MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. v. Greenpeace Canada et al., (1994) 50 B.C.A.C. 100 (CA)

• Judge: McEachern, C.J.B.C., Macfarlane and Wood, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
• Case Date: September 30, 1994
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: (1994), 50 B.C.A.C. 100 (CA)

MacMillan Bloedel v. Greenpeace (1994), 50 B.C.A.C. 100 (CA);

    82 W.A.C. 100

MLB headnote and full text

Greenpeace Canada and Valerie Langer (appellants) v. MacMillan Bloedel Limited (respondent) and Shiela Simpson, Bonnie Glambeck, James Robinson, Gilles Blanchet, Daniel Carbotte, Marie Michajlowycz, Willie Sport, Lisa Humphreys, Dan Lewis, Carl Hinke, Mike Mullins, Chris O'Gorman, Bill Joyce, Heidi Dorosh, Marek Czuma, Tammy Chabot (aka Tammy Kinlock), Daniel Alexander Kirslake, William Robinson Cook, Henry George Adam Trott, John Jared Irwin, John Doe, Jane Doe and Persons Unknown (defendants)

(CA017700; CA017715)

Indexed As: MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. v. Greenpeace Canada et al.

British Columbia Court of Appeal

McEachern, C.J.B.C., Macfarlane and Wood, JJ.A.

September 30, 1994.

Summary:

MacMillan Bloedel obtained various interim injunctions to prevent identified and unidentified persons from interfering with its logging operations in certain specified areas. Certain named persons appealed respecting the validity of the injunctions.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal, Wood, J.A., dissenting, dismissed the appeal.

Injunctions - Topic 697

Granting an injunction - Considerations affecting grant - Private benefit versus public interest - The British Columbia Court of Appeal held that no private indi­vidual could bring an action to enforce the criminal law, whether by way of injunction or damages - But a private individual whose private rights were being interfered with by a criminal act that caused or threatened to cause him damage over and above that suffered by the general public might obtain an injunction - See para­graphs 11 to 19.

Injunctions - Topic 4646

Operation of injunctions - Persons bound - Persons unknown - An interim injunc­tion was granted restraining the defendants "and all persons having notice of this Order" from conduct preventing MacBlo from exercising its logging rights - The British Columbia Court of Appeal held that the language of the injunction was not over-broad and would not have been effective if it was restricted to named defendants - The order did not restrain the world at large - The court held that the circumstances of the case determine what language was appropriate - Exceptional circumstances were not required to justify an order directed not only to parties but to persons having notice of it - See para­graphs 30 to 48, 50 to 57, 63 to 64, 71 to 78.

Injunctions - Topic 4646

Operation of injunctions - Persons bound - Persons unknown - MacBlo obtained an interim injunction restraining known and unknown defendants from exercising con­duct which would interfere with its logging operations in certain areas - The British Columbia Court of Appeal held that it was justified in the circumstances to use "John Doe, Jane Doe and Persons Unknown" in the style of cause to describe parties whose names were not known to MacBlo - See paragraphs 58 to 59, 65, 79 to 80.

Injunctions - Topic 5904

Particular matters - To restrain the doing of an illegal act - [See Injunctions - Topic 697 ].

Injunctions - Topic 7078

Particular matters - Violation of statute - Criminal statute - [See Injunctions - Topic 697 ].

Injunctions - Topic 7123

Particular matters - Particular interests protected - Property rights - MacBlo had a right to harvest timber on certain lands - The British Columbia Court of Appeal held that MacBlo's timber licence was an interest in private property which could be protected by injunction - The court further held that an interim injunction was avail­able to MacBlo, as a private party, where the conduct sought to be enjoined (restric­tion of access to MacBlo's lands) did not involve enforcement of the criminal law, but the prevention of irreparable harm to a private party - The court held that alter­nate remedies (damages, public or private prosecution of Criminal Code offences, legislative action), would be insufficient to prevent the continued blockade of access to MacBlo's timber resources - See para­graphs 11 to 29, 61 to 62.

Cases Noticed:

Vaughan-Rys v. Clary et al. (1910), 15 B.C.L.R. 9, refd to. [para. 9].

Anderson v. Rolandi Brothers Logging Co. (1955), 17 W.W.R.(N.S.) 119 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 9].

Gouriet v. Union of Post Office Workers, [1978] A.C. 435 (H.L.), consd. [para. 12].

