Innu Council of Pessamit v. St-Onge

Innu Council of Pessamit v. St-Onge
Court (s) Database
Federal Court of Appeal Decisions
Date
2019-01-23
Neutral citation
2019 FCA 13
File numbers
A-42-18
Decision Content
Date: 20190123
Docket: A-42-18
Citation: 2019 FCA 13
[ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
CORAM:
GAUTHIER J.A.
BOIVIN J.A.
GLEASON J.A.
BETWEEN:
THE INNU COUNCIL OF PESSAMIT, RENÉ SIMON, ÉRIC CANAPÉ, GÉRALD HERVIEUX, DIANE RIVERIN, JEAN-NOËL RIVERIN, RAYMOND ROUSSELOT, MARIELLE VACHON
Appellants
and
JÉRÔME BACON ST-ONGE
Respondent
Heard at Québec, Quebec, on January 23, 2019.
Judgment delivered from the Bench at Québec, Quebec, on January 23, 2019.
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:
GLEASON J.A.
Date: 20190123
Docket: A-42-18
Citation: 2019 FCA 13
CORAM:
GAUTHIER J.A.
BOIVIN J.A.
GLEASON J.A.
BETWEEN:
THE INNU COUNCIL OF PESSAMIT, RENÉ SIMON, ÉRIC CANAPÉ, GÉRALD HERVIEUX, DIANE RIVERIN, JEAN-NOËL RIVERIN,
RAYMOND ROUSSELOT, MARIELLE VACHON
Appellants
and
JÉRÔME BACON ST-ONGE
Respondent
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT
(Delivered from the Bench at Québec, Quebec, on January 23, 2019.)
GLEASON J.A.
[1] We are of the opinion that this appeal must fail.
[2] In this case, the reasonableness standard applies.
[3] Like Justice St-Louis of the Federal Court, we conclude that the resolution of the Innu Council of Pessamit must be set aside and that the 2015 Code cannot validly govern the election held on August 17, 2016. Further, even if we accepted the appellants’ argument that the Council was entitled to amend the 2015 Code by way of resolution, despite the adoption of Chapter 9 of the 1994 Code codifying the Band’s custom, such amendment could not be made, as the appellants admit, without broad consensus within the Band. Despite the eloquent oral submissions of counsel for the appellants, we do not believe, that, in the instant case based on the evidence in the record, the Council could reasonably conclude that the adoption of the 2015 Code reflected such consensus.
[4] The appeal will therefore be dismissed, with costs, set at the mid-point of column III since this case does not justify costs on a solicitor-and-client basis or on a higher scale than usual.
“Mary J.L. Gleason”
J.A.
FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL
NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD
DOCKET:
A-42-18
STYLE OF CAUSE:
THE INNU COUNCIL OF PESSAMIT, RENÉ SIMON, ÉRIC CANAPÉ, GÉRALD HERVIEUX, DIANE RIVERIN, JEAN-NOËL RIVERIN, RAYMOND ROUSSELOT, MARIELLE VACHON v. JÉRÔME BACON ST-ONGE
PLACE OF HEARING:
Québec, Quebec
DATE OF HEARING:
January 23, 2019
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:
GAUTHIER J.A.
BOIVIN J.A.
GLEASON J.A.
DELIVERED FROM THE BENCH BY:
GLEASON J.A.
APPEARANCES:
Kenneth Gauthier
FOR THE APPELLANTS
François Boulianne
FOR THE RESPONDENT
SOLICITORS OF RECORD:
Kenneth Gauthier, Lawyer
Baie-Comeau, Quebec
FOR THE APPELLANTS
Neashish & Champoux, LLP
Wendake, Quebec
FOR THE RESPONDENT