Halifax Regional Municipality asks judge to reject class action lawsuit over Africville

HALIFAX – A lawyer argues former residents of Africville, a black community in Halifax’s north end demolished in the 1960s, should get personal compensation for what they endured.

The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia is hearing arguments today about whether to certify a proposed class action lawsuit for potentially hundreds of former residents.

Blacks first settled in Africville on the southern shore of the Bedford Basin around the mid-1800s, but it was demolished in the name of urban renewal.

Robert Pineo, a lawyer for plaintiff Nelson Carvery, argued the potential class members had an interest in the communal land of Africville and used it for a variety of activities including fishing, farming and gardening.

He says the continued use of that land was taken away when the City of Halifax expropriated it.

But Karen MacDonald, a lawyer for the city, argued that just because the former residents used the land does not mean they had any sort of ownership of it.

She argued claims should proceed on an individual basis, not as a class.

In 2010, the city issued a public apology and $3 million to rebuild the Africville church, among other things, but the settlement did not include personal compensation.

The suit seeks liability on the part of the City of Halifax, damages and costs.

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