Fisheries Act private prosecution goes ahead
As we wrote earlier, in December 2014 Marilyn Burgoon received approval to bring a private prosecution against Executive Flight Centre Fuel Services and the Province of British Columbia for violations of the Fisheries Act related to a large fuel spill into a sensitive creek. The province too…
View the post titled Fisheries Act private prosecution goes aheadLess environmental enforcement = more private prosecutions?
When governments do little to enforce environmental laws, generally or in particular areas, private citizens and environmental groups sometimes try to fill the gaps with private prosecutions. These cases are burdensome and expensive to handle, but can make a significant difference, as Ecojus…
View the post titled Less environmental enforcement = more private prosecutions?As minimum fines get higher, is there a work-around?
As minimum fines on multiple charges lead to increasingly unfair results, defence counsel, and occasionally judges, are looking for ways to reconcile the law with what they consider to be just results. Earlier this year, the Ontario Court of Appeal slammed the door shut on two such ideas: cr…
View the post titled As minimum fines get higher, is there a work-around?Suncor stormwater conviction
According to Alberta Environment, the Provincial Court of Alberta in Fort McMurray has fined Suncor Energy Inc. $275,000 for contravening its water approval at the Voyager Upgrader site 20 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.
View the post titled Suncor stormwater convictionChevron, 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…
View the post titled Chevron, Ecuador, and court shoppingOil sands tailing wastes and dead ducks
In Alberta provincial court, Syncrude is on trial for the death of 1600 migratory ducks, who were unable to escape from its oil sands tailing ponds in 2008. Federal and provincial governments allow Syncrude to create the giant, deadly ponds, as long as they take reasonable care to frighten t…
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