Nault case dismissed

The Superior Court judge overseeing the trial of Robert Nault dismissed the case against the former Indian Affairs minister by Pikangikum First Nation.
The battle was fought over the legalities of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) placing Pikangikum under third-party management and the community losing out on millions of dollars in projects that were never built.
But Ontario Superior Court Judge John dePencier Wright dismissed the case. He said if Nault had been found liable in the case it would mean he was to blame, knowing what he was doing was wrong and reckless. Wright said Nault did not profit from his conduct and had not “experienced any sanction by way of fine or political rejection.”
Wright offered his judgment in the case – in a 93-page decision – Dec. 23, nearly six months after the end of the trial, which ran from May 10-June 11 in Kenora.
The community argued in court that Nault abused his power as a minister by allegedly cancelling building projects including a sewer and water project after the community served him with notification papers over a previous legal issue.
Chief and council were notified by a November 2000 letter from INAC that their community was slated for third party management.
While the court battle waged on, the community alleged Nault froze funding for $40 million worth of infrastructure projects including a school, housing, water treatment plant, electrical grid and generator.