Judge’s retirement could trigger new Hemlo hearing

Justice William McIntyre, one of the five judges who heard the appeal by LAC Minerals (TSE) last October, retired Feb 15. By law, he is allowed six months (to Aug 14) to write or sign rulings in cases in which he has been involved.

Should there be no action taken on the LAC appeal by Aug 14, LAC and its adversary in the case, Corona Corp. (TSE), will be asked by the court whether a ruling by the four other judges involved in the case is acceptable. Both sides must agree or a rehearing will be ordered.

The Supreme Court of Ontario awarded the mine to Corona (then known as International Corona Resources) in 1986 upon payment of $154 million (plus interest) to LAC. The Ontario Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the 1986 ruling and LAC took its case to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Page-Williams mine produced about 379,000 oz in 1988, the largest single, primary gold- mining operation in Canada that year. Projected output for 1989 is 490,000 oz.

LAC, which brought the mine into production, continues to act as the operator according to a mining plan which is under the direction of a management committee composed of one LAC nominee, one Corona nominee an d a third party agreed upon by both parties.

Should the final court decision go in Corona’s favor, the company has already agreed to a 50/50 joint venture arrangement for the operation of the mine with Teck Corp. (TSE). Corona and Teck are partners in the producing David Bell mine at Hemlo.

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