Carruthers et al. v. Langley et al., [1984] 5 W.W.R. 538 (B.C.S.C.), affd. [1986] 2 W.W.R. 459 (B.C.C.A.), leave to appeal refused [1986] 2 W.W.R. 1x; 67 N.R. 239 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 16].

Ex Parte Island Records Ltd., [1978] 3 All E.R. 824 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 16].

Robinson v. Adams (1924), 56 O.L.R. 217 (App. Div.), refd to. [para. 17].

Hurtig v. Reiss, [1937] 3 W.W.R. 549 (Man. C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

British Columbia (Attorney General) v. Couillard (1984), 42 C.R.(3d) 273 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 18].

Stein v. Gonzales (1984), 58 B.C.L.R. 110 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 18].

Nova Scotia (Attorney General) v. Beaver et al. (1985), 67 N.S.R.(2d) 281; 155 A.P.R. 281; 32 C.C.L.T. 170 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Odeon Morton Theatres Ltd. (1973), 42 D.L.R.(3d) 471 (Man. C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

Mathias Colomb Indian Band et al. v. Saskatchewan Power Corp. et al., [1993] 6 W.W.R. 153; 87 Man.R.(2d) 81 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 18].

Ontario (Attorney General) v. Grabarchuk (1976), 11 O.R.(2d) 607 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 18].

Ontario (Attorney General) v. Temagami Wilderness Society (1989), 38 C.P.C.(2d) 296 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 18].

Alberta (Attorney General) v. Plantation Indoor Plants Ltd., [1982] 2 W.W.R. 167; 34 A.R. 348 (C.A.), revd. [1985] 1 S.C.R. 366; 58 N.R. 228; 60 A.R. 343, refd to. [paras. 18, 24].

Attorney General v. Sharp, [1931] 1 Ch. 121 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

Attorney General v. Premier Line Ltd., [1932] 1 Ch. 303, refd to. [para. 18].

Attorney General v. Bastow, [1957] 1 Q.B. 514, refd to. [para. 18].

Attorney General v. Harris, [1961] 1 Q.B. 74 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

Attorney General v. Chaudry, [1971] 1 W.L.R. 1614 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

Gouriet v. Union of Post Office Workers, [1978] A.C. 435 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 18].

Marengo v. Daily Sketch and Sunday Graphic Ltd., [1948] 1 All E.R. 406 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 18].

Sandwich West (Township) v. Bubu Estates Ltd. et al. (1986), 17 O.A.C. 177; 30 D.L.R.(4th) 477 (C.A.), consd. [para. 45], refd to. [para. 18].

Evergreen Press Ltd. v. Vancouver Typo­graphical Union, Local 266 (1959), 18 D.L.R.(2d) 401 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 18].

Canadian Pacific Railway Co. v. Brady (1960), 26 D.L.R.(2d) 104 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 18].

Bartle and Gibson Co. v. Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Local 580, [1971] 2 W.W.R. 449 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

Maritime Employers' Association et al. v. International Longshoremen's As­sociation, Local 273 et al., [1979] 1 S.C.R. 120; 23 N.R. 386; 23 N.B.R.(2d) 458; 44 A.P.R. 458; 89 D.L.R.(3d) 289, refd to. [para. 18].

Mitchell Brothers Truck Lines v. General Truck Drivers' & Helpers' Union, Local 31 (1974), 57 D.L.R.(3d) 540 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 18].

Everywoman's Health Centre Society (1988) v. Bridges (1990), 54 B.C.L.R.(2d) 273 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

Griffin Steel Foundries Ltd. v. Canadian Association of Industrial, Mechanical and Allied Workers (1977), 80 D.L.R.(3d) 634 (Man. C.A.), consd. [paras. 18, 47].

Saskatchewan Power Corp. v. John Doe et al., [1988] 6 W.W.R. 27; 69 Sask.R. 138 (Q.B.), affd. [1988] 6 W.W.R. 634; 69 Sask.R. 158 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused (1989), 100 N.R. 238; 74 Sask.R. 240 (S.C.C.), consd. [paras. 18, 48].

Dominion Bank v. Car-Tree International Ltd. (1967), 66 D.L.R.(2d) 552 (Sask. Q.B.), refd to. [para. 18].

United Kingdom (Attorney General) v. Times Newspapers Ltd. et al., [1991] 2 W.L.R. 994; 124 N.R. 175 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 18].

League for Life in Manitoba Inc. et al. v. Morgentaler et al., [1985] 4 W.W.R. 633; 34 Man.R.(2d) 91 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 18].

