Liard First Nation v. Yukon Government and Selwyn Chihong Mining Ltd, 2011 YKSC 55

On July 4, 2011, Mr. Justice Veale of the Supreme Court of Yukon issued a decision in Liard First Nation v. Yukon Government and Selwyn Chihong Mining Ltd, 2011 YKSC 55, dismissing a challenge to the environmental assessment of Selwyn Chihong's advanced exploration project pursuant to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act (YESAA). The decision document was the final step in the environmental assessment of an advanced underground exploration programme at the project, and allowed the company to apply for licences and permits. The Selwyn project is operated by Selwyn Chihong Mining, a joint-venture company then equally owned by TSX-V-listed Selwyn and a subsidiary of China's Yunnan Chihong Zinc and Germanium Company. Fasken Martineau was counsel to Selwyn Chihong Mining Ltd with a team that included Kevin O’Callaghan and Chuck Willms (aboriginal).