Acquittals in Two Recent Fisheries Act Prosecutions
We often report on convictions under the Fisheries Act. It is less often that we report on acquittals. In the last several months, two cases related to charges against farmers in PEI under the Fisheries Act were dismissed. The cases turned on whether the farmers, contrary to section 36(3) th…
View the post titled Acquittals in Two Recent Fisheries Act ProsecutionsSIDS on track to pioneer new international treaty on climate change
Despite their comparatively insignificant contribution to climate change, Small Island Developing States (“SIDS”) are among the most vulnerable nations to the effects of climate change. Rising sea levels, an increase in extreme weather events, desertification, warming marine habits, and othe…
View the post titled SIDS on track to pioneer new international treaty on climate changeHow Sierra Club became a player in the coal business
As strange as it might sound, the US chapter of the Sierra Club has acquired control over a large coal reserve in the Appalachians. In 2014, Sierra Club and two other environmental non-governmental organizations (“ENGO”s) sued a coal producer, Alpha Natural Resources, for polluting several s…
View the post titled How Sierra Club became a player in the coal businessA Break for Employers on Termination Clauses
Finally! The Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a termination clause in an employment contract that did NOT reference benefit continuation (when indeed there were benefits) or severance (when the employer had a payroll of $2.5 million or more and the employee qualified for the severance payment …
View the post titled A Break for Employers on Termination ClausesThe Virtual Office: Working From Home Considerations
With the advancement of technology, employers looking to cut overhead costs, and family and lifestyle accommodations growing, working from home is becoming more and more common. However, there are some considerations that must be explored before such practices are approved. Policies If emplo…
View the post titled The Virtual Office: Working From Home ConsiderationsNationwide flurry of activity on Environmental Bills of Rights
Hot on the heels of several provinces introducing Environmental Bills of Rights (“EBRs”), Ontario has just announced a review of its Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993. In March 2016, both British Columbia (Bill M 236-2016) and Manitoba (Bill 20) introduced EBRs (this was a re-introduction o…
View the post titled Nationwide flurry of activity on Environmental Bills of RightsProvincial renewable energy goals trump municipal by-laws
Since the Green Energy and Economy Act, 2009 came into force on May 14, 2009, the debate continues about whether municipalities can regulate renewable energy projects. At least three court decisions have now been made which indicate that other possible avenues of municipal regulation of rene…
View the post titled Provincial renewable energy goals trump municipal by-lawsDo environmental permits have value for the purposes of property tax assessment?
A recent decision of the Assessment Review Board (“ARB”) (Waste Management of Canada Corporation v MPAC, ID 138737 (ARB)) has concluded that the market value of the rights associated with an Environmental Compliance Approval (“ECA”) should be reflected in the current value of a landfill for …
View the post titled Do environmental permits have value for the purposes of property tax assessment?Slips, Trips and Falls: Understanding Occupiers’ Liability
What is Occupiers’ Liability? In Ontario, the Occupiers’ Liability Act governs all claims relating to occupiers’ liability. Anyone who is in physical possession of a property, or has responsibility for and control over a property (the “occupier”) owes a duty of care to take reasonable precau…
View the post titled Slips, Trips and Falls: Understanding Occupiers’ LiabilityPoint-of-sale notice programme coming for Toronto dry cleaners?
The Board of Health of the City of Toronto has recently moved on recommendations from Toronto Public Health to look into ways to increase regulation of dry cleaning operations in the city. The increased restrictions were in response to lobbying efforts from a number of environmental organiza…
View the post titled Point-of-sale notice programme coming for Toronto dry cleaners?Receive Blog Posts
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