This decision of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board is the
first to consider the Expropriation Act in the context of
a residential property and structure as opposed to commercially
owned lands. It involved DDV Gold Limited's expropriation of
Mr. Oakley's lands near Halifax, on which Mr. Oakley's home
was situated, for use in a gold mine project.
DDV Gold and Mr. Oakley had a draft agreement for DDV Gold to
purchase Mr. Oakley's lands in 2008, but it was never
finalized. For several years, Mr. Oakley was left in limbo and did
not live in his home on the understanding that DDV Gold would be
purchasing it. DDV Gold eventually made an offer to purchase the
land which Mr. Oakley declined. DDV Gold then applied to
expropriate Mr. Oakley's land. The parties agreed on the market
value of the land, but disagreed on what, if any, compensation
should be awarded to Mr. Oakley for disturbance arising from the
expropriation.