Tudor Gold has filed a civil claim in the BC Supreme Court, challenging the legal foundations of tunnel approvals granted to Seabridge Gold for its massive KSM Project in northwestern British Columbia.
At the heart of the dispute is a conditional mineral reserve put in place by the Province, which restricts Tudor from interfering with the construction, operation, or maintenance of Seabridge’s Mitchell Treaty Tunnels. The two tunnels, each 23 kilometres long, would pass through a section of mineral claims currently held by Tudor.
Tudor alleges that the reserve effectively expropriates its mineral rights and accuses the Province of misrepresenting its authority when granting Seabridge access. The company is seeking a court declaration that the reserve is invalid or, alternatively, financial compensation for expropriation or damages.
Seabridge has responded by stating the reserve has applied since 2014 — well before Tudor acquired the claims in 2016 — and argues the Province has consistently upheld its approvals.
This lawsuit is separate from another legal appeal Tudor launched earlier this year concerning the same tunnel route. While the courts consider the matter, Seabridge says it is continuing to move forward with development plans for the KSM Project, which is located in BC’s mineral-rich Golden Triangle and backed by several Indigenous and local community groups.
The outcome of this legal action could have implications for future mineral tenure and infrastructure development across the province.
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