Federation of Newfoundland Indians v. Canada

Federation of Newfoundland Indians v. Canada
Court (s) Database
Federal Court Decisions
Date
2011-06-14
Neutral citation
2011 FC 683
File numbers
T-129-89
Decision Content
Federal Court
Cour fédérale
Date: 20110614
Docket: T-129-89
Citation: 2011 FC 683
Ottawa
,
Ontario
, June 14, 2011
PRESENT: The Honourable Madam Justice Heneghan
BETWEEN:
THE FEDERATION OF NEWFOUNDLAND INDIANS, CALVIN WHITE, CLIFTON GAUDON, AUDREY STANFORD, CALVIN FRANCIS, WILSON SAMMS, EDWARD WEBB, ANDREW TOBIN, BENEDICT WHITE AND TERRY MILLS
Plaintiffs
and
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF
CANADA
Defendant
REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER
Introduction
[1] By Notice of Motion dated February 1, 2010, the Plaintiff, Mr. Calvin White, seeks the following relief:
1. An Order vacating the draft Consent Order which dismisses the within action;
2. An Order vacating the Release signed by Calvin White;
3. An Order/ Injunction preventing the Defendant through the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs from presenting the First Founding Members List to the Governor in Council seeking a Recognition Order of the Qalipu Mi-kmaq First Nation Band until further order from this Honourable Court;
4. Costs; and
5. Such other Orders as the Honourable Court deems mete and just.
Background
[2] On January 12, 1989, this action was commenced upon the filing of a Statement of Claim in the names of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (“FNI”), Calvin White, Clifton Gaudon, Lawrence Jeddore, Calvin Francis, Wilson Samms, Marie Sparkes and Effie Scanlon (the “Plaintiffs”). Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada (the “Defendant”) and the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (the “Minister”) were named defendants. By Order dated April 1, 2003, the Minister was struck as a defendant, and ceased to be a party to this action.
[3] In that Statement of Claim the Plaintiffs sought the following relief:
1) Declaring that the FNI Members are “Indians” within the meaning of s. 91(24) of The Constitution Act, 1867.
2) Declaring that the failure of Canada to provide the Plaintiffs with the benefits, entitlements and rights provided to other recognized Indians and Indian bands, including members of the Conne River (Miawpukek) Band, is discriminatory, and contrary to Section 15(1) of the Charter;
3) Declaring that the FNI Members are entitled to receive benefits from Canada comparable to those provided by Canada to the Conne River (Miawpukek) Band members under the Canada/Newfoundland/Native Peoples Conne River Agreement of 4 July 1981, and any successor agreement;
4) Directing the Governor-in-Council to recognize the member Bands of the Federation as bands under The Indian Act; and
5) Awarding damages to the Federation for the breach by
Canada of its fiduciary obligation to the member Bands of the Federation, which breach was
Canada
’s failure to extend the benefits of The Indian Act and the CNA to them.
[4] The purpose of this action was to obtain recognition of Micmac, now “Mi’kmaq” in
Newfoundland and
Labrador as “Indians” within the meaning of the Indian Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. I-5 (the “Act”). The Plaintiff, the FNI, is a body corporate organized and existing under the laws of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, as the representative of the interests of Mi’kmaq Indians in that Province who are not registered as Indians under the Act.
[5] Mr. White was one of the original individual Plaintiffs in this action. All the individual Plaintiffs were described as Mi’kmaq Indians in the
Province of
Newfoundland and
Labrador . Mr. White was and is a member of the FNI. According to the Further Amended Statement of Claim filed on October 19, 1990, Mr. White is also a member of the Flat Bay Local Band.
[6] The other individual Plaintiffs (the “other Plaintiffs”) likewise are Mi’kmaq Indians in the
Province of
Newfoundland and
Labrador , and Chiefs of various bands in that Province. The Federation and the other Plaintiffs oppose Mr. White’s motion.
