NEB Energy East Hearings May be Back on Track
Natural Resources Minister Carr has appointed three new panel members to the National Energy Board after three of its former members recused themselves from the Energy East TransCanada project hearings. The Acting Chair of the NEB must now assign duties for the three members, which likely wi…
Continue reading the post titled NEB Energy East Hearings May be Back on TrackThree-Year Phase Out Proposed For Neonicotinoid Pesticide
In an interesting twist, Health Canada just announced its intention to manage the agricultural uses of the pesticide imidacloprid to protect aquatic insects; this pesticide, like other neonicotinoid pesticides, has been under fire for some time for its effects on pollinators, for which we ha…
Continue reading the post titled Three-Year Phase Out Proposed For Neonicotinoid PesticideWhen is a pit a “pit”?
The recent Ontario Court of Justice appeal decision in R v AJL Janssen Landscaping Ltd has offered some guidance as to the definition of “pit” under section 1(1) of the Aggregate Resources Act (“ARA”). AJL Janssen Landscaping (“AJL”) is a landscaping, road building, excavation, drilling, and…
Continue reading the post titled When is a pit a “pit”?$65,000 in Fines for Importing Prohibited Small Engines
On September 14, 2016, a gas-powered equipment merchant was ordered to pay fines totalling more than $65,000 for violating the Off-Road Small Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (“CEPA”). The company owner plead guilty to four counts of …
Continue reading the post titled $65,000 in Fines for Importing Prohibited Small Engines$12,000 Fine for Failing to Submit Records
A sole proprietor of a drinking water well company was fined $12,000 plus the twenty-five per cent victim fine surcharge by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. The sole proprietor was convicted for maintaining four separate drinking water wells at two locations in the Peterbo…
Continue reading the post titled $12,000 Fine for Failing to Submit Records$900,000,000 Class Action launched against Ontario for flooding in Muskoka Lakes
Residents of Muskoka launched a $900,000,000 class action against the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (“MNRF”) on September 14, 2016. They allege damages related to “[MNRF’s] failure to adequately manage and lower the water levels of Lake Joseph, Lake Muskoka and Lake Rous…
Continue reading the post titled $900,000,000 Class Action launched against Ontario for flooding in Muskoka LakesImperial Oil fined $650,000
On September 19th the Imperial Oil refinery and chemical plant located in the City of Sarnia pled guilty to one offence for discharging a contaminant, coker stabilizer, thermocracked gas, into the natural environment causing an adverse effect and was fined $650,000 in addition to the 25% vic…
Continue reading the post titled Imperial Oil fined $650,000Failure to Notify brings $150,000 Fine Despite no Damage to Property
Two companies, Consbec Inc. and Bruman Construction Inc., were fined a collective total of $150,000 for failing to notify the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (“MOECC”) of a fly-rock discharge. Bruman owns and operates an aggregate quarry located in North Bay. Consbec was hire…
Continue reading the post titled Failure to Notify brings $150,000 Fine Despite no Damage to PropertyMunicipal orders under section 100.1 of the EPA
The seemingly never-ending litigation related to a spill of furnace oil fuel in the City of Kawartha Lakes is inching closer to resolution. In Technical Standards and Safety Authority v Kawartha Lakes, 2016 CanLII 41685 (ON ERT) the Environmental Review Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) tackled the …
Continue reading the post titled Municipal orders under section 100.1 of the EPAThe tricky business of limitations and contaminated land claims
In May of 2016, the Superior Court of Justice delivered reasons in Valco Instruments Canada v. Imperial Oil, dismissing in part a defendant’s summary judgment motion related to a contaminated land claim. The court concluded that the limitation period for a negligence claim had expired by the…
Continue reading the post titled The tricky business of limitations and contaminated land claims