Pesticide Ban Passed, but not In Effect
Bill 64, which bans most cosmetic uses of pesticides in Ontario, received Royal Assent this week with only minor amendments. However, the Bill won’t actually come into effect until its regulations are adopted, which could take a year or more. Controversially, the Bill will invalidate m…
View the post titled Pesticide Ban Passed, but not In EffectMajor Victory for Lafarge Neighbours and ECO
The Ontario Divisional Court has given a resounding victory to the Environmental Review Tribunal and to neighbours who oppose tire burning at the Lafarge cement plant in Bath. Last spring, the ERT granted neighbours leave to appeal two certificates of approval, issued by the Ministry of the …
View the post titled Major Victory for Lafarge Neighbours and ECOOntario proposes grants for green commercial vehicles
Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation is proposing a $15 million, 4 year pilot project to help businesses buy new, fuel-efficient, low greenhouse gas emitting commercial vehicles. Grantees will have to track and report the emission reductions they achieve.
View the post titled Ontario proposes grants for green commercial vehiclesQuebec Ontario Agreement on GHG
Cooperation on GHG emissions? Uh-uh — Feds’ knickers in a knot over pact between Ontario and Quebec Ontario and Québec signed a memorandum of understanding on climate change during Canadian Environment Week, on June 2. Premiers McGuinty and Charest propose that an inter-provincia…
View the post titled Quebec Ontario Agreement on GHGWhat is a Piecrust?
To allow innocent third parties to build or operate on historically contaminated lands, we often use a legal structure known as a “piecrust”. For a presentation that describes the concept, click Introduction to Piecrusts.
View the post titled What is a Piecrust?Harper Gov't Approves Kearl Mine Again
To no one’s surprise, the Harper government has again approved Imperial Oil’s Kearl oil sands mine. In May, a court ruled that the mine’s environmental assessment had not been properly completed because it gave no credible reasons why the mine’s massive greenhouse gas…
View the post titled Harper Gov't Approves Kearl Mine AgainGovernment Transparency
Ontario proposes to enlarge the scope of the Environmental Bill of Rights, but not enough to satisfy the Environmental Commissioner. Ontario Regulation 73/94 determines which ministries are subject to the Environmental Bill of Rights. The Environmental Commissioner has long complained that t…
View the post titled Government TransparencyCO2 Highest in 650,000 years
According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is now 387 ppm, the highest level for at least 650,000 years. Meanwhile, the city of Toronto released figures showing that the August 19, 2005 storm has cost the city …
View the post titled CO2 Highest in 650,000 yearsWho gets the money?
Alberta’s cap and trade plan may create another opportunity for the federal and provincial governments to tussle over oil revenues. Alberta’s “Specified Gas Emitters” regulation requires Alberta’s largest emitters to reduce the intensity of their greenhouse gas …
View the post titled Who gets the money?Adaptation for Municipalities
Suddenly, it seems, there is a crescendo of interest in climate change adaptation. Perhaps Toronto’s $500 million in insurance claims for the August 2005 rainstorm have helped to bring home the unpleasant fact that the costs of climate change won’t just fall on our children- they…
View the post titled Adaptation for MunicipalitiesReceive Blog Posts
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