Even brief discharges must be reported
Metcan Industries, which manufactures synthetic slag products, was convicted of failing to report a discharge of particulate that lasted “a couple of minutes”. The company was fined $10,000 plus the $2,5000 victim fine surcharge, under the Ontario Environmental Protection Act. (…
Continue reading the post titled Even brief discharges must be reported$350,000+ fine for cement plant dust and noise
Essroc Canada Inc. was fined $350,000, plus the victim fine surcharge of $87,500, for dust and noise from its cement manufacturing facility near Picton. The fine was suggested jointly by the company and by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Essroc pleaded guilty to disch…
Continue reading the post titled $350,000+ fine for cement plant dust and noiseOCA Clarifies Franchisor Disclosure Obligations
After getting off to a shaky start, the Ontario Court of Appeal seems to be finding its feet in the interpretation of franchisors’ disclosure obligations as mandated by the Arthur Wishart Act (Franchise Disclosure) 2000, S.O. 2000 c. 3, and its General Regulation. In the case of Caffé Demetr…
Continue reading the post titled OCA Clarifies Franchisor Disclosure ObligationsWhat will Alberta NDP govt do about climate change?
Congratulations to Rachel Notley and the new Alberta NDP majority government. Their platform page is “not found” this morning, but it included several environmental pledges: $5 million annually to partner with financial institutions and extend interest-free loans of up to $10,000…
Continue reading the post titled What will Alberta NDP govt do about climate change?Court of Appeal Upholds ERT Finding in Blanding’s Turtle Case
On April 20, 2015, the Ontario Court of Appeal restored the finding of the Environmental Review Tribunal (“ERT”) that the proposed Ostrander Point wind farm would result in “serious and irreversible” harm to the Blanding’s turtle. The Ostrander Point wind farm project is a nine-turbine 22.5 …
Continue reading the post titled Court of Appeal Upholds ERT Finding in Blanding’s Turtle CaseNew ESA Poster Requirements for Ontario Employers
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has just released its new version (6.0) of the Employment Standards Poster entitled “Employment Standards in Ontario”. Ontario employers must immediately post this new poster in each of its workplaces in a location likely to come to the attention of…
Continue reading the post titled New ESA Poster Requirements for Ontario EmployersPope Francis encyclical coming on climate change
The Vatican confirmed this week that Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on the environment is now finalized and is being translated, with an expected release date in June. An encyclical letter is considered the most important form of papal teaching. This will be the first-ever encyclical entire…
Continue reading the post titled Pope Francis encyclical coming on climate changeOstrander Point wind project goes back to Tribunal
The Ontario Court of Appeal has reinstated the decision of the Environmental Review Tribunal on the Ostrander Point wind farm: The Renewable Energy Approval as issued by the Director (Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change) should not be upheld as issued, because of the harm that the…
Continue reading the post titled Ostrander Point wind project goes back to TribunalMOECC Fines – April 2015
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep you informed of environmental issues that could impact your business, we have collected this list of recent MOECC fines for violations of the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act. If you have any questions or would like more …
Continue reading the post titled MOECC Fines – April 2015Carnival Shut Down for Air Pollution Health Hazard
In August 2012, the Health Services Appeal and Review Board (HSARB), for the first time ever, held air pollution (aside from second hand smoke) to be a “health hazard” under Ontario’s Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA). Air Pollution Health Hazard Under section 13(1) of the Act, a pu…
Continue reading the post titled Carnival Shut Down for Air Pollution Health Hazard