On March 31, the Supreme Court of B.C. released its decision on a historic case with implications for the future of resource management in Canada.
The judge sided with the Haida Gwaii Management Council and Province of British Columbia against logging giant Teal Cedar Products Inc., which argued its profitability had unjustly diminished due to the former’s sustainability regulations and improved forestry stewardship standards. In its defence, Haida Gwaii Management Council and the province pointed to Teal’s careless logging and business practices, which it continued despite expert, repeated advice from Haida and Crown governments. Proceedings involved numerous expert witnesses and took place over the course of 64 days in 2023. Almost exactly two years later, the judge dismissed Teal’s claims.
In a statement, Skil Hiilans (Allan Davidson), hereditary title holder of St’lang Laanaas and chair and founding member of the council, said, “We welcome this judgment that strongly affirms the [Haida Gwaii Management Council] has the mandate and authority to make the decisions that best maintains the cultural and environmental integrity of Haida Gwaii.”
Keith Moore, a forester and long-time Haida Gwaii resident, and a witness in the case, calls the decision “a great victory” for all the work the communities, the Haida Nation and the provincial government did to create the progressive land-use plan for Haida Gwaii. Though Haida leaders and conservation experts testified during the proceedings, Moore says the judgement is “purely based on the law” as the judge rejected all three of Teal’s arguments. “But it is great support for all the work that was done on Haida Gwaii and good news for the future elsewhere. Governments and First Nations can move forward to make the important decisions to change the way we manage forests with the full support of the law.”
The decision is not only significant for future conservation initiatives — it also affirms the Haida principle of Yahguudang (respect) and upholds the rights of First Nations to safeguard their homelands.