Anti-salmon farming activist Staniford loses- again
Odd Grydeland, FishfarmingXpert, February 14, 2014
Canada: The top court in Canada refuses to re-examine a judgement against Don Staniford that said he has to pay Cermaq Canada (formerly Mainstream Canada) CAD$ 75,000 (~€ 50,000) in damages
After his original “victory” where a Supreme Court of British Columbia judge afforded him a defence of “fair comment”, while at the same time describing Staniford as a “zealot” with questionable credibility, this decision was subsequently overturned by the B.C. Court of Appeal which said that he was indeed guilty of defaming the salmon farming company through a litany of ridiculous accusations. The Court of Appeal afforded the salmon farming company the damages. Staniford then tried to get the Supreme Court of Canada to hear his plight, but today he also lost this fight.
Today, Staniford continued to spread his non-founded venom in media interviews, among them with a representative of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation during a radio show in B.C. In the near future, another blow will be given to Staniford’s case when the Canadian government is expected to announce further support for the Canadian aquaculture industry.
Last year, Cermaq was issued the gold version of The Farmand Prize which has been awarded every year since 1955 to the Norwegian company with the best and most complete annual report. Also last year, Cermaq received the top score in Seafood Intelligence's benchmark survey of sustainability reporting. Cermaq Canada issued the following statement today:
Court dismisses activist’s appeal attempt
The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear the appeal of an activist found liable for defamation by the BC Court of Appeal. The order to pay damages and stop publishing defamatory materials about Cermaq Canada will stand. “We are glad to see today’s ruling, which vindicates Cermaq’s reputation as a producer of nutritious salmon. We welcome public debate, but it should be based on facts, and critics should be held accountable for their public commentary,” said Laurie Jensen, Cermaq Canada’s Communications and Corporate Sustainability Manager.
Cermaq Canada (which changed names from Mainstream Canada in November, 2013) originally took anti-salmon farming activist Don Staniford to court from January 16 to February 10, 2012. The legal action was in response to a prolonged, malicious, and unfounded attack by Staniford on the company and its employees. “It affected our employees, their families, our suppliers and our partners. The heart of our company is our employees, and we need to stand up for them and defend them against malicious and defamatory attacks, and against cyberbullying,” Jensen said.
In the original trial, the judge concluded that Mainstream was a responsible corporate citizen, pointing out that “They are conscious of the need to operate the business in a manner consistent with producing a product that is safe to consume and contributes to a healthy and nutritious diet.” The trial judge found that the activist’s comments were defamatory and were motivated by express malice toward Mainstream. She described the language in his publications as “extreme, inflammatory, sensationalized, extravagant and violent,” but accepted his fair comment defense.
On July 22, 2013, The BC Court of Appeal overturned the trial judge and ruled that Staniford was not eligible for protection under a fair comment defence because he failed to adequately provide facts to back up his claims. The appeal judgment also awarded Mainstream Canada special costs because of Staniford’s “reprehensible conduct” during the litigation. “We are proud to produce top-quality, healthy fish for our customers, and we are glad this issue is finally concluded,” Jensen said.
Cermaq Canada farms Atlantic salmon in 27 sea sites on the west and east coasts of Vancouver Island, operates four land-based hatcheries and two processing plants (one under contract). The company holds seven third-party certifications in environmental sustainability, food safety, quality control, worker safety, including the internationally-recognized Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices certification.
