Federal Court - Christian Aboriginal Infrastructure Developments ...

Page: 72
[281] Mr. Staffen also testified that after the meeting with Minister Irwin and Mr. Doughty in
Dawson City, LPL proceeded to move forward with planning. He said that the assurances from the
Minister’s office encouraged LPL to put together an offer and to sell shares in the Yukon Territory.
[282] Mr. Gartshore testified, at page 947 of the transcript, that Mr. Doughty said, in relation to
the LPL request for a long-term commitment to 200,000 m 3 of fibre, that,
2010 FC 495 (CanLII)
if you create, you know, a hundred plus jobs in an economically
depressed area and you create a mill and you create employment and,
you know, why wouldn’t we give it to you Why wouldn’t the
government – of course we would. He was almost indignant, that we
would think there would be a problem in receiving that measure of a
harvesting agreement based on making a major commitment.
[283] Mr. Gartshore was cross-examined in detail with respect to the proposal that LPL presented
to the Minister and his special assistant for economic development. He was not cross-examined with
respect to his evidence that Mr. Doughty assured him that they would be given access to the
necessary timber if they built a mill that provided employment.
[284] As discussed below, I prefer the evidence of the Plaintiffs’ witnesses to that of Mr. Irwin
and Mr. Doughty. These witnesses for the Defendant were not credible and their evidence is not
supported by the viva voce evidence of the Defendant’s other witnesses nor by the documentary
exhibits.
[285] Following the Gold Show, Mr. Ivanski wrote a letter to Mr. Bourgh on behalf of LPL,
concerning the proposed mill facility for Watson Lake. This letter, entered as Exhibit D-23 is dated