[7] From time to time, Orders issued amending the names of the Plaintiffs, up to and including an Order made on October 16, 2008 which provided the following at paragraph 6(a):
6. The amended statement of claim be further amended as follows:
(a) The Plaintiffs, presently identified in the style of cause as:
The Federation of
Newfoundland Indians, Calvin White,
Clifton Gaudon,
Lawrence
Jeddore, Calvin Francis, Wilson Samms and Marie Sparks
Shall be identified as:
The Federation of Newfoundland Indians, Calvin White, Clifton Gaudon, Audrey Stanford, Calvin Francis, Wilson Samms, Edward Webb, Andrew Tobin, Benedict White and Terry Mills.
[8] The matter did not proceed to a trial but over the course of the years, discussions took place between the parties. By November 30, 2007 FNI and the Defendant (the “Parties”), reached an agreement in principle for the recognition of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band (the “Band”) in
Newfoundland and
Labrador . On June 23, 2008, after ratification by the Parties, the Defendant and the FNI signed the Agreement (the “Agreement”).
[9] The Agreement effectively delivers the relief sought by Mr. White, the FNI and the other Plaintiffs, that is the recognition “of a landless band for the Mi’kmaq group of Indians of Newfoundland”, as appears from the preamble of the Agreement.
[10] Clause 8.2 of the Agreement states that it is of no force and effect until the Plaintiffs in this action execute a full and final release (the “Release”), attached as Annex G to the Agreement.The Plaintiffs, including Mr. White, executed the same copy of the Release, and each Plaintiff also executed a copy of the Release individually. According to the affidavit of Mr. Roy Gray dated October 6, 2008, and filed in support of the Notice of Motion underlying the Consent Order of October 16, 2008, the Releases in question had been received by the Defendant by October 6, 2008.
[11] The execution of the Agreement led to a further Order that was issued by the Court on October 16, 2008 in the following terms:
THIS COURT ORDERS that:
1. The action is dismissed without costs.
2. Paragraph 1 of this Order shall take effect on the date of the passage of the recognition order by the Governor-in-Council as provided for in Chapter 3 of the Agreement, proof of which shall be filed with the Registry of the Court within ten (10) business days of the date thereof.
3. In the event that the said recognition order is not issued within thirty (30) months of the date of this order, Court shall retain jurisdiction for the sole purpose, on motion of the parties of amending this order to extend the aforesaid time period, or of vacating this order, as applicable.
[12] Mr. White filed two affidavits in support of his motion. In his first affidavit, dated February 1, 2010, he expressed concerns about the process leading up to the creation of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band, including the process for the establishment of the First Founding Members List. Paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of this affidavit provide as follows:
3. I consented to the adoption of the “Agreement for the Recognition of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band” (hereinafter called the Agreement), based on how it was presented to me and was willing to discontinue this Action on behalf of myself and that of the Flat Bay Band after the Recognition Order for the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band was granted by the Governor in Council, with the understanding that as long as I and my fellow Band Members applied to be a member before November 30, 2009 we would be on the First Founding Members List and a member of the Qalpiu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band upon its creation. Attached hereto as Exhibit A is the Agreement.
4. During the negotiations which resulted in the Agreement, which I was an active part of, it was represented to me that I and my fellow Band Members, as Plaintiffs in the Federal Court Action, would be on the First Founding Members List, but it appears that is not the case.
5. It was also represented to me and many other Applicants that there was a November 30, 2009 deadline, in which by that time, our application had to have been submitted to the Enrolment Centre. It was not until November 27, 2009 that we were informed that based on the November 30, 2009 deadline it was only the applications which had been processed by then that would form part of the First Founding Members List. Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a press story in which for the first time we found out we would not be on the First Founding Members List, dated November 27, 2009.
[emphasis in original].
[13] With leave of the Court, Mr. White filed a further affidavit sworn to on September 8, 2010. He sought leave to file the supplementary affidavit in order to introduce more recent evidence relating to his Notice of Motion of February 1, 2010.
