The Globe and Mail (Toronto, CAN)
Taxpayers charged cost of keeping anti-sealing vessel docked near Sydney
The Canadian Press
May 10, 2008
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080510.FARLEY10/TPStory/NationalSYDNEY, N.S. -- Canadian taxpayers are on the hook for the cost of
keeping an anti-sealing vessel docked at an industrial park wharf near
Sydney, N.S.
The 54-metre Farley Mowat, owned by the Sea Shepherd Conservation
Society, was detained off the coast of Cape Breton on April 12 by the
federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
It charged the vessel's captain and first mate with interfering in the
annual seal hunt in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
During a Provincial Court hearing yesterday in Sydney, Judge Peter
Ross turned down a Crown application to release the vessel to Captain
Alex Cornelissen, 40, of Amsterdam, and first mate Peter Hammerstedt,
Crown lawyer Theresa O'Leary argued the Crown would return the vessel
to those from whom it was seized, meaning the captain and the first
mate.
But lawyer Guy LaFosse, who represents the two accused, said the Crown
has failed to produce any evidence proving that the vessel had been
seized and from whom.
He also said neither of his clients own the property nor are they in
any position to assume control over the ship.
In his decision, Judge Ross concurred with Mr. LaFosse that the Crown
application seemed to amount to asking that a remedy to be imposed on
a party not seeking a remedy.
"This may be imposing some kind of liability on them when they are not
even asking for it," the judge said in rejecting the Crown's
application.
The vessel and its 17-member crew were brought to Sydney where Capt.
Cornelissen and Mr. Hammerstedt spent 24 hours in jail.
They were released on $10,000 bail and deported, but are scheduled to
return to court July 2 to enter pleas to the charges.
The vessel is being held at the Sydney Industrial Park at taxpayers' expense.
The society can make application itself to have the vessel returned,
but has not done so.
Sea Shepherd spokesman Paul Watson said earlier this week he plans to
submit a bill every month to the federal government for as long they
retain control over the ship.
Mr. Watson said the society will bill $1,000 per day for every day the
vessel is held.
The society is also demanding an apology from federal Fisheries
Minister Loyola Hearn.