Vander Zalm survives Powder Mountain lawsuit
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 | 3:44 PM ET
CBC News
The Hartwick's were seeking compensation for lost opportunities and time and money invested in the project. The trial featured several well known political witnesses, including former premier Bill Vander Zalm and former Socred cabinet ministers Grace McCarthy and Jack Kempf.
For 20 years the Hartwicks fought to develop the Callaghan Valley, home to the planned Powder mountain ski resort. They always claimed they won the rights to develop the area in 1985. But two years later they claimed their verbal agreement with the provincial government fell through.
During the trial Kemp testified he received a memo ordering him to stop assisting the Hartwicks because then-premier Bill Vander Zalm had a friend who wanted to develop the area as a ski resort.
Today, Justice David Tysoe ruled there was no such memo and ruled there is no evidence Vander Zalm or other government representatives acted improperly. He dismissed the Hartwicks' claim for breach of contract, abuse of public office and unlawful interference.
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