Thomas 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, so much of what we actually do is unimportant....
Continue reading the post titled Thomas Homer-DixonObstruction Charge Results in 45 Days in Jail
On August 14, 2017, an individual operating an automotive and scrap metal business at a property situated along Haldimand Highway in Canfield was sentenced to 45 days in jail for obstructing Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Provincial Officers (“Ministry Officers”) in the performance of their duties, contrary to the Environmental Protection Act. The...
Continue reading the post titled Obstruction Charge Results in 45 Days in JailDrive Clean fines
How much should false information cost? Ontario’s Drive Clean program is intended to reduce air pollution by requiring motor vehicles to meet emission standards. An ongoing problem with the program is false information provided by owners or mechanics; maintaining the integrity of the program requires that such false reports be punished. For example, on July...
Continue reading the post titled Drive Clean finesSuperior Court of Justice Dismisses Third Party Action for Professional Negligence arising from the Purchase of Contaminated Land
The Superior Court of Justice recently granted a motion to dismiss a third party claim for professional negligence in a proceeding involving the purchase of a contaminated property that was subject to a remediation order registered on title (the “Contaminated Property”). CN Railway Company v. Crosslink Bridge Corp., 2018 ONSC 5475 (“CN Railway”) arose from...
Continue reading the post titled Superior Court of Justice Dismisses Third Party Action for Professional Negligence arising from the Purchase of Contaminated LandEnvironmental Review Tribunal Clarifies Section 34(1) of OWRA
The Environmental Review Tribunal (“ERT”) recently released a decision clarifying the scope of section 34(1) of the Ontario Water Resources Act R.S.O. 1990, c. O.40, (“OWRA”). The City of Thunder Bay (“City”) in Thunder Bay (City) v. Ontario (Environment, Conservation and Parks), ERT no. 18-024 (“Thunder Bay”) brought a motion pursuant to an appeal by...
Continue reading the post titled Environmental Review Tribunal Clarifies Section 34(1) of OWRA$105,000 Fine for Failing to Comply
On November 24, 2017, the sole Director and Chief Executive Officer of Copper Cliff Metals and Wrecking Corp. pled guilty to one offence under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) for failing to comply with a Court Order. The corporation operated an approved waste disposal site in the Regional Municipality of Niagara. The Ministry of the...
Continue reading the post titled $105,000 Fine for Failing to ComplySupreme Court allows Ecuador pollution plaintiffs to sue Chevron Canada
Chevron has lost a skirmish, but the major battles are still ahead
Continue reading the post titled Supreme Court allows Ecuador pollution plaintiffs to sue Chevron CanadaIndividual and Construction Companies Fined $95,000 for Illegal Waste Disposal
On June 21, 2017, SNC-Lavalin Constructors (Pacific) Inc., Dragodos Canada Inc., and EllisDon Corporation pled guilty and were fined for: generating liquid industrial waste, permitting the waste to leave their control with a non-approved waste transportation contractor, and, failing to complete the required waste manifest. In addition to the finding of guilt of the corporate...
Continue reading the post titled Individual and Construction Companies Fined $95,000 for Illegal Waste Disposal3-month Jail Time for Illegally Trafficking Iguanas
An Ontario man was sentenced to three months jail in New Brunswick for illegally trafficking threatened iguanas. The individual, who is from Thornhill, Ontario, was sentenced in Fredericton Provincial Court to concurrently serve two three-month jail terms after pleading guilty to one count of importing an animal without necessary permits and one count of exporting...
Continue reading the post titled 3-month Jail Time for Illegally Trafficking IguanasMunicipal orders under section 100.1 of the EPA
The seemingly never-ending litigation related to a spill of furnace oil fuel in the City of Kawartha Lakes is inching closer to resolution. In Technical Standards and Safety Authority v Kawartha Lakes, 2016 CanLII 41685 (ON ERT) the Environmental Review Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) tackled the issue—apparently for the first time—of who can be ordered by...
Continue reading the post titled Municipal orders under section 100.1 of the EPAReceive Blog Posts
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