Ford Loses Motion to Dismiss Ecojustice Case for Cancelling Cap and Trade
The recent attempt of the Ford government to dismiss a court case against them brought by Greenpeace Canada, represented by Ecojustice[1], failed on January 26, 2019. Ecojustice filed a lawsuit against the Government of Ontario for failing to consult the public when it ended Ontario’s cap an…
View the post titled Ford Loses Motion to Dismiss Ecojustice Case for Cancelling Cap and Trade2018 Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Annual Report
The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (“ECO”) released her office’s 2018 Annual Report, titled, “Back to Basics: Respecting the Public’s Voice on the Environment” on November 13, 2018.[1] The Report is published in four volumes, spanning 339 pages. Volume 1 reports on government ministri…
View the post titled 2018 Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Annual ReportBetter comments on permit-by-rule for water taking
Will Ontario’s proposed rules for “permit-by-rule” water takings work? Stephen English of the Region of Halton has graciously allowed me to post some of his helpful comments on the details of Ontario’s proposal to replace some Permits to Take Water, especially for con…
View the post titled Better comments on permit-by-rule for water takingFederal Govt stands down wastewater pollution regulations
The federal government has reached an equivalency agreement with Quebec over wastewater pollution regulations intended to protect fish. Under the federal Fisheries Act, the federal government can agree NOT to apply its regulations in a province, if it agrees that provincial regulations in th…
View the post titled Federal Govt stands down wastewater pollution regulationsWill Toronto go to full cost recovery in Surcharge Agreements?
In 2008, Toronto’s Auditor General’s Report on Protecting Water Quality and Preventing Pollution recommended that Toronto should charge industries the full cost of sampling, testing and treating their high strength sewage. In November 2012, Toronto Council considered, and rejected, the…
View the post titled Will Toronto go to full cost recovery in Surcharge Agreements?London fined $20,000 for wastewater plant spill
The City of London was fined $20,000, plus the 25% victim fine surcharge, for breaching its Ministry of the Environment approval for a wastewater treatment plant, contrary to the Ontario Water Resources Act. The City of London owns and operates the Greenway Pollution Control Centre. The faci…
View the post titled London fined $20,000 for wastewater plant spillStadacona: Do employees know what samples to take?
Last fall, Stadacona was convicted under the (former) Fisheries Act and the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations. According to Environment Canada, “Stadacona General Partner Inc. pleaded guilty to having released one million litres of untreated process water into the Saint-Charles River…
View the post titled Stadacona: Do employees know what samples to take?Cericola Farms fined $80,000 for wastewater runoff
On February 8, 2012, Cericola Farms Limited of Bradford, Ontario, pleaded guilty to three violations under the Ontario Water Resources Act for discharging chicken processing effluent into a creek that may impair the quality of the water and two counts of failing to comply with their Certific…
View the post titled Cericola Farms fined $80,000 for wastewater runoffPonoka 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 wastew…
View the post titled Ponoka fined $70,000 for sewage discharge permitted by provinceNew 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 municipalitiesReceive Blog Posts
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