HAMILTON - The Ontario government has been denied an appeal in its bid to block a potential class-action suit being filed in Caledonia.

Justice David Crane dismissed the Ontario government's application to kill the lawsuit in December and has now ruled the province cannot appeal his decision.

But the lawsuit being pursued by four Caledonia businesses and 14 residents still needs to be certified before it can be fought in court.

The applicants are seeking compensation for damages related to the aboriginal occupation in Caledonia that has dragged on since February 2006.

Lawyer John Findlay says the suit focuses on four incidents that affected residents and businesses in the months after protesters occupied the former Douglas Creek Estates subdivision.

The suit alleges the county, police and province broke laws by allowing the closure of Argyle Street, the closure of the Highway 6 bypass, interruption of hydro in Caledonia, and by failing to enforce court injunctions.