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Case management for Husky Energy environmental charges to continue in February

Dec 18, 2018 | 4:22 PM

Another case management session for Husky Energy Inc. relating to charges stemming from a 2016 pipeline leak has been set for North Battleford provincial court on Feb. 4.

The decision came during an appearance in North Battleford provincial court Tuesday. No decision has been made as to where future court sessions will be held.

The Calgary-based oil and gas producer is facing several provincial and federal charges relating to the release of 225,000 litres of diluted heavy oil from a pipeline near Maidstone in July 2016. About 40 per cent of that oil went into the North Saskatchewan River, affecting water intakes in the cities of North Battleford, Prince Albert and Melfort.

Defence attorney Brad Gilmour and Crown prosecutor Matthew Miazga met with Judge Lorna Dyck in a private session, which included federal Crown prosecutors.

No election has been made by the federal Crown on its charges.

Judge Dyck said it was a “very productive afternoon,” with a discussion on the facts and determining potential witnesses if a trial were to proceed. 

However, she said “more work needs to be done” by all parties and that it’s unclear if the proceedings are expected to move toward a resolution or not.

Crown Prosecutor Matthew Miazga said outside the courthouse that disclosure has been complete for some time but “as the judge pointed out it’s a complicated file.”

“Every time you discuss things, other issues come up. There are a few other details that have to be looked into by all the parties,” he said. 

In the meantime, Miazga said he is satisfied the discussions are moving forward.

“It seems like it is taking a long time… but it’s a pretty complicated situation,” he added. “A lot of people are affected by what happened.”

Case management sessions are not open to the public.

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

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