[14] Two exhibits were attached to his second affidavit, the first was an extract from the website maintained by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada entitled “Frequently Asked Questions – Agreement between
Canada
and The Federation of Newfoundland Indians”. The second exhibit was a copy of a letter dated August 20, 2010 from the office of the Enrolment Committee that had been established pursuant to the Agreement for the Formation of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band. The letter, signed by Mr. Thomas G. Rideout, Chair of the Enrolment Committee, contained the following statements:
The Committee finds that you do meet the criteria to be enrolled as a Founding Member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band pursuant to the terms of the Agreement governing its formation and your application to be enrolled as a Founding Member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band is hereby approved. [emphasis in original]
…
Once the List has been updated to include your name, you will be contacted to confirm your membership in the new Band, your registration on the Indian Register and your eligibility for programs and benefits related to your membership.
[15] The Defendant filed two affidavits of Mr. Ray Hatfield in response to the affidavits filed by Mr. White. Mr. Hatfield is the Director General, Individual Affairs, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and has served in that position since June, 2000.
[16] The other Plaintiffs filed the affidavit of Mr. Brendan Sheppard in opposition to the present motion. Mr. Sheppard is the President of the FNI and has held that post since 1994.
[17] In their affidavits, Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Sheppard provide information on the negotiation and implementation of the Agreement.
[18] Following the recognition in 1982 of the Mi’kmaq people of
Conne
River as being eligible for registration under the Act, the FNI continued its efforts to obtain recognition under the Act for other Mi’kmaq peoples in
Newfoundland and
Labrador . Following the commencement of this action in 1989, the FNI attempted to negotiate an agreement with the Government of Canada.
[19] A tentative agreement in principle was presented to FNI’s Board of Directors in September 2006. Continual negotiations between the Parties began in November 2006, resulting in the conclusion of the Agreement on November 30, 2007.
[20] The Agreement included a ratification process among members of the FNI and a ratification vote was held on March 30, 2008, with a 90 percent positive vote in favour of the Agreement. The Parties executed the Agreement on June 23, 2008.
[21] According to Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Sheppard, the Agreement provided for a two-stage enrolment process where the first stage would last for 12 months, and the second stage would continue for a three year period thereafter. Those who had their applications for membership approved during the first stage would have their names placed on the First Founding Members List (the “First Founding Members List”). Those individuals who applied after the first stage, or whose applications were not determined prior to the conclusion of the first stage, would be determined during the second stage.
[22] The Enrolment Committee began accepting membership applications on December 1, 2008. An unexpectedly high number of applications were received up to November 30, 2009, that is 25,912 applications. By that date, 11,012 applications had been approved.
[23] The First Founding Members List was provided to the Parties on February 2, 2010. The number of names on the First Founding Members List exceeded 50% of the number of FNI members at the time the Agreement was executed. According to Mr. Hatfield, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada began carrying out work relative to the issuance of an Order-in-Council by the Governor-in-Council for the creation of the Band, including the preparation of a draft Recognition Order.
[24] Since a large number of membership applications remain to be considered, the Parties agreed on an accelerated process for updating the Founding Members List. Although the Agreement contemplated an update of the Founding Members List 36 months after compilation of the First Founding Members List, the accelerated process meant that the Founding Members List would be updated every four months after recognition of the Band pursuant to the Order-in-Council.
[25] The introduction of the accelerated process was a step that was agreed to by the Parties, without being put to a ratification vote among the membership of the FNI. According to Mr. Sheppard, the purpose of this accelerated process was to make sure that “eligible members of the Mi’kmaq of Newfoundland” became members of the new Band as soon as possible. He noted that the date of the First Band election was extended to permit those added to the list as part of the accelerated process to participate in the first election, by running for office and voting. The establishment of the accelerated process was communicated to the membership by means of a press release located on the website of the FNI.
[26] In his affidavit, Mr. Sheppard also responded to certain allegations made by Mr. Calvin White in his affidavit dated February 1, 2010. Specifically, he set out his understanding that Mr. White’s application for membership was currently pending and that Mr. White had not been denied any right to be added to the Founding Members List nor denied the right to vote, hold office, apply for employment or enjoy any of the other rights and benefits available to any member of the FNI. Further, he said that he was unaware of any representations made to Mr. White that he had “any particular entitlement to be added to the Founders List other than the same rights as any other qualified applicant”.
