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[–] NeedleInAHaystack [S] ago 

An American-owned water export company has launched a massive lawsuit against Canada for preventing it from exporting fresh water from British Columbia.

Sun Belt Water Inc. of California is suing Canada for $10.5 billion US, the Canadian foreign ministry said Friday.

The suit has been filed under Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Sun Belt says it has been "mistreated" by the B.C. government"

The clash over exporting water goes back to 1993, when Sun Belt and Snowcap Waters Ltd., a Canadian partner, sued the B.C. government for banning bulk water exports to California. Snowcap Waters agreed to a settlement of $335,000 (Cdn).

Sun Belt did not settle with the province. The company says the B.C. government's banning of water exports from the province violates the terms and conditions of NAFTA.

The lawsuit has upset environmentalists who are angry that companies wanting to make money exporting water are using NAFTA to override environmental laws. Ottawa has 90 days to examine the Sun Belt lawsuit.