Sean Sutherland

Significant decision at the Supreme Court of Canada: five judge majority finds the Impact Assessment Act unconstitutional

On October 13, 2023, The Supreme Court of Canada released its reasons opining on the constitutionality of the federal Impact Assessment Act, SC 2019, c 28, s 1 and Physical Activities Regulations, SOR/2019-285 (together, the IAA).A majority of the Court, comprised of five judges, held that...

Lead Office: Calgary Date Closed: October 13, 2023 Value: -

First Quality Enterprises in its acquisition of Domtar’s Pulp and Paper Mill in Dryden, Ontario

On July 31, 2023, First Quality Enterprises completed its previously announced acquisition of Domtar Corporation’s pulp mill located in Dryden, Ontario, Canada. Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP advised First Quality Enterprises with a team led by Manny Pressman and  Brian Gray and including...

Lead Office: Toronto Date Closed: July 31, 2023 Value: -

The Alberta Court of Appeal in the successful appeal of the Quarry Assessment Regime

On May 6, 2020, the Alberta Court of Appeal unanimously quashed a decision of the Director (Alberta Environment and Parks) that found no environmental impact assessment is required for a silica sand extraction project. A majority of the Court of Appeal further ordered that the Director...

Lead Office: Calgary Date Closed: May 6, 2020 Value: -

Trans Mountain Canada Inc. in its successful defence of four judicial review applications at the Federal Court of Appeal, challenging the June 2019 federal approval (Order in Council) of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project

On February 4, 2020, The Federal Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the judicial review applications of four Applicants which sought to quash the June 2019 Federal Cabinet decision to approve the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project. The dismissal clears another major legal...

Lead Office: Calgary Date Closed: February 4, 2020 Value: $12 billion

Supreme Court of Canada rules in favour of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project

On Thursday, January 16, 2020 Osler lawyers, Maureen Killoran Q.C, Olivia Dixon, and Sean Sutherland appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada on the “BC Reference Case” on behalf of both Trans Mountain and Enbridge to argue that proposed amendments to the B.C. Environmental...

Lead Office: Calgary Date Closed: January 16, 2020 Value: -

Equinor Canada Limited and Husky Oil Operations Limited regarding commercial matters related to the potential Bay du Nord offshore oil project

On July 26, 2018, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador announced an agreement with Equinor Canada Limited and Husky Oil Operations Limited to develop the potential Bay du Nord offshore deepwater oil site. This agreement includes arrangements with the Province of Newfoundland and...

Lead Office: Calgary Date Closed: -- Value: $10.9 billion

Kinder Morgan Canada Limited in its litigation victories for the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion

On May 24, 2018, British Columbia’s Supreme Court dismissed two separate legal challenges to Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Expansion Project (the “Project”) that were brought by the City of Vancouver and the Squamish Nation. The petitioners argued that BC’s...

Lead Office: Calgary Date Closed: -- Value: $8 billion