Specific Claims Tribunal Act (S.C. 2008, c. 22)

Marginal note:Application to strike

17. On application by a party to a specific claim, the Tribunal may, at any time, order that the claim be struck out in whole or in part, with or without leave to amend, on the ground that it

• (a) is, on its face, not admissible under sections 14 to 16;

• (b) has not been filed by a First Nation;

• (c) is frivolous, vexatious or premature; or

• (d) may not be continued under section 37.

Marginal note:Hearing and decision

18. After providing notice to the parties, the Tribunal shall hold a hearing, at the time and place that it considers most appropriate, into the issue before it and make a decision on that issue.

Marginal note:Limitation

19. In deciding the issue of the validity of a specific claim, the Tribunal shall not consider any rule or doctrine that would have the effect of limiting claims or prescribing rights against the Crown because of the passage of time or delay.

Marginal note:Basis and limitations for decision on compensation

• 20. (1) The Tribunal, in making a decision on the issue of compensation for a specific claim,

  • (a) shall award monetary compensation only;

  • (b) shall not, despite any other provision in this subsection, award total compensation in excess of $150 million;

  • (c) shall, subject to this Act, award compensation for losses in relation to the claim that it considers just, based on the principles of compensation applied by the courts;

  • (d) shall not award any amount for

    • (i) punitive or exemplary damages, or

    • (ii) any harm or loss that is not pecuniary in nature, including loss of a cultural or spiritual nature;

  • (e) shall award compensation equal to the market value of a claimant’s reserve lands at the time they were taken brought forward to the current value of the loss, in accordance with legal principles applied by the courts, if the claimant establishes that those reserve lands were taken under legal authority, but that inadequate compensation was paid;

  • (f) shall award compensation equal to the value of the damage done to reserve lands brought forward to the current value of the loss, in accordance with legal principles applied by the courts, if the claimant establishes that certain of its reserve lands were damaged under legal authority, but that inadequate compensation was paid;

  • (g) shall award compensation equal to the current, unimproved market value of the lands that are the subject of the claim, if the claimant establishes that those lands were never lawfully surrendered, or otherwise taken under legal authority;

  • (h) shall award compensation equal to the value of the loss of use of a claimant’s lands brought forward to the current value of the loss, in accordance with legal principles applied by the courts, if the claimant establishes the loss of use of the lands referred to in paragraph (g); and

  • (i) shall, if it finds that a third party caused or contributed to the acts or omissions referred to in subsection 14(1) or the loss arising from those acts or omissions, award compensation against the Crown only to the extent that the Crown is at fault for the loss.

• Marginal note:For greater certainty

  (2) For greater certainty, in awarding the compensation referred to in subsection (1), the Tribunal may consider losses related to activities of an ongoing and variable nature, such as activities related to harvesting rights.

• Marginal note:Deduction of benefit

  (3) The Tribunal shall deduct from the amount of compensation calculated under subsection (1) the value of any benefit received by the claimant in relation to the subject-matter of the specific claim brought forward to its current value, in accordance with legal principles applied by the courts.

• Marginal note:One claim limit for related claims

  (4) Two or more specific claims shall, for the purpose of paragraph (1)(b), be treated as one claim if they

  • (a) are made by the same claimant and are based on the same or substantially the same facts; or

  • (b) are made by different claimants, are based on the same or substantially the same facts and relate to the same assets.

• Marginal note:Equitable apportionment

  (5) If claims are treated as one claim under paragraph (4)(b), the Tribunal shall apportion equitably among the claimants the total compensation awarded.

• Marginal note:Compensation against province

  (6) If the Tribunal finds that a province that has been granted party status caused or contributed to the acts or omissions referred to in subsection 14(1) or the loss arising from those acts or omissions, it may award compensation against the province to the extent that the province was at fault in causing or contributing to the loss.