Senior U of R official embroiled in another CO2 controversy

A University of Regina official who was connected to the IPAC-CO2 case is now being connected to a second carbon-capture controversy. 

Court documents say Ian Bailey, who headed up the University Industry Liaison Office (UILO), played a central role in a dispute between the institution and two private companies.

In 2008, he was the University's representative in negotiations with Saskatchewan-based HTC Purenergy and South Korea-based Doosan.

Lawsuit involves U of R, 2 firms

The university is suing the two companies, saying they unjustly claimed exclusive rights to technology developed at the university.

In a statement of defence, the two companies claim that Bailey, on behalf of the university, granted them exclusive rights to the institution's carbon capture technology.

And they point to a "confirmation letter" written by Bailey on university letterhead, as proof.

But in its statement of claim, the university argues that it only agreed to grant "non-exclusive" rights. It says Bailey had no right to sign that confirmation letter.

"Neither Mr. Bailey nor the UILO had the legal authority to modify the HTC license agreement, as was known to the defendants," the university's statement of claim says.

Bailey tricked, U of R says

In addition, the university argues that Bailey was tricked into signing the letter "by a material, intentional, misrepresentation by all of the defendants."

However, Doosan counters that Bailey was a qualified individual, holding high office at the university, given authority to make agreements and sign letters on university letterhead.

And so, the South Korean corporation argues, "the University held Mr. Bailey out as a person with sufficient authority to bind the university in respect of the confirmation letter."

None of the above allegations have been proven in court.

Bailey also named in IPAC case

Last month, CBC News broke a series of stories about another carbon capture research controversy at the University of Regina in which Bailey also played a central role.

In 2009, Bailey was running the International Performance Assessment Centre for Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide (IPAC-CO2) for the University of Regina.

At the same time, CBC discovered, he was on the board of IPAC's largest supplier.

The government and the university called this a conflict of interest. 

Bailey on leave

University of Regina president Vianne Timmons says she was preparing to take disciplinary action when Bailey went on medical leave.

He reportedly fell down the stairs and was seriously injured.

"Ian Bailey's on leave and was on leave just after the conflict of interest was disclosed to me," Timmons said.

CBC has made many attempts to contact Bailey. His wife says they have no comment.