Environment Canada: more cuts, less science?
Sometimes, it feels like the 1990s again. In both Canada and the US, budget shortfalls and political preferences are resulting in significant cuts to environmental scientists and regulators. For example, Environment Canada has announced that its current round of cuts will eliminate approxima…
View the post titled Environment Canada: more cuts, less science?Unsuccessful SLAPPs
Two British Columbia cases show again why we need laws to prevent Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs).
View the post titled Unsuccessful SLAPPsConsumer products banned for lead- in the US
The US is far more active than Canada in detecting lead in consumer products, and in requiring that they be withdrawn from the market. The Centers for Disease Control post a fascinating list of high lead consumer products, many of them marketed for children, which can no longer be sold in th…
View the post titled Consumer products banned for lead- in the USPolluter must pay for cleanup, twice
It’s not safe for a polluter to trust a subsequent owner to clean up contamination, even if the polluter has specifically paid for the cleanup, and even if the new owner signs a contract relieving the original polluter of liability. None of this will prevent environmental regulators from ord…
View the post titled Polluter must pay for cleanup, twiceKeystone pipeline
If approved, the Keystone XL pipeline would carry oil extracted from Northern Alberta’s oil sands to refineries and markets in the United States. Vocal opponents of the project hope to convince President Obama not to approve the project, but their chances seem poor. The Canadian portion of t…
View the post titled Keystone pipelineOdour control tax credit
I was delighted to learn about Manitoba’s Odour Control Tax Credit, even if it is about to expire.
View the post titled Odour control tax creditOzone: health or money?
Despite strong scientific evidence that current permitted ozone levels cause harm to human health, President Obama has decided not to cut them. This will likely lead to lawsuits, as the Clean Air Act requires EPA to set air levels that protect human health. And Canada, as usual, will probabl…
View the post titled Ozone: health or money?Lawsuit for noise and odour
Noise and odour are frequent sources of neighbourhood disputes. Sometimes those disputes can be resolved by turning to regulators, such as the Ministry of the Environment or municipal bylaw enforcement officers. Often, however, that isn’t enough. Some then turn to the courts.
View the post titled Lawsuit for noise and odourMelancthon Mega Quarry to have full EA
Those opposed to public and private projects often request that they be “bumped up” to an individual environmental assessment (EA) under the Environmental Assessment Act. Full individual EAs take a lot of time and money, and are usually considered a major obstacle to the approval…
View the post titled Melancthon Mega Quarry to have full EAAODA’s Customer Service Standards – Who’s taking charge of compliance in your organization?
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (“AODA”) became law in 2005. As part of that law, every private-sector and not-for-profit organization that provides goods or services to the public or to third parties and that has at least one employee in Ontario must be in compliance …
View the post titled AODA’s Customer Service Standards – Who’s taking charge of compliance in your organization?Receive Blog Posts
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