #400 856 Homer Street Suite 200, 1022 Government Street Vancouver, BC Victoria, BC Canada V6B 2W5 Canada VSW 1X7 Attention: Reidar M. Mogerinan, Attention: Sonya Morgan, Counsel for the Plaintiffs Co-counsel for the Plaintiffs Fax number address for service: - (604) 689?7554 Camp Fiorante Matthews Mo gcnnan (250) 380?6560 Woodward and Company Lawyers LLP Place of trial: . Victoria The address of the registry is: Victoria Law Courts 850 Burdett Ave PO Box 9248 Prov Govt Victo Dated January 15, 2018: ar l\ . in Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogennan Counsel for the Plaintiffs Rule 7?1 (1) of the Supreme Court Civil Rules states: (1) Unless all parties of record consent or the court otherwise orders, each party of record to an action must, within 35 days after the end of the pleading period, prepare a list of documents in Form 22 that lists 14 all documents that are or have been in the party?s possession or control and that could, if available, be used by any party at tn'al to prove or disprove a material fact, and (ii) all other documents to which the party intends to refer at trial, and serve the list on all parties of record. Part 1: 15 CONCISE SUMMARY OF NATURE OF CLAIM: A claim that Site infringes the Plaintiffs? Treaty 8 rights. The Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief. Part 2: THIS CLAIM ARISES FROM THE FOLLOWING: A personal injury arising out of: a motor vehicle accident medical malpractice another cause A dispute concerning: contaminated sites construction defects real property (real estate) ]personal prOperty the provision of goods or services or other general commercial matters investment losses the lending of money an employment relationship a will or other issues concerning the probate of an estate a matter not listed here Part 3: THIS CLAIM INVOLVES: Part 4: a class action maiitime law aboriginal law constitutional law conflict oflaws none of the above do not know Constitution Act, 1867 Constitution Act, 1982