Bill 83: Anti SLAPP law at last
Ontario is finally introducing an anti SLAPP law later today, the Public Participation Act, 2013. We worked hard to reach this result, through the Ontario Bar Association, and in cooperation with other stakeholders. Lets hope it is acceptable to the NDP and will be passed with their support.
Continue reading the post titled Bill 83: Anti SLAPP law at lastFirst Environmental Penalty
Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment has issued its first-ever environmental penalty under its so-called “you-spill, you-pay” legislation. Director Bill Bardswick ordered CGC Inc. of Hagersville to pay the province $9,000, for allowing contaminated runoff from its gypsum processing plant to enter a tributary of the Grand River on September 26, 2007. This is a purely...
Continue reading the post titled First Environmental PenaltyNew Rules on QPs
The MOE has pushed ahead with its regulation to restrict Environmental Site Assessments to professional engineers and geoscientists, as of October, 2009. O. Reg. 66/08 amends the definition of Qualified Person in O. Reg. 153/04. This will exclude agrologists and technologists, who now perform some ESAs. Some minor changes come into force immediately, allowing engineers...
Continue reading the post titled New Rules on QPsSlow Death by Rubber Duck
People rapidly absorb toxic chemicals from even two days’ exposure to typical consumer products, and governments don't protect us.
Continue reading the post titled Slow Death by Rubber DuckTaxonomy, Critical to Biodiversity. Really.
Taxonomy is the science that accurately identifies, classifies and documents plant and animal species. It provides the “language” through which we can study biodiversity. It’s an exciting time for taxonomy, as advances in computer technology and genetic techniques change the pace at which taxonomic information becomes available.
Continue reading the post titled Taxonomy, Critical to Biodiversity. Really.Database of checklists
Nimonik has launched a valuable database of checklists for many industrial purposes at http://www.WikiChecklists.com. The checklists vary from 5S quality standards to safety inspections and environmental legal requirements. They are soliciting additional contributions. Isn’t it hard to remember how we did things before the Internet?
Continue reading the post titled Database of checklistsScience, proof and causation: when courts and scientists disagree
Bad science should be thrown out of court. When alleged scientific data fails to meet relevant, objective quality standards specifically developed for that kind of data, no one knows whether the claimed result is either reliable or correct. It is fundamentally unfair to punish anyone based on such data.
Continue reading the post titled Science, proof and causation: when courts and scientists disagreeStatoil to plead guilty to oilsands offences
Statoil, the 2/3 state-owned Norwegian oil company, is well known for promising to develop the oil sands sustainably. This fall, it will plead guilty to charges relating to its Alberta oil sands project.[1]
Continue reading the post titled Statoil to plead guilty to oilsands offencesChlorure de choline
Choline Chloride Conspiracy to fix the prices of Choline Chloride Settlement Notice: Settlements have been reached with some of the defendants in some of the Vitamins class actions across Canada. For more specific information on the settlements please visit our website at www.vitaminsclassaction.com. Choline chloride is a member of the B-complex group of water-soluble vitamins...
Continue reading the post titled Chlorure de cholineGuidance for Environmental Site Assessments
Now that Reg. 153/04 sets strict new standards for Environmental Site Assessments of contaminated sites, it is good news that the Ministry of the Environment has finally released its guidance document for performing those ESAs. Although the new rules are only mandatory when seeking a Record of Site Condition, they set an industrywide benchmark for...
Continue reading the post titled Guidance for Environmental Site AssessmentsReceive 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.