Provincial 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…
Continue reading 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 …
Continue reading the post titled Do environmental permits have value for the purposes of property tax assessment?The Safety Dance: Right to Refuse Work Under Health and Safety Legislation
The Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”) provides workers with a number of rights, including the right to refuse work that is “likely to endanger” the worker.[1] When a work refusal occurs there are a number of procedures outlined in the legislation that must be followed and, …
Continue reading the post titled The Safety Dance: Right to Refuse Work Under Health and Safety LegislationPoint-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…
Continue reading the post titled Point-of-sale notice programme coming for Toronto dry cleaners?Court grants defendant injunction and inspection order to investigate plaintiff’s property
In 2014, Metrus Properties sued Wrigley Canada claiming Wrigley’s neighbouring property had contaminated its property. When Wrigley asked to access the Metrus property to conduct environmental tests, Metrus refused. In April of 2016, the Superior Court of Justice granted an injunction to tem…
Continue reading the post titled Court grants defendant injunction and inspection order to investigate plaintiff’s property“MEAN GIRLS”: Bill 132 and the OHSA
It has been six years since Bill 168 amended Ontario’s Occupational Health & Safety Act to require employers to take steps to prevent and to deal with bullying and harassment in the workplace. Since that time, we have come to realize that there were gaps – some would say flaws – in the …
Continue reading the post titled “MEAN GIRLS”: Bill 132 and the OHSAValidity of the Renewable Fuels Regulations under CEPA upheld
The Federal Court of Appeal has recently rendered a decision in another judicial review involving the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). Syncrude, which produces diesel fuel at its tar sands operations, commenced an application challenging the validity of federal regulations made …
Continue reading the post titled Validity of the Renewable Fuels Regulations under CEPA upheldChill Out (Things Gonna Change)
In February 2015, the provincial government appointed two Special Advisors to lead and coordinate public consultations on how the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”) and the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (the “LRA”) could be amended to better protect workers in the changing economy. The …
Continue reading the post titled Chill Out (Things Gonna Change)Client’s late filing claim represents high standard for counsel
A lawyer’s allegation that his former law firm’s late filing of a statement of claim cost him the chance to sue a car company for his difficulties in establishing a dealership, would represent a high standard for lawyers in terms of going back and analyzing all documents to find out when exa…
Continue reading the post titled Client’s late filing claim represents high standard for counselThe importance of properly conducting workplace investigations
If not done properly, conducting a workplace investigation can be costly. This lesson was learned by the Royal Bank of Canada in Lau v. Royal Bank of Canada[1]. Mr. Lau was an account manager at one of RBC’s Vancouver branches. A customer of Mr. Lau’s filed a complaint about the manner in wh…
Continue reading the post titled The importance of properly conducting workplace investigations