Judge dismisses Aboriginal bid to block sale of P.E.I. golf course 

The Mi’kmaq have lost a court bid to block the sale of a popular golf course on Crown land in western Prince Edward Island.

The Mi’kmaq, who have claimed all of P.E.I., argued the provincial government failed its duty to consult with First Nations on the Jan. 10, 2017, sale to businessman Don McDougall.

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But Justice Gordon Campbell of the province’s Supreme Court ruled this week that the government had sufficiently consulted on the transfer of the 130 hectares.

McDougall bought the Mill River golf course and surrounding lands for $500,000, while the province committed to spending $6 million improving the course.

In a decision released Monday, Campbell found the province’s decision to sell could have been more courteous, particularly as it came just hours after a meeting between the province and Aboriginal leaders.

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However, the judge said he heard only limited evidence of prior Aboriginal use of the site, and that the province “made reasonable efforts to inform and consult” the bands about the sale.