[27] Finally, Mr. Sheppard stated that the FNI was intended to proceed with the Agreement:
… so as to allow the recognition of the Qalpiu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band and that this process will continue until such time as the matter is placed before the Governor in Council for a recognition order to give the Band status under the Indian Act.
Submissions
[28] In this motion, Mr. White seeks to set aside the Court Order of October 16, 2008, to vacate the Release he signed and to obtain an injunction stopping the Defendant, through the Minister, from presenting the First Founding Members List to the Governor-in-Council, in support of the issuance of an Order-in-Council that recognizes the Qalipu Band.
[29] Mr. White essentially argues that he expected to be included in the First Founding Members List and that his exclusion from that list, due to the delay in the processing of an unexpectedly high number of applicants, gives rise to a case of differential treatment, “two classes” of membership that will prejudice the rights of those persons not included in the First Founding Members List. Mr. White alleges that non-inclusion on the First Founding Members List negatively impacts upon a person’s ability to vote or run in Band elections, apply for certain jobs offered to Status Indians, partake in benefits and social programs offered by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and access benefits currently offered by FNI.
[30] Further, Mr. White submits that he signed the Release on the understanding that he would be included on the First Founding Members List and that his non-inclusion on that list amounts to failure of consideration, thereby justifying the vacation of the Release.
[31] Mr. White also argues that he is acting in a representative capacity in this action and that he is seeking relief not only on a personal basis but also in respect of all those whom he represents.
[32] The other Plaintiffs and the Defendant oppose the motion. In their written and oral submissions these parties argued that the motion should be denied since Mr. White had failed to meet the evidentiary and legal burden of showing that any of the relief sought should be granted. These parties also submitted that Mr. White’s motion can only be treated as a personal motion, made on a personal basis since no Order was made granting him status as a representative.
Discussion and Disposition
i) Procedural Background
[33] When this action was commenced in February, 1989, Mr. White and the other individual Plaintiffs sued simply in their own personal capacity. The Statement of Claim was amended, for the first time, on October 19, 1990. At that time, Mr. White purported to sue in his individual capacity and also ask the “representative for the individual members of the
Flat
Bay
local band…”.
[34] In 1990, representative proceedings in this Court were governed by Rules 1708 to 1711 of the Federal Courts Rules, C.R.C. 1978, c. 663 (the “former Rules”). Rule 1711 of the former Rules is relevant and provides as follows:
(1) Where numerous persons have the same interest in any proceeding, the proceeding may be begun, and, unless the Court otherwise orders, continued, by or against any one or more of them as representing all or as representing all except one or more of them.
(2) At any stage of a proceeding under this Rule, the Court may, on the application of the plaintiff, and on such terms, if any, as it thinks fit, appoint any one or more of the defendants or other persons as representing whom the defendants are sued to represent all, or all except one or more, of those persons in the proceeding; and where, in exercise of the power conferred by this paragraph, the Court appoints a person not named as a defendant, it shall make an order adding that person as a defendant.
(3) Where an order is made under this Rule, it shall contain directions as to consequential pleadings or other steps and any interested party may apply for supplementary directions.
(4) A judgment or order given in a proceeding under this Rule shall be binding on all the persons as representing whom the plaintiffs sue or, as the case may be, the defendants are sued, but shall not be enforced against any person not a party to the proceeding without leave of the Court, which leave will only be granted on an application notice of which has been served personally upon the person against whom it is sought to enforce the judgment or order.
(5) Notwithstanding that a judgment or order to which any such application relates is binding on the person against whom the application is made, that person may dispute liability to have the judgment or order enforced against him on the ground that by reason of facts and matters particular to his case he is entitled to be exempted from such liability.
(6) The Court hearing an application for leave under paragraph (4) may order the question whether the judgment or order is enforceable against the person against whom the application is made to be tried and determined in any manner in which any issue or question in an action may be tried and determined.
[35] Rule 1711 of the former Rules was replaced by Rule 114 of the Federal Courts Rules in 1998. Rule 114, at that time, provided as follows:
(1) Representative proceedings - Where two or more persons have the same interest in a proceeding, the proceeding may be brought by or against any one or more of them as representing some or all of them.
(2) Motion to appoint representative – At any time, the Court may, on motion, appoint a person to represent some or all of the parties in a proceeding referred to in subsection (1).
