Congratulations and thank you
We’re proud to announce that Dianne has been awarded the Ontario Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award, for her many years of service to the OBA and to environmental law. And thank you to Canadian Lawyer for listing us as one of Canada’s top 5 environmental law boutiques.
View the post titled Congratulations and thank youEnvironmental penalties gaining steam
Ontario’s environmental penalties regime for spills is gathering steam. The final count for 2009 was 13 penalties totalling $112,143.20, most under the Environmental Protection Act. The highest penalty was $23,750. Thirteen more penalties have already been issued in the first four months of …
View the post titled Environmental penalties gaining steamCuts to Renewable Subsidies
Reports say that Spain is slashing the prices it pays for renewable energy, as part of an aggressive response to its debt crisis. Spanish bonds were downgraded this week, and today it announced that unemployment has risen above 20%. Spain already has the third highest deficit in the EU, afte…
View the post titled Cuts to Renewable SubsidiesWhat'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 a…
View the post titled What's toxic in that product?Oil sands tailing wastes and dead ducks
In Alberta provincial court, Syncrude is on trial for the death of 1600 migratory ducks, who were unable to escape from its oil sands tailing ponds in 2008. Federal and provincial governments allow Syncrude to create the giant, deadly ponds, as long as they take reasonable care to frighten t…
View the post titled Oil sands tailing wastes and dead ducksKyoto Protocol Implementation decision tomorrow
On March 25, the Supreme Court of Canada will decide Friends of the Earth’s application for leave to appeal. In 2006, FOE asked the Federal Court of Canada to order the Harper government to comply with a valid Canadian statute on managing climate change, the Kyoto Protocol Implementati…
View the post titled Kyoto Protocol Implementation decision tomorrowDesigning a holdback clause
Real estate transactions often include holdbacks to deal with environmental issues. Unfortunately, the holdback clauses are often poorly worded, which can lead to unnecessary disputes. A recent case in the Ontario Superior Court illustrates the problem:
View the post titled Designing a holdback clauseKeeping drugs out of our drinking water – an update
Leftover drugs should never be flushed down toilets or discarded with regular garbage. Consumers should return unused drugs to their pharmacies for incineration.
View the post titled Keeping drugs out of our drinking water – an updateStormwater surprise
Why does so much filth pour out of Toronto sewer outfalls? Hundreds of the outfalls, which should only carry rainwater and perhaps noncontact cooling water, run even in dry weather. Toronto’s water department has identified 53 priority outfalls, places where the “water” p…
View the post titled Stormwater surpriseClimate change, KPIA and the rule of law
When abroad, I have often bragged about Canada’s legal system, how competent and respected are our courts and how no one is above the law. But this boast has taken a blow in the area of climate change and the Kyoto Protocol.
View the post titled Climate change, KPIA and the rule of lawReceive 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.