Guilty Pleas Entered For Wollaston Lake Fuel Spill

Guilty Pleas Entered For Wollaston Lake Fuel Spill

Monday, November 23, 2009 at 13:20

 

 

A northern Saskatchewan First Nation has pleaded guilty to five environmental charges related to a diesel spill in 2006.

 

The Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation is also facing a sixth charge, which will be dealt with when sentencing is handed down on December 10th in La Ronge.

 

Band spokesman Ed Benoanie says the justice system’s refusal to allow court proceedings to take place in Wollaston Lake, instead of La Ronge, was the biggest reason why the band decided to resolve the case in this way.

 

Benoanie says the band felt it could get a fair trial in Wollaston Lake, because it would have more local witnesses who would feel too “intimidated” to take part in a trial in La Ronge.

 

He also says the band didn’t want to force any of its members to testify.

 

According to band lawyer Jack Hillson, related charges that were laid against two band members will be dropped — which was another motivating factor for the band to enter the guilty pleas.

 

Hillson says it cost $683,000 to clean up Welcome Bay, which was paid by Indian Affairs — but he says the government wants the band to pay it back.

 

That’s on top of the $50,000 Hillson estimates the band will be fined for the environmental charges.