(3) Where representative not a party – Where under subsection (2) the Court appoints a person not named as a party to the proceeding, it shall make an order adding that person as a party.
(4) Order binding on represented persons – An order in a proceeding referred to in subsection (1) is binding on all represented parties, but shall not be enforced against them without leave of the Court.
(1) Recours collectif – Lorsque des personnes ont un intérêt commun dans une instance, celle-ci peut être engagée par ou contre l’une ou plusieurs de ces personnes au nom de toutes celles-ci ou de certaines d’entre elles.
(2) Représentant désigné sur requête – Dans une instance visée au paragraphe (1), la Cour peut, à tout moment, sur requête, désigner une personne en tant que représentant de toutes les parties ou de certaines d’entre elles.
(3) Constitution en partie – Si la personne désignée aux termes du paragraphe (2) n’est pas une partie, la Cour rend une ordonnance constituant cette personne partie à l’instance.
(4) Effet de l’ordonnance – L’ordonnance rendue dans une instance visée au paragraphe (1) lie toutes les personnes représentées, mais ne peut être exécutée contre celles-ci sans la permission de la Cour.
[36] Rule 114 was repealed in 2002; see SOR/2002-417, s. 12. Former Rule 114, which applied only to actions, was repealed in 2002 when rules relating to class actions were first introduced in the Federal Court. However, Rule 114 was reintroduced, in an amended form, in 2007 pursuant to SOR/2007-301, s. 4.
[37] The status of the Plaintiffs, including Mr. White, as representatives, was raised as an issue in the course of case management of this file, as appears from the Index of Recorded Entries and the various orders and directions issued in the case management process. In this regard, I refer to the Plaintiffs’ motion to amend their Statement of Claim in February 2002, and the Defendant’s motion to strike FNI as a plaintiff in April 2004. Among others, these motions were heard on November 14 and 25, 2002.
[38] By February 2003, the rule on representative proceedings had been repealed and the rule concerning class actions had been introduced. Justice Blanchard, as case management Judge, issued a Direction in the following terms on February 18, 2003:
… Please advise counsel in the above noted matter that they should be prepared to speak to the following subjects at the teleconference scheduled for March 6, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. E.S.T. 1. Application of new class action rules and their impact on issues raised and under reserve on motions heard on November 14 and 15, 2002…
[39] On March 6, 2003, the parties agreed that the Plaintiffs would file a motion for certification of the action as a class action. This motion was filed by the Plaintiffs on September 17, 2003. However, this motion was never adjudicated. No order was ever issued with respect to the status of this proceeding as a representative proceeding and more particularly, with respect to the status of Mr. Calvin White as a representative Plaintiff.
[40] By the time the motion had been filed in September 2003, the Parties were engaged in negotiations. The file and the Index of Recorded Entries show that active progression of this file was held in abeyance, governed by “rolling” 180 day abeyances. Ultimately, the Court was advised that an Agreement had been reached between the Parties and upon the request of the parties, a Consent Order was issued on October 16, 2008.
[41] The status of the Plaintiff Mr. White did not become an issue in this proceeding until this present motion was brought, seeking to set aside the Consent Order and the vacation of the Release that was signed by Mr. White.
[42] In my opinion, the arguments that he is now advancing are neither well-founded nor relevant.
[43] At the time the action was commenced, Rule 1711 of the former Rules provided for representative proceedings by plaintiffs without an order of the Court. Rule 1711(1) provided that an action may be begun “where numerous persons have the same interest in any proceeding” unless the Court otherwise ordered. No order was made between the time the action was commenced and when the current Rules came into effect on April 25, 1998. Rule 501 of the Rules, in 1999 provided as follows:
(1) Ongoing proceedings – Subject to subsection (2), these Rules apply to all proceedings, including further steps taken in proceedings that were commenced before the coming into force of these Rules.
(2) Order for exceptions – The Chief Justice may, by order, direct that rule 380 shall not apply to certain proceedings or classes of proceedings pending on the coming into force of these Rules until a date or dates set out in the order.
