Berendsen v. Queen in the Supreme Court
The important case on contaminated sites, Berendsen v. the Queen, was scheduled to be argued in the Supreme Court of Canada today. But they settled at the last minute. This leaves the Court of Appeal’s decision (rejecting the claim) as the last word.
View the post titled Berendsen v. Queen in the Supreme CourtClimate change lawsuits
Climate change creates winners and losers. When the losers look for someone to blame, and someone to pay, whom will they find? A few cases have begun to explore how the common law can be used, either to seek damages for climate destruction, or to enjoin further emissions. As with any new sci…
View the post titled Climate change lawsuitsHow warm was 2010?
2010 tied with two other years (1998 and 2005) as the warmest years ever recorded, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Arctic sea-ice cover in December 2010 was the lowest ever measured. WMO is the United Nations’ authoritative voice on weather, climate and water.
View the post titled How warm was 2010?Brownfields: Better information, fewer errors?
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has updated its Brownfields information webpage, as part of its massive IT overhaul. Meanwhile, the ministry is considering whether to fix some problems with regulation 153/04 (records of site condition and contaminated sites) before major changes come…
View the post titled Brownfields: Better information, fewer errors?Hanna v. MOE, wind energy in the Divisional Court
Ed Hanna’s attack on the Ontario renewable energy approval system for wind turbines is before the Ontario Divisional Court this week. Richard Blackwell quoted me about it in Monday’s Globe.
View the post titled Hanna v. MOE, wind energy in the Divisional CourtEnvironmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties
The federal Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Act is now in force. In June 2009, the federal government passed the Environmental Enforcement Act, to amend nine existing environmental statutes and to create the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penaltie…
View the post titled Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary PenaltiesPCB Cleanup Dispute goes to the CEC
Bennett Environmental has filed a complaint with the Commission on Environmental Cooperation, alleging that Canada, and more specifically the province of Québec, is failing to effectively enforce Québec’s Environment Quality Act (EQA) and the Regulation Respecting the Burial of Contami…
View the post titled PCB Cleanup Dispute goes to the CECThomas Homer-Dixon
Perhaps because I am a professional pessimist,, I am increasingly persuaded by the apocalyptic visions of Thomas Homer Dixon. After more than 30 years labouring for environmental protection, in the company of many good people, I find it heartbreaking that we have achieved so little. Worse, …
View the post titled Thomas Homer-DixonBP Spill- Never again?
The US National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling reviews, in painstaking detail, the pervasive arrogance, stupidity, and greed that led to the Gulf explosion and spill last spring. They recognize that future spills, such as in the Arctic, could do even …
View the post titled BP Spill- Never again?Lots of regulations
The Ontario government is busy pushing out regulations, and seeking comments on new ones. Current consultations include:
View the post titled Lots of regulationsReceive Blog Posts
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