The B.C. Supreme Court recently dismissed the plaintiffs'
claims in Northwest Organics, Limited Partnership v
Roest, 2018 BCSC 866, a defamation action relating to a
commercial composting facility. The claim arose after years of
conflict between residents of a rural community who opposed
construction of the facility and the facility's owners. The
residents had engaged in various public campaigns to voice their
concerns about the risks associated with the facility and the
unpleasant odours it produced once in operation. The owners claimed
that these public expressions of opposition were defamatory.
Specifically, they alleged that the defendants published defamatory
remarks by distributing flyers around town, circulating copies of
an expert report recommending against construction of the facility,
sharing the report with a reporter, voicing opposition at public
meetings, placing critical signs along the only paved road into
town, filing complaints with government
