Ottawa wins Green Bin arbitration – appeal pending
Following years of conflict, and a long arbitration process, a commercial arbitrator has ruled that Orgaworld Canada must accept leaf and yard waste in the City of Ottawa’s green bin program and dismissed Orgaworld’s claim against the City. The decision is a win for Ottawa taxpay…
Continue reading the post titled Ottawa wins Green Bin arbitration – appeal pendingMinister receptive to Commissioner's climate report
Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner issued his annual Climate Change report last month, as usual scolding the provincial government for its inaction on both mitigation and adaptation. But this year, the report got an unusual reception: the new Minister of the Environment and Climate C…
Continue reading the post titled Minister receptive to Commissioner's climate reportMore anti-wind power appeals dismissed
Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) recently dismissed two more anti-wind power appeals, this time relating to the same project. One of the appeals had a new feature: whether wind turbines interfere with weather forecasting radar. July 9, 2014, Fata v. MOE, ERT Registry Nos.: 13-14…
Continue reading the post titled More anti-wind power appeals dismissedEnvironmental consultant’s negligence claim to proceed
Environmental consultant’s negligence claims for failing to clean up contaminated sites continue to multiply. The Ontario Superior Court recently allowed a professional negligence lawsuit to go ahead against an Ontario environmental consultant, XCG, despite a long delay, which, accord…
Continue reading the post titled Environmental consultant’s negligence claim to proceedFor Federally-Regulated Employers, Providing Termination and Severance Pay May Limit Liability for “Unjust Dismissal” Under the Canada Labour Code
Ending an employment relationship can be fraught with legal risk for employers. Ending an employment relationship can be fraught with legal risk for employers; this has been especially true for federally-regulated employers subject to the Canada Labour Code, R.S.C., 1985, c. L-2 (the “Code”)…
Continue reading the post titled For Federally-Regulated Employers, Providing Termination and Severance Pay May Limit Liability for “Unjust Dismissal” Under the Canada Labour CodeSiskinds partner Peter Dillon on BNN’s Business Day PM
Siskinds partner Peter Dillon featured on BNN’s Business Day PM and Advocatedaily.com. Peter discussed the dos and don’ts of modern-day multi-level marketing with BNN’s Business Day PM, and Advocatedaily.com provided a recap of that appearance. See the recap on Advocatedail…
Continue reading the post titled Siskinds partner Peter Dillon on BNN’s Business Day PMEnvironment Minister: more consultation on used batteries
Ontario’s new Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Glen Murray, has intervened decisively to stop Waste Diversion Ontario from approving now two controversial proposed Industry Stewardship Plans: one from Call2Recycle for used batteries, and one from Product Care Association…
Continue reading the post titled Environment Minister: more consultation on used batteriesUnions utilizing creative organizing strategies in the service sector
Employers should take note – Unions are using ever more creative means to engage potential members, especially in sectors with low rates of unionization. For example, the United Steelworkers are helping temporary foreign workers employed by a Tim Horton’s franchise in British Columbia …
Continue reading the post titled Unions utilizing creative organizing strategies in the service sectorWaterkeepers want notice of sewage bypasses
Congratulations to Lake Ontario Waterkeeper for their innovative application to the Ontario Environmental Commissioner, to force Toronto to give public notice when it bypasses sewage into Lake Ontario due to wet weather- about three times a month. The Environmental Bill of Rights allows anyo…
Continue reading the post titled Waterkeepers want notice of sewage bypasses$2.5 Million Canadian Payroll Triggers ESA Severance Obligation
Until recently, I was confident that an Ontario employer would not owe severance pay under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”), unless it met the $2.5 million Ontario payroll test. I am no longer so sure, following a surprising decision of Justice Kane of the Ontario Superior Cour…
Continue reading the post titled $2.5 Million Canadian Payroll Triggers ESA Severance Obligation