New neonic pesticide controls in Ontario
On July 1, 2015, new regulatory requirements for the sale and use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds in Ontario will start to come into effect, to protect bird and bee health. Ontario wants to reduce the number of acres planted with neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed by 80 per cent by 2…
View the post titled New neonic pesticide controls in OntarioAnti-fracking and Great Lakes Bills to Committee
The Ontario Legislature rose for the summer on June 4, with two environmental proposed environmental laws having received second reading, but awaiting Committee review and public hearings. The third environmental law, Bill 52, Protection of Public Participation Act, 2015 (anti-SLAPP) has bee…
View the post titled Anti-fracking and Great Lakes Bills to CommitteeFood labelling coming to a (franchised) restaurant near you
Here is a recent legislative development of interest that will impact the franchise community, at least in Ontario: the Making Healthier Choices Act, 2015, which received Royal assent on May 28, 2015. Note that the act comes into force on Jan. 1, 2017. The act requires that “owners and opera…
View the post titled Food labelling coming to a (franchised) restaurant near youWeird loophole in Toronto sewer bylaw
Toronto seems to have a weird and expensive loophole in its sewer bylaw. Virtually every municipal sewer bylaw prohibits the discharge of non-municipal water, such as storm water or groundwater, into its sanitary sewers. Stormwater and groundwater are permitted only in storm or combined sewe…
View the post titled Weird loophole in Toronto sewer bylawEndangered Species exemptions survive court challenge
Sweeping exemptions from Ontario’s protection for endangered species have been upheld by the Divisional Court, despite concerns that they reduce the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act, 2007. In Wildlands League v. Lieutenant Governor in Council, 2015 ONSC 2942, Ecojustice, the…
View the post titled Endangered Species exemptions survive court challengeWhy special rules for endangered species on roads to turbines?
Why should endangered species protection in Ontario be different for roads to wind turbines, as opposed to roads leading anywhere else? Ontario has an elaborate system that allegedly protects endangered species. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), endangered, threatened or extirpated spe…
View the post titled Why special rules for endangered species on roads to turbines?Ontario industries can finally burn waste not coal
Ontario’s energy intensive industries have finally been permitted to burn many kinds of waste, in place of coal. Cement companies, among others, are now looking for sufficient quantities of eligible biomass they can dry and burn to fuel their kilns. With cap and trade on the way, this …
View the post titled Ontario industries can finally burn waste not coalLimitation periods – Often overlooked, yet potentially fatal to your legal rights
It is inevitable that at some point a business will experience a harmful event that causes it to suffer a financial loss. Examples include a third party breaking a contract or a warehouse fire due to faulty electrical wiring. Therefore, businesses need to be aware of the time limits that res…
View the post titled Limitation periods – Often overlooked, yet potentially fatal to your legal rightsBetter comments on permit-by-rule for water taking
Will Ontario’s proposed rules for “permit-by-rule” water takings work? Stephen English of the Region of Halton has graciously allowed me to post some of his helpful comments on the details of Ontario’s proposal to replace some Permits to Take Water, especially for con…
View the post titled Better comments on permit-by-rule for water takingFisheries Act private prosecution goes ahead
As we wrote earlier, in December 2014 Marilyn Burgoon received approval to bring a private prosecution against Executive Flight Centre Fuel Services and the Province of British Columbia for violations of the Fisheries Act related to a large fuel spill into a sensitive creek. The province too…
View the post titled Fisheries Act private prosecution goes aheadReceive Blog Posts
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