(1) Instances en cours – Sous réserve du paragraphe (2), les présentes règles s’appliquent à toutes les instances, y compris les procédures engagées après leur entrée en vigueur dans le cadre d’instances introduites avant ce moment.
(2) Exceptions – Le juge en chef peut, par ordonnance, soustraire à l’application de la règle 380 certaines instances ou catégories d’instances en cours au moment de l’entrée en vigueur des présentes règles, jusqu’à la date ou aux dates prévues dans l’ordonnance.
[44] Rule 501 currently provides as follows:
Ongoing proceedings
501. (1) Subject to subsection (2), these Rules apply to all proceedings, including further steps taken in proceedings that were commenced before the coming into force of these Rules.
Order for exceptions
(2) The Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal or the Federal Court, as the case may be, may, by order, direct that rule 380 shall not apply to certain proceedings or classes of proceedings before their court that are pending on the coming into force of these Rules until a date or dates set out in the order.
Instances en cours
501. (1) Sous réserve du paragraphe (2), les présentes règles s’appliquent à toutes les instances, y compris les procédures engagées après leur entrée en vigueur dans le cadre d’instances introduites avant ce moment.
Exceptions
(2) Le juge en chef de la Cour d’appel fédérale ou de la Cour fédérale, selon le cas, peut, par ordonnance, soustraire à l’application de la règle 380 certaines instances ou catégories d’instances relevant de sa juridiction et qui sont en cours au moment de l’entrée en vigueur des présentes règles, jusqu’à la date ou aux dates prévues dans l’ordonnance.
[45] It is clear from Rule 501(1) that the “new” Rules applied to all proceedings that were commenced under the former Rules. If there was an issue as to the status of Mr. Calvin White as a representative, once the current Rules came into effect, it should have been addressed. From my review of the file and the Index of Recorded Entries, that status became an issue at some time in 2003, leading to the Direction from the case management Judge. However, in light of the continuing negotiations between the FNI and the Defendant, which led to the Agreement, the motion concerning the representative status of the Plaintiffs was never adjudicated.
[46] Mr. White did not bring a motion for representative status. He has only asserted that status in the three Amended Statements of Claim. The Order of October 16, 2008, allowing for the Third Amended Statement of Claim, did not grant him representative status.
[47] As noted above, once the current Rules came into effect on April 25, 1998, those Rules applied to this proceeding. Rule114, dealing with representative proceedings, was repealed in 2002 but reinstated in 2007. That Rule requires an Order for the recognition of representative status. No such Order was ever made in this proceeding.
[48] In the result, I find that Mr. White is acting only in his personal capacity, both in this action and in this motion. My opinion in this regard is supported by the fact that he executed the Release only in his personal capacity and not as a representative.
ii) Substantive Disposition
[49] The present motion seeking to set aside the Consent Order and to vacate the Releases is not dependant upon the status of Mr. Calvin White as a representative Plaintiff. Furthermore, the Agreement required all the individual Plaintiffs to sign a Release. The execution of the Release was a necessary condition for the issuance of the Consent Order.
[50] The heart of Mr. White’s complaint is that his name is not included on what he calls the “First Founders List”. Although he argues that he received a representation that his name would be included on that first list, this position is contradicted by his own evidence upon cross-examination on his affidavit. In that regard, I refer to page 111 of that cross-examination, as follows:
Q. Okay, so again, and I don’t mean to belabour it but lawyers are, we tweak these things so when you say it was represented to you, no one in particular said to you specifically that you would be on the founding members list per se, that was something that…
A. Not a person, no.
Q. That was something you took from reviewing the agreement.
A. From reviewing the, yes, from reviewing the agreement.
[51] The key to the disposition of this motion is the Agreement. As noted above, execution of this Agreement provides for the establishment of a landless band in
Newfoundland and
Labrador comprised of Mi’kmaq Indians who, upon issuance of the Recognition Order, will obtain recognition as Indians pursuant to the Act. “Recognition Order” is defined in the Agreementas follows:
1.18 Recognition Order
“Recognition Order” refers to the Order-in-Council establishing the Mi’kmaq Group of Indians of Newfoundland as a band for the purposes of the Indian Act, pursuant to paragraph (c) of the definition of band under subsection 2(1) and subsection 73(3) of the Indian Act.
