PRESS RELEASE
May 6, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

YOUBOU MILL WORKERS WIN FIRST ROUND
IN FIGHT WITH PROVINCE

Earlier today the Youbou mill workers won the first and significant round in their battle with the Province over the closure of the Cowichan Sawmill in the small town of Youbou on Vancouver Island (the “Youbou Mill”). Supreme Court Justice Dean Wilson granted the mill workers the right to bring a class action against the Province for the closure of the Youbou Mill.

The lawsuit arises out of the closure of the Youbou Mill back in January of 2001, resulting in the loss of approximately 225 jobs, and alleges that the Province was negligent in not protecting the Youbou Mill from closure. In the application for certification of this claim as a class action, lawyers for the Province argued that it should not be certified. Mr. Justice Wilson disagreed.

Mill worker Ken James is very pleased with the Court’s decision and says he is hopeful now that the Province will do the right thing and compensate the workers for the loss of their jobs without the necessity of continuing the litigation.

The mill workers are represented by lawyer Joseph J. Arvay of the Victoria law firm, Arvay Finlay.

* For information contact Ken James at 250-746-8684 or Joseph Arvay at 604-689-4438.

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