The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition the federal Environment Minister acted improperly in rejecting a $1.5-billion B.C. copper mine and the company deserves compensation, says a lawyer for Taseko Mines. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe says a week before a judicial review was to get under way into the rejection of the New Prosperity mine, the company asked a Federal Court to convert its action into a full-fledged lawsuit. Taseko lawyer John Hunter said Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq put politics before fairness. "We did not get a fair hearing on this matter," Mr. Hunter told Judge Roger Lafreniere. Taseko has two judicial review applications before the court: one concerning the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency panel's recommendation against the mine, and another related to the minister's decision. The company wants both applications rolled into one lawsuit because damages are not awarded in a judicial review. The court heard that after a Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency review was complete, Ms. Aglukkaq met with representatives of the Tsilhqot'in Nation, which opposed the mine. At the time, the Tsilhqot'in had a land title case before the Supreme Court of Canada.