Frank Stronach’s sex assault case put over until Nov. 4, set to move to Toronto

TORONTO – The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed a challenge to the construction of a massive rail-and-truck hub in the Greater Toronto Area, allowing the project to proceed.

In a unanimous ruling Friday, a three-judge panel found that a decision by the federal government to allow Canadian National Railway Co. to build the terminal despite “adverse environmental effects” was reasonable.

The $250-million project aims to double CN’s existing line of tracks in Milton, Ont., and construct a hub for containers to be transferred between trucks and trains.

In March, a Federal Court decision set aside a green light issued by the government in January 2021 and sent the project back to Ottawa for reconsideration — a ruling that has now been overturned.

The lower court decision highlighted health concerns around air quality, pointing to the 800 diesel-powered trucks that would make daily round trips to the hub in Ontario’s Halton Region.

On Friday, the appeal court found that the government gave the thumbs-up only after giving due consideration to protecting human health, in line with environmental legislation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:CNR)

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TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index inched lower in late-morning trading, weighed down by losses in the utility sector, as U.S. stock markets also fell.

The S&P/TSX composite index was down 8.52 points at 24,154.31.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 123.99 points at 42,228.76. The S&P 500 index was down 14.26 points at 5,736.81, while the Nasdaq composite was down 66.34 points at 18,071.51.

The Canadian dollar traded for 73.47 cents US compared with 73.65 cents US on Friday.

The November crude oil contract was up US$1.80 at US$76.18 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down 10 cents at US$2.75 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was down US$5.10 at US$2,662.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was down five cents at US$4.52 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

TORONTO – Hudbay Minerals Inc. has reached settlement agreements covering three civil lawsuits in connection with the Fenix nickel project in Guatemala that the company sold in 2011.

The company says the settlements conclude all outstanding legal matters related to its former activities in Guatemala.

The lawsuits related to the 2009 killing of Adolfo Ich Chamán, the 2009 shooting and paralysis of German Chub Choc, and the 2007 eviction of the Mayan community of Lote Ocho from the disputed Fenix mine lands during which 11 women allege they were sexually assaulted.

The settlement involves compensation to all 13 plaintiffs.

The sides agreed not to disclose the specific terms of the settlement including the amount paid in compensation, but the company says the agreement confirms the settlement is without admission of liability and that the parties continue to have fundamentally differing views on the facts underlying the allegations.

Hudbay acquired the Fenix project in 2008 and divested itself of its holdings in Guatemala in 2011. Before 2008, the Fenix mine was owned by Canadian company Skye Resources Inc., which was bought by Hudbay.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs called the agreement “a fair and reasonable settlement.”

“Over the past decade I have sat through multiple court hearings in Canada, endured days of questioning under oath in an office tower in Toronto and told the story of my husband’s death many painful times,” said Angelica Choc, widow of Adolfo Ich.

“At times, it was hard to have hope. Part of me thought that we would never see any real justice. But somehow we made it through this together, and I feel so much relief that this is over and that it has come to a good ending with a fair settlement.”

Hudbay chief executive Peter Kukielski said the cases have been outstanding for more than a decade and the board and management are pleased to bring them to a conclusion.

“In doing so, we recognized the difficult economic and social circumstances of the plaintiffs and we are thankful for a constructive resolution with the plaintiffs and their counsel,” Kukielski said in a statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:HBM)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.