Is public consultation a political activity forbidden to charities?
With the launch of Conservative Senator Nicole Eaton’s inquiry into the “Involvement of Foreign Foundations in Canada’s Domestic Affairs”, increased scrutiny is being focused on the activities of Canada’s charitable environmental groups. In particular, is participating in public consultations, or encouraging others to do so, a political activity forbidden to charities?
Continue reading the post titled Is public consultation a political activity forbidden to charities?Confidentiality Provisions – What are they good for?
In resolutions of disputes between both unionized and non-union employees, confidentiality provisions are often employed and, depending on the circumstances, they may be viewed as a critical component of any settlement. I have written previously about the enforcement of confidentiality provisions (see Silence is Golden – what happens when confidentiality provisions are breached?). The case which...
Continue reading the post titled Confidentiality Provisions – What are they good for?OBA prods AG on Anti-SLAPP
The Ontario Bar Association has reminded the Attorney General of the need for anti-SLAPP legislation in Ontario:
Continue reading the post titled OBA prods AG on Anti-SLAPPOntario Labour Relations Board (“OLRB”) increases demands on employers in construction sector Certification Applications
From the “are you kidding me??” file … When employers in the construction sector receive an Application for Certification by a Union, they have two business days to file a Response. You can imagine the whirlwind of activity this creates even if the Application comes to the attention of the right person at the company...
Continue reading the post titled Ontario Labour Relations Board (“OLRB”) increases demands on employers in construction sector Certification ApplicationsWhen Is a Layoff Not a Layoff?
Q. When Is a Layoff Not a Layoff? A. When it’s a termination. A recent decision of the Ontario Superior Court has given some employers confidence that they will always be allowed to lay off employees provided they follow the requirements of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“the ESA”). Unfortunately, we think that confidence may well...
Continue reading the post titled When Is a Layoff Not a Layoff?2012 begins with much-needed clarity from the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal
It’s a Happy New Year indeed for labour/employment lawyers and their clients, who now have clear direction from the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal on the thorny issue of when duplicative litigation will be permitted (or not!) before the Tribunal. Previously, the Tribunal had issued conflicting case law interpreting s. 45.1 of the Code, which provides...
Continue reading the post titled 2012 begins with much-needed clarity from the Ontario Human Rights TribunalWas I right about air?
Was I right about air regulation 419/05? Ten years ago, the Ministry of the Environment asked for my opinion on the regulatory reform initiative that culminated in the new air regulation, O.Reg. 419/05. I wrote a column about it in the August/September 2001 issue of Hazardous Materials Management. (reproduced below). It is reassuring, in a...
Continue reading the post titled Was I right about air?How reliable are odour units?
345 Given that there are many steps in the process of attempting to calculate odour units which are problematic, and which contain so many points of bias and subjectivity, the Panel finds that the ultimate number or value coming out of an odour unit measurement cannot be relied upon as meaningful, particularly for the purposes of evaluating compliance with a mandatory term of a permit.
Continue reading the post titled How reliable are odour units?New brownfield cleanup standards- what dates?
Under regulation 153/04, the benchmark for contaminated site cleanups in Ontario has, since October 1, 2004, been the Soil, Ground Water and Sediment Standards for Use under Part XV.1 of the Environmental Protection Act, March 9, 2004. This standard becomes obsolete July 1, 2011, when substantial amendments to the contaminated sites rules come into effect. Since...
Continue reading the post titled New brownfield cleanup standards- what dates?Ponoka fined $70,000 for sewage discharge permitted by province
While federal environmental enforcement is less frequent these days, the fines imposed are getting larger. The small town of Ponoka, Alberta (population about 7000) was fined $70,000 after pleading guilty to one count under the Fisheries Act. The Town was releasing effluent from their wastewater lagoon in the Battle River, as permitted by the Province,...
Continue reading the post titled Ponoka fined $70,000 for sewage discharge permitted by provinceReceive Blog Posts
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