The Halalt First Nation at Crofton on the east coast

The Halalt First Nation at Crofton on the east coast of Vancouver Island is suing the Catalyst pulp and paper company, alleging that its 59-year-old mill is trespassing on Halalt land. They also accuse the company of breaching a confidentiality agreement by disclosing sensitive information.

In two civil suits, the claimant seeks $2 billion and a permanent order to shut down the Crofton Mill. Halalt says the mill interferes with water and land rights and has caused damage to fisheries and land within the territory.

The second suit seeks $100 million from the company and an order to permanently block Catalyst from building, owning or operating an anaerobic digester facility, which processes organic waste material and converts it into energy.

Halalt also maintains the mill was constructed near and on sacred burial sites. The nation said it was working in good faith with the company on their issues, but those attempts have failed.