The Town of Qualicum Beach has committed to work with other municipal governments in the province to bring a class action lawsuit against selected global fossil fuel companies and recover the costs related to climate change.
The decision was reached by council at its regular meeting on Feb. 7 but it was not unanimous as Coun. Scott Harrison voted in opposition.
The townB次元官网网址檚 commitment involves residents contributing $1 towards the lawsuit. However, it is contingent on council obtaining a copy of a legal opinion to determine there is a solid legal basis for the claim and that other BC municipalities will also join and pledge a combined minimum of $500,000.
B次元官网网址淭his is really about investing a dollar now as protection against costs that the town will incur B次元官网网址�. weB次元官网网址檙e expected to incur because of climate change and we already are incurring some costs because of that,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Anne Skipsey. B次元官网网址淎t this point, it is a commitment and to review the legal opinion as to why this class action lawsuit is doable and recommended. And also we have to wait until thereB次元官网网址檚 about $500,000 committed from other municipalities. So, it would be approval now but the action probably wonB次元官网网址檛 happen for some time.B次元官网网址�
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The town was asked to be involved in the B次元官网网址楽ue Big OilB次元官网网址� led by the West Coast Environmental Law following the delegation of Qualicum Beach resident Roy Colliver, who heads the local chapter of Sue Big Oil, and Andrew Gage, staff lawyer with West Coast Environmental Law at councilB次元官网网址檚 regular meeting on Nov. 8, 2023.
Both Colliver and Gage welcomed the townB次元官网网址檚 commitment.
B次元官网网址淲e are facing a massive bill for the measures needed to keep us safe from climate disasters, and itB次元官网网址檚 only going up,B次元官网网址� Collver stated in a news release.
Qualicum BeachB次元官网网址檚 Climate Change Adaptation Plan identifies 31 actions that the town needs to be achieve to keep residents safe from the impacts of climate change. It is expected to cost between $1.2 million and $13.9 million. In addition, the town has already experienced flooding, damage to its waterfront and spent resources reducing wildfire risk.
