Justice Adair today (19 December) ruled on the issue of costs in the ongoing legal battle between Don Staniford and the Norwegian-owned multinational giant Cermaq – read the Judgment in full online here
The Canadian Press/Vancouver Sun (19 December) reported:
Global News/The Canadian Press (19 December) reported:
"The defence of
free speech is sadly not free but it is a price worth paying," said Don Staniford in a statement. "The costs
of this SLAPP suit are a drop in the ocean to a multi-million dollar
multinational giant. Mainstream's parent company Cermaq made over $240
million profit and had an operating revenue of over $2 billion in 2011. Mainstream,
meanwhile, has almost 3 000 employees and a total operating revenue of NOK 3.6
billion ($634 million) in 2011."
"Thanks
to my lawyer David Sutherland in fighting the good fight and taking on the evil
Corporation in the shadowy guise of Cermaq," continued Staniford. "It's been an honour to stand
together alongside David in the fight against Goliath. Win, lose or draw
– the defence of truth and fair comment is a fight worth fighting (and we all
know that David wins in the end)!"
"A
big thanks to all my supporters including West Coast Environmental Law, the
general public who raised $50,000 via Go Fund Me, and Norwegian
fishermen who donated $10,000 to fight this Norwegian
Government-owned giant. Whatever the costs involved, the battle
against Norwegian-owned salmon farming companies spreading infectious diseases
and killing wild fish continues all over the world. How can you put a
price on healthy wild salmon?"
"I
look forward to coming back to Canada in March and first stop will be the
Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where Cermaq is recklessly expanding
their disease-ridden operations at Plover Point in the Fortune Channel.
That a Norwegian-owned company is being permitted by the Canadian Government to
spread infectious diseases, toxic chemicals and waste pollution in one of
the world's crown jewels is a costly mistake. People need to make a
choice between disease-ridden farmed salmon or healthy wild fish – and that
means removing salmon feedlots from our global oceans."
Read more background on the lawsuit online here
Including:
Staniford files cross-appeal (31 October) – read online here
Mainstream Canada appeals (15 October) – read online here
Don Staniford Wins Lawsuit Vs. Cermaq (28 September) – read judgment online here