[52] Chapter 3 of the Agreement is entitled “Band Recognition and Registration”. This chapter of the Agreement sets out the circumstances upon which the Band will be recognized. Section 3.1 of Chapter 3 provides as follows:
Chapter 3 Band Recognition and Registration
3.1 Upon receipt of the First Founding Members List established by the Enrolment Committee, and provided that this list includes a number of names at least equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the number of members of the FNI at the time of the initialing of this Agreement, the Minister shall recommend the issuance of the Recognition Order by the Governor-in-Council.
[53] Although this provision refers to a “First Founding Members List”, that term is not separately defined in the Agreement. Rather, there is a definition of “Founding Members List” which refers to a “First Founding Members List”. The definition of “Founding Members List” provides as follows:
1.10 Founding Members List
“Founding Members List” refers to the list of Founding Members established by the Enrolment Committee from a first Founding Members List (“First Founding Members List”), established after the first stage of the Enrolment Process, amended by the addition of the names on a second Founding Members List (“Second Founding Members List”) established after the second stage of the Enrolment Process.
[54] It is clear from the evidence of Mr. Brendan Sheppard, President of the FNI, that there is only one Founders List. It was to be composed following a two stage enrolment process, all as detailed in the Agreement, specifically Chapter 4. The Founding Members List would consist of those names on a First Founding Members List, following completion of the first stage of the enrolment process. The Founding Members List would be amended by the addition of those names on a Second Founding Members List, to be completed after the second stage of the enrolment process.
[55] The Band would come into existence only upon the issuance of the Recognition Order. The effect of the Recognition Order, when issued by the Governor-in-Council, is set out in section 3.2 as follows:
3.2 The recommended Recognition Order shall declare that the body of Indians made up of the persons named on the Founding Members List, attached as a schedule to the Recognition Order, is a band for the purposes of the Indian Act.
[56] The issuance of the Recognition Order is the ultimate goal of the Agreement. The Agreement, providing for the issuance of that order was conditional upon the Parties and the individual Plaintiffs seeking a Consent Order dismissing the present action, together with the execution of Releases by all Plaintiffs in this action. These conditions are set out in Chapter 8 of the Agreement. Section 8.1 specifically provides that the “draft consent order shall contain a provision that it take effect on the date of the establishment of the Band”.
[57] That Order was issued by the Court on October 16, 2008 and indeed, contains such a provision.
[58] Furthermore, Chapter 8 of the Agreement also requires that an application for enrolment pursuant to Chapter 4 of the Agreement shall also include a full and final Release in favour of
Canada
, from any person seeking enrolment as a founding member. This condition is set out in section 8.3 of the Agreement, as follows:
8.3 Any applicant for enrolment pursuant to Chapter 4 shall
complete and sign an application form developed by the Parties, which will include a full and final release in favour of Canada with respect to any claims or proceedings against Canada or any of its officers, servants, employees or agents, seeking recognition as an Indian under the Indian Act or damages as a result of the failure by Canada, its officers, servants, employees or agents to, at any time, provide to the applicant benefits comparable to those available to Indians.
…
Any applicant not signing the proper application form, including the full and final release, will have his application automatically denied by the Enrolment Committee, without prejudice to the ability of the applicant to submit a new application form properly completed and signed. In the event that the Recognition Order is not issued or that the applicant is denied the right to have his name added to the Founding Members List, the executed release shall be of no force or effect.
[59] The Agreement, the Founding Members List, the Consent Order and the Releases are all integrally related and are all necessary for the establishment of the Band. Establishment of the Band was the aim and goal of this action. According to the submissions of the other Plaintiffs and the Defendant, the only impediment to the establishment of the Band at this time is this outstanding motion.
[60] Mr. White is seeking three specific remedies, that is the vacation of the Consent Order made on October 16, 2008; the vacation of the Release that he signed in connection with that Order; and an injunction preventing the Defendant through the Minister from submitting the Founding Members List to the Governor-in-Council in support for the issuance of the Recognition Order.
