New federal wastewater regulations a challenge for municipalities
Dianne spoke last month at the annual Canadian Water and Wastewater Association “Window on Ottawa”, on potential risks to municipalities of the new Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations under the Fisheries Act, expected to appear shortly in the Canada Gazette. Bottom line, the …
View the post titled New federal wastewater regulations a challenge for municipalitiesPollution, hot spots and environmental justice
Is it acceptable for legal pollution levels to be higher in some neighbourhoods than in others? In the US, pollution is often concentrated in areas of colour, including the famous Cancer Alley. Changing this is called “environmental justice”, and is an important priority for US EPA Administ…
View the post titled Pollution, hot spots and environmental justiceQuebec toughens Environmental Quality Act
Leading Quebec environmental lawyer, Jean Piette, advises that substantial changes have been made to the Act on Environmental Quality in Quebec.
View the post titled Quebec toughens Environmental Quality ActOrgaworld wins organic waste odour appeal
Orgaworld Canada, a composting company, has won a hard-fought appeal for permission to compost disputed wastes at its Ottawa facility, despite MOE fears about potential odours. The disputed wastes include pet faeces, urine, and organic waste in plastic bags. In rejecting the Ministry of the …
View the post titled Orgaworld wins organic waste odour appealSpeech from the Throne
Environmental issues were not top of mind in yesterday’s Speech from the Throne by Ontario’s minority government. In fact, the word “environment” is mentioned only once:
View the post titled Speech from the ThroneCompliance in reporting
Here are Dianne’s presentation slides on Compliance and reporting Nov 15 11 from this week’s Envirogate conference, Environmental Compliance Essentials. Bottom line: due diligence in environmental reporting has the same basic structure as any other due diligence program: identify…
View the post titled Compliance in reportingOntario flurry of convictions
In a typical year, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment launches about 150 to 175 prosecutions. About 75% of them are resolved by guilty pleas; about 5% are acquitted at trial; about 10% are convicted of something at trial; about 10% are withdrawn. Thus, we expect to hear about 12 or so c…
View the post titled Ontario flurry of convictionsMichaud v Sun Corp
Michaud v. Sun Corp. is a civil action that has been commenced in the Ontario Superior Court by a neighbour of the Kent Breeze Wind Farm. Unlike the Hanna and Erickson cases, which unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the permitting of wind projects, the Michaud case seeks damages and an inju…
View the post titled Michaud v Sun CorpEnvironmental causes of action
The recent Court of Appeal decision in Smith v Inco is requiring Canadian environmental lawyers to carefully rethink environmental causes of action–who can sue who for what? How can Smith v. Inco be reconciled with St. Lawrence Cement v. Barrette? (Different type of nuisance). Why can non-to…
View the post titled Environmental causes of actionBig fine for environmental consultant
Fines of $201,500, plus the 25% victim fine surcharge, have been imposed on an environmental consultant, his company and its client, for violations of the Ontario Water Resources Act. The client was also sent to jail.
View the post titled Big fine for environmental consultantReceive Blog Posts
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