The Agent Orange story keeps growing
We are closely watching the growing story about Agent Orange use in Ontario, and the possible toll it may be taking on affected workers. Mutagenic pesticides like Agent Orange can take decades to make people sick. And when a 60 or 70 year old gets cancer, it can be fiendishly hard to know wh…
Continue reading the post titled The Agent Orange story keeps growingTax incentives for brownfields
Ontario municipalities have demonstrated their commitment to brownfield redevelopment by investing in a wide variety of incentive programs for contaminated sites that include Community Improvement Plans (CIPs). Now, there is a consolidated source for locating active municipal brownfields fin…
Continue reading the post titled Tax incentives for brownfieldsMacQueen/ Sydney tar ponds class action update
MacQueen v Nova Scotia, the Sydney Tar Ponds class action, is still mired in wrangling over the proper definition of the class. Last fall, the plaintiffs were hopeful that certification was just around the corner, and proposed a revised, narrower class definition for the court’s approv…
Continue reading the post titled MacQueen/ Sydney tar ponds class action updateEnvironmental moot court
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the weekend Environment Moot Court at Osgoode Hall. I was very impressed by the calibre of the students, and by the wide support that both judges and the environmental bar gave to make the event a success.
Continue reading the post titled Environmental moot courtERT to consider environmental penalties?
The Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal has not yet decided any appeals of environmental penalty ordersUnder the Environmental Protection Act, the Ontario Water Resources Act, or any other Ontario environmental statute. Two previous environmental penalties were appealed to the Tribunal, bu…
Continue reading the post titled ERT to consider environmental penalties?Agent Orange in Ontario
The Toronto Star has released a fascinating story about Agent Orange and other herbicides, sprayed on Ontario workers and forests half a century ago. Will it lead to another class action, like the ones revolving around Gagetown, NB? I remember standing in the mist as airplanes roared over, s…
Continue reading the post titled Agent Orange in OntarioWind energy appeal moving fast
The first wind energy appeal to the Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal is moving quickly. The Kent Breeze approval was issued November 12, 2010. The Erickson appeal was filed on November 29. A preliminary hearing was held January 11. The hearing of the appeal began February 1 and will c…
Continue reading the post titled Wind energy appeal moving fastChevron, Ecuador, and court shopping
30,000 people, including indigenous tribes, suing Chevron (for toxic waste discharges by its predecessor, Texaco) obtained an $8.6 billion judgment this week from the Provincial Court of Justice of Sucumbios in Lago Agrio, Ecuador. The penalty is reportedly to be doubled if Chevron does not…
Continue reading the post titled Chevron, Ecuador, and court shoppingOffshore wind moratorium
So, Ontario is ducking the offshore wind issue until after the election. I suppose it should not be a surprise, given the extraordinary public and media attention that the rapid growth in wind energy has elicited, and the growing fixation of the entire political system on the forthcoming ele…
Continue reading the post titled Offshore wind moratoriumSolar: Who really owns the roof?
An interesting wrinkle in solar energy development is: who really owns the roof? As property owners across Ontario decide whether to put solar panels on their roofs, the toughest issue often turns out to be: tenants’ rights and interests.
Continue reading the post titled Solar: Who really owns the roof?