[61] Mr. White seeks an order to vacate both the Consent Order and the Release that he signed in connection with that Order. While the Order and the Release are two different documents, with different status in this proceeding, the legal basis upon which either or both can be vacated is the same. In this regard, I refer to the decision in McCowan v. McCowan (1995), 24 O.R. (3d) 707 (Ont.
C.A.
), where the Ontario Court of Appeal said the following at pages 712-713:
In Hudersfield Banking Company, Limited v. Henry Lister & Son, Limited (1895), 2 Ch. 273 (C.A.), one issue before the court was whether an order issued on consent further to an agreement between the parties should be set aside. The defendants took the position that a consent order was as binding on the parties as any other order and could not be set aside once acted upon, except on proof of fraud. Lindley L.J. held that a consent order could be impeached on any ground (including fraud) that would invalidate the agreement giving rise to the consent order. He said at p. 280:
A consent order, I agree, is an order; and so long as it stands it must be treated as such, and so long as it stands I think it is as good an estoppel as any other order. I have not the slightest doubt on that; nor have I the slightest doubt that a consent order can be impeached, not only on the ground of fraud, but upon any grounds which invalidate the agreement it expresses in a more formal way than usual.... To my mind, the only question is whether the agreement upon which the consent order was based can be invalidated or not. Of course, if that agreement cannot be invalidated the consent order is good. If it can be, the consent order is bad.
…
The general principle set out in these authorities was accepted by this court in Monarch Construction Ltd. v. Buildevco Ltd. et al. (1988), 26 C.P.C. (2d) 164 at 165-166 (Ont. C.A.):
A consent judgment is final and binding and can only be amended when it does not express the real intention of the parties or where there is fraud. In other words, a consent judgment can only be rectified on the same grounds on which a contract can be rectified.
In my view, it is well established that a consent judgment may be set aside on the same grounds as the agreement giving rise to the judgment. These grounds go to the formation of the agreement, not to its subsequent performance. Evidence of non-performance may, however, be relevant to the issue whether the underlying agreement was so tainted in its formation that it should be invalidated.
[62] In Rick v. Brandsema, [2009] 1 S.C.R. 295, the Supreme Court of
Canada
said the following at paragraph 64:
This makes it unnecessary to deal with the effect of the consent order since, as Osborne J.A. observed in McCowan v. McCowan (1995), 14 R.F.L. (4th) 325 (Ont. C.A.), at para. 19, "it is well established that a consent judgment may be set aside on the same grounds as the agreement giving rise to the judgment". This approach was explained by James G. McLeod as follows:
This rule reflects the reality that a consent judgment is not a judicial determination on the merits of a case but only an agreement elevated to an order on consent. The basis for the order is the parties' agreement, not a judge's determination of what is fair and reasonable in the circumstances.
[63] A party seeking to set aside a consent order must meet the same legal test as a party seeking to invalidate a contract. In Monarch Construction Ltd. v. Buildevco Ltd. et al. (1988), 26 C.P.C. (2d) 164 (Ont.
C.A.
), the Ontario Court of Appeal said the following at paragraph 3:
A consent judgment is final and binding and can only be amended when it does not express the real intention of the parties or where there is fraud. In other words, a consent judgment can only be rectified on the same grounds on which a contract can be rectified. Here, there was no allegation of fraud and, in our opinion, there was no basis on the material before the local judge on which she was entitled to grant rectification. The contract is unambiguous on its face; on the motion of Monarch, it was incorporated in a consent judgment and should be performed in accordance with its terms.
[64] The law relating to setting aside an executed release is succinctly stated in the decision Richmond v. Matar, 276 N.S.R. (2d) 221. In that case, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia held that an executed release will be enforced unless the party wishing to set it aside establishes fraud or other circumstances; see paragraphs 14 through 16 as follows:
[14] Absent fraud or other exceptional circumstances, an executed release is given its full and intended effect. Van Patter v. Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital et al, [1998] O.J. No. 1700 (Ont. Ct. Gen. Div.).
The many cases in the law report dealing with settlement releases may seem to have sharp edges but their thrust is that absent fraud, overreaching or some si