Federal Court - Christian Aboriginal Infrastructure Developments ...

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political interest can be found to be analogous to a financial interest, for the purpose of determining
if there was reasonable reliance. I accept that proposition.
[1041] The statutory mandate set out in the DIAND Act charges that Department with economic
development in Yukon . For obvious reasons, it is difficult to find that the Defendant has a “financial
interest” in promoting a transaction or enterprise in respect of which the representation was made
2010 FC 495 (CanLII)
but in the particular circumstances of this case, it is undeniable that the Defendant had a special,
particular interest in the development of the mill.
[1042] The Defendant had a direct political interest in seeing the mill project proceed. The issue of
forestry in Yukon may have been a small political issue for the rest of Canada, but in Yukon, and
for the Department, it was an issue of utmost importance. This is clear from the record.
[1043] There were petitions, protests, blockades of the Regional Office, and meetings with
Ministers. The number of letters which were sent both to the Regional Office and to Ottawa also
speaks to the importance of the issue to Yukoners. There are numerous other examples in the record
of the politically charged nature of the forestry issue in Yukon; see for example Exhibit P-46; and
Exhibit P-80, Tab 82.
[1044] In addressing many of the concerns, DIAND introduced regulatory changes that required
local processing. This required a local mill. There is evidence on the record in this trial that shows
that it was a condition for the grant of the THA to KFR that a mill be built. The failure of KFR to