Mid West Television Ltd. v. S.E.D. Sys­tems Inc. et al., [1981] 3 W.W.R. 560; 9 Sask.R. 199 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 18].

Carruthers v. Langley, [1986] 2 W.W.R. 459 (B.C.C.A.), affing. [1994] 5 W.W.R. 538 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 18].

Manitoba Naturalists Society Inc. v. Ducks Unlimited (Canada), [1992] 2 W.W.R. 377; 79 Man.R.(2d) 15 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 18].

British Columbia (Attorney General) v. Couillard (1984), 42 C.R.(3d) 273 (B.C.S.C.), consd. [para. 20].

Stein v. Gonzales (1984), 58 B.C.L.R. 110 (S.C.), consd. [para. 21].

Balderstone v. R. et al. (1983), 23 Man.R.(2d) 125; 8 C.C.C.(3d) 532 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused (1983), 52 N.R. 72; 27 Man.R.(2d) 240; 8 C.C.C.(3d) 532 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 23].

United Nurses of Alberta v. Alberta (Attorney General) (1992), 135 N.R. 321; 125 A.R. 241; 71 C.C.C.(3d) 225 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 29].

Bartle & Gibson Co. v. Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, [1971] 2 W.W.R. 449 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

Seaward v. Paterson, [1897] 1 Ch. 545 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 34].

Poje v. British Columbia (Attorney Gen­eral), [1953] 1 S.C.R. 516; [1953] 2 D.L.R. 785, refd to. [paras. 35, 72].

Tilco Plastics Ltd. v. Skurjat et al., [1966] 2 O.R. 547; 57 D.L.R.(2d) 596 (H.C.), affd. (1967), 61 D.L.R.(2d) 664n (C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

Glazer v. Union Contractors Ltd. (1960), 25 D.L.R.(2d) 653 (B.C.S.C.), affd. in part (1960), 26 D.L.R.(2d) 349 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

Marengo v. Daily Sketch and Sunday Graphic Ltd., [1948] 1 All E.R. 406 (H.L.), consd. [para. 40].

British Columbia (Attorney General) v. Wale (1986), 9 B.C.L.R.(2d) 333 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 53].

Jackson v. Bubela and Doe, [1972] 5 W.W.R. 80 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 58].

Babanaft v. Bassatne, [1989] 1 All E.R. 433 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 75].

Derby & Co. v. Weldon (No. 1), [1989] 1 All E.R. 463 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 75].

Derby & Co. v. Weldon (No. 2), [1989] 1 All E.R. 1002 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 75].

Derby & Co. v. Weldon (No. 3), [1990] 3 All E.R. 263 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 75].

Harrington v. North London Polytechnic et al., [1984] 3 All E.R. 666 (C.A.), consd. [paras. 82, 123].

Brydges v. Brydges and Wood, [1909] P. 187 (C.A.), consd. [para. 95].

Wykeham Terrace, Re, [1971] 1 Ch. 204, consd. [para. 96].

Iveson v. Harris (1802), 7 Ves 251; 32 E.R. 102 (L.C. Ct.), refd to. [para. 97].

X (A minor), Re, [1985] 1 All E.R. 53, refd to. [para. 99].

X County Council v. A et al. - see X (A minor), Re.

Attorney General v. Newspaper Publishing plc et al., [1987] 3 All E.R. 276 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 99].

British Columbia Government Employees' Union v. British Columbia (Attorney General), [1988] 2 S.C.R. 214; 87 N.R. 241, consd. [para. 115].

Bassel's Lunch Ltd. v. Kick (No. 1), [1936] O.R. 445 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 118].

Bassel's Lunch v. Kick (No. 2), [1937] 1 D.L.R. 235 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 118].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 11 [para. 29]; sect. 423(1)(f) [para. 155]; sect. 423(1)(g) [paras. 3, 155]; sect. 430(1) [para. 3]; sect. 430(1)(c), sect. 430(1)(d) [para. 155].

Counsel:

Gregory J. McDade, for the appellant; Greenpeace Canada;

Cameron Ward, for the appellant, Valerie Langer;

John J.L. Hunter, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard in Vancouver, British Columbia, on January 20 and 21, 1994, before McEachern, C.J.B.C., Macfarlane and Wood, JJ.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. The decision of the court was delivered on September 30, 1994, and the following opinions were filed:

Macfarlane, J.A. - see paragraphs 1 to 67;

McEachern, C.J.B.C., concurring - see paragraphs 68 to 85;

Wood, J.A., dissenting - see paragraphs 86 to 161.