A lawsuit is before Quebec’s Superior Court claiming an international livestock feed company and the federal government knew how to prevent BSE but did not act soon enough, costing the cattle industry billions of dollars.
Quebec farmer Donald Berneche claims he lost $100,000 in revenue during the BSE crisis.
His claim says border closures cost Canada $20 billion.
Berneche had a three day hearing in the Quebec court last week to seek approval for the case to go ahead as a class action suit against the government and Ridley Inc.
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BSE is spread through feed supplies containing meat and bone meal from infected cattle. The practice of using ruminant-based proteins in cattle feed was banned in 1997.
A Ridley Inc. spokesperson, who did not want to be named because the case is before the courts, said most of the work to date has been procedural. Ridley has not appeared in court but did ask for a stay against the proceedings.
Similar suits claiming damages of more than $7 billion were launched in April 2005 in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.
The Alberta and Saskatchewan cases have been stayed until the Ontario court of appeals issues a decision later this year as to whether this should proceed as a class action suit.
Berneche and lawyers representing the case did not respond to the Western Producer by press time on Oct. 23.
Ridley Inc. is an Australian based company with offices in Canada and the United States.
