Should we be shy?
Dianne has been honoured with yet another listing in an international directory of the world’s leading environmental lawyers. This time it is the second edition of the PLC Cross-Border Environment Handbook, being published by the Practical Law Company in London, England. Meanwhile, Dianne ha…
View the post titled Should we be shy?Environmental Penalties start today
The long-awaited Environmental Penalties Regulation, O.Reg. 222/07, comes into force today. This is an administrative penalties regime for environmental offences like the civil penalties widely used in the US. It has not previously been used in Ontario environmental law. In the new system, e…
View the post titled Environmental Penalties start todayRegulatory Blitz
The McGuinty government has adopted a blizzard of new and amended regulations this year. Since January, there have been 32 regulatory amendments or new regulations under the Environmental Protection Act; 2 under the Environmental Bill of Rights; 5 under the Environmental Assessment Act; 6 un…
View the post titled Regulatory BlitzThe Burnaby oil spill
The huge Burnaby oil spill will lead to fascinating and potentially important legal proceedings over the next few years. While we don’t yet know why the excavator didn’t know it was about to dig into a pipeline, likely cases include: • a Fisheries Act prosecution against one or more parties …
View the post titled The Burnaby oil spillThe clothesline debate 3
One reader has asked us: can municipalities prevent developers from putting clothesline restrictions in new subdivisions? Yes, they can. Section 51 of the Ontario Planning Act provides: 51 (17) The applicant shall provide the approval authority with the prescribed information showing, ……
View the post titled The clothesline debate 3The clothesline debate 2
We’ve had a wonderful response to our article about clotheslines and Ontario’s failure to use its Energy Conservation Leadership Act to wipe out clothesline restrictions in subdivision covenants and condo bylaws. (See July 12). We’ve been interviewed by CP and CTV, as well as reporters from …
View the post titled The clothesline debate 2Changes in Energy from Waste Approvals
This year’s changes to the approval process for energy from waste facilities has caused a commotion in Hamilton. In April 2004 the Government of Ontario announced its intent to acquire 2500 MW of privately funded renewable energy generation capacity. One of the responders, Liberty Energy, ha…
View the post titled Changes in Energy from Waste ApprovalsWho’s Who of Environmental Lawyers?
Dianne has just received the following email: The International Who’s Who of Environment Lawyers 2007 (3rd Edition) “Following 6 months of research with clients and peers, I am pleased to inform you that you are one of 370 lawyers selected for inclusion in The International Who’s…
View the post titled Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers?Clotheslines- the right to dryHe
Clothes dryers are the third largest energy consuming appliance in the average home, after refrigerators and stoves. What could be a simpler way to conserve energy than hanging your clothes outside?Unfortunately, using the sun and the wind to dry clothes is illegal in many subdivisions, due …
View the post titled Clotheslines- the right to dryHePopular Culture and Climate Change
You know social change is happening when popular culture is well ahead of the politicians. This weekend, we had examples at all scales. Millions worldwide watched Live Earth, many taking pledges to reform their energy consumption. In Toronto, one of the hits of the Fringe Festival is The Inc…
View the post titled Popular Culture and Climate ChangeReceive Blog Posts
By subscribing to our blog, you will receive an email when a new post is added. You can unsubscribe at any time by sending an email to us at [email protected] with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line.