Twitter Moot argues case of mining and indigenous rights

Moot Twitter Bird

Two Osgoode Hall Law School students will participate in Twitter Moot 2014 Friday to argue an appeal about the Canadian government’s duty to consult First Nations people about mine development.

Osgoode students Nina Mazze and Michael Capitano, one of five teams of law students selected from across the country, will make arguments to three judges of the Supreme Twitter Court of Canada for Twitter Moot 2014 on Feb. 28 at 1pm.

The appeal will be based on the Ross River Dena v. Yukon case that resulted in a precedent-setting decision by the Yukon Court of Appeal in December 2012. The court held that the Yukon’s mining laws did not provide for adequate consultation with the Ross River Dena Council. As similar laws are in place in several provinces, the Twitter Moot will explore the issues in a broad sense looking at the role of mining and indigenous groups in Canadian law.

Mazze, co-chair of Osgoode’s Environmental Law Society, is a second-year law student with a background in biology and environmental sciences. Capitano, also in his second year, is interested in corporate social responsibility, corporate governance and environmental law.

They will be representing the Yukon Chamber of Mines, which supports the Yukon government’s position. For more information, read the description of team Osgoode’s legal submissions.

Follow the arguments on Twitter, on Facebook or on the Twitter Moot 2014 West Coast Environmental Law website.