Recent court decisions create and perpetuate uncertainty in Ontario employment law
As COVID-19 seemed to put the world on “hold” for some time in 2020, Ontario courts were still busy at work releasing decisions with significant implications for employers. While we generally expect court decisions to resolve uncertainties in the law, I want to highlight three recent decisions which increase the legal uncertainties facing Ontario employers....
Continue reading the post titled Recent court decisions create and perpetuate uncertainty in Ontario employment lawWhat's toxic in that product?
What’s toxic in consumer products? A law we should have Labels on consumer products like cosmetics contain a long list of ingredients, usually in teeny tiny print, in English and in French. Unfortunately, most of us have no idea how to pronounce the multi-syllable ingredients, or why they are in the product, or whether they...
Continue reading the post titled What's toxic in that product?Narrow candidates for permit by rule: waste, solar, printing
The latest draft Approvals Reform regulations are another small step in the right direction. Clarifying and simplifying the requirements for routine, low impact activities, and reducing regulatory delay, is increasingly important if Ontario is to successfully compete for investment money and jobs. Using the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR) process (a type of permit...
Continue reading the post titled Narrow candidates for permit by rule: waste, solar, printingERT rejects neighbours' plea re 22 year old spill
Should it really take more than 22 years to clean up a domestic fuel spill?
Continue reading the post titled ERT rejects neighbours' plea re 22 year old spillAnother noise lawsuit
A group of Calgary residents have launched another civil lawsuit, trying to force a local chicken processing plant (Lilydale) to slash noise and odour. The statement of claim asks the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench to order Lilydale to stop night-time trucking at its Hurst Road plant, limit odour pollution, and fully enclose chicken waste bins....
Continue reading the post titled Another noise lawsuitWind turbines and radiation emitting devices act
Does operating a wind turbine contravene the federal Radiation Emitting Devices Act? I don’t think so. Here are four (alternative) reasons: First, in my view, a wind turbine is not a “device” within the meaning of this Act. In legal terms, physical things are divided into what we call “personal property” and “real property”. A...
Continue reading the post titled Wind turbines and radiation emitting devices actPublic Hearings Regarding the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, in London on July 17
Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, is currently working its way through the Ontario legislature and, if passed into law, would impose many new obligations on employers. For more details on those changes, please see our previous blog posts on the subject. Bill 148 is in the “committee stage” of the legislative...
Continue reading the post titled Public Hearings Regarding the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, in London on July 17PCB in my fish oil?
Are fish oil supplements safe? The Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation doesn’t think we know enough to tell. In March, the Foundation filed a lawsuit against fish oil supplement manufacturers, distributors and retailers, claiming that they fail to give clear warnings, required by California law, that some of these products expose consumers to high levels of...
Continue reading the post titled PCB in my fish oil?Why special rules for endangered species on roads to turbines?
Why should endangered species protection in Ontario be different for roads to wind turbines, as opposed to roads leading anywhere else? Ontario has an elaborate system that allegedly protects endangered species. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), endangered, threatened or extirpated species and their habitats cannot be harmed or destroyed, except by permit or if...
Continue reading the post titled Why special rules for endangered species on roads to turbines?Food, drug, and natural product claims
Businesses that advertise food products are subject to myriad regulations with respect to the claims they can make about their products. The law Generally speaking, Food and Drugs Act, Competition Act, and Safe Food for Canadians Act govern advertising concerning food, drugs and natural health products. There are a few key rules of thumb sellers...
Continue reading the post titled Food, drug, and natural product claimsReceive Blog Posts
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