Offshore wind turbines–the setback proposal
Ontario probably can’t make a meaningful switch towards renewable energy without offshore wind development, which will be largely sterilized by the proposed 5 km minimum setback rules. For a sample letter opposing the setback, click here. To see our letter to the Premier on the point,…
View the post titled Offshore wind turbines–the setback proposalSyncrude hearing resumes
Today, Judge Tjosvold will resume the Syncrude trial for the killing of 1600 ducks that landed on a badly managed, lethal tailings pond. He will decide whether Syncrude can be punished for both the federal and provincial offences that it committed. Anyone interested in the environmental toll…
View the post titled Syncrude hearing resumesPublic Participation- Stopping SLAPPs
One of my recent pro bono projects has been develop the Ontario Bar Association’s submission on the need for a new law to control Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs). The submission is now posted, and I’ll be presenting it to the Attorney General’s emin…
View the post titled Public Participation- Stopping SLAPPsWeather or climate?
It’s hard to know whether individual weather events are just random fluctuations, or whether they are growing signs of climate change. What we need to look for are patterns– is the weather changing? And how do the changes that are actually happening compare to those predicted for clima…
View the post titled Weather or climate?Seven years after the blackout
Seven years after ten million people were affected by the August 14, 2003 blackout, our electricity policy remains somewhat schizophrenic. I’m a strong supporter of the Green Energy Act; we do need to shift what we can to conservation and to small scale, distributed, renewable electric…
View the post titled Seven years after the blackoutSpeaking for whales
Social media has helped to beat back efforts by pro-whaling countries, like Japan and Norway, to legalize commercial whale hunting. At the International Whaling Commission meeting held in Morocco in June, web campaigner Avaaz.org, delivered to Australian environment minister Peter Garrett, a…
View the post titled Speaking for whalesHanna lawsuit against wind turbines grinding on
Procedural skirmishing is underway in the Hanna lawsuit against Ontario wind turbines.
View the post titled Hanna lawsuit against wind turbines grinding onWhy is FOI so hard?
In 2009, of the 10,240 general information requests received by provincial government organizations, the Ministry of the Environment received 4944, the most of any provincial institution.
View the post titled Why is FOI so hard?Municipality can protect shoreline
Quebec City has successfully defended a bylaw requiring private property owners to naturalize the shoreline of its water supply. The St. Charles River, which flows into the lake of the same name, provides over half the potable water used by Quebec City. A study revealed that the banks of th…
View the post titled Municipality can protect shorelineBerendsen going to SCC
I think I forgot to mention it: The Supreme Court of Canada granted Berendsen leave to appeal from the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of his lawsuit against the province for the contamination of his land. The case has now dragged on for more than 20 years…
View the post titled Berendsen going to SCCReceive Blog Posts
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