Endangered Species exemptions survive court challenge
Sweeping exemptions from Ontario’s protection for endangered species have been upheld by the Divisional Court, despite concerns that they reduce the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act, 2007. In Wildlands League v. Lieutenant Governor in Council, 2015 ONSC 2942, Ecojustice, the…
View the post titled Endangered Species exemptions survive court challengeNational Conservation Plan, instead of regulation?
On June 26, 2014, the Harper Government “celebrated” the launch of the National Conservation Plan. The Plan would invest $252 million over five years in “securing ecologically sensitive lands,” “supporting conservation efforts,” wetlands restoration, and “to encourage Canadians to connect wi…
View the post titled National Conservation Plan, instead of regulation?Sage Grouse to be protected by Emergency Protection Order, later
Following a recent loss in the Federal Court of Appeal, Minister of the Environment Leona Aglukkaq announced earlier this week that the federal government will (later) introduce an Emergency Protection Order for the Greater Sage-Grouse, or at least for those of this rapidly declining species…
View the post titled Sage Grouse to be protected by Emergency Protection Order, laterMore Regulation for Geothermal Heat Pumps
The Ministry of the Environment moved swiftly this spring to increase regulation of geothermal (ground-sourced) heat pump installations, because of an urgent risk of releasing hazardous underground gases. Ontario revoked the old regulation governing Ground Source Heat Pumps and replaced it w…
View the post titled More Regulation for Geothermal Heat PumpsUpdate to EBR regulation
The Ministry of the Environment is proposing to amend Ontario Regulation 73/94 (General) and Ontario Regulation 681/94 (Classification of Proposals for Instruments) made under the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 (EBR).
View the post titled Update to EBR regulationDraft mining regulations posted for comment
Ontario is proposing an second set of amendments to Mining Act, 2009 regulations. One key feature of the amendments is better Aboriginal consultation, better protection of Sites of Aboriginal Cultural Significance, and more control of “early exploration”, which has led to much r…
View the post titled Draft mining regulations posted for commentNew federal wastewater regulations a challenge for municipalities
Dianne spoke last month at the annual Canadian Water and Wastewater Association “Window on Ottawa”, on potential risks to municipalities of the new Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations under the Fisheries Act, expected to appear shortly in the Canada Gazette. Bottom line, the …
View the post titled New federal wastewater regulations a challenge for municipalitiesUS Fracking lawsuits
Fracking lawsuits are spreading across the US. The first cases were launched in Pennsylvania in 2009, claiming damages for contamination of the aquifers on which the plaintiffs depend. Since then, other cases have been launched by dozens of property owners in Pennsylvania, Texas, Arkansas, C…
View the post titled US Fracking lawsuitsAnother noise lawsuit
A group of Calgary residents have launched another civil lawsuit, trying to force a local chicken processing plant (Lilydale) to slash noise and odour. The statement of claim asks the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench to order Lilydale to stop night-time trucking at its Hurst Road plant, limit …
View the post titled Another noise lawsuitMelancthon Mega Quarry to have full EA
Those opposed to public and private projects often request that they be “bumped up” to an individual environmental assessment (EA) under the Environmental Assessment Act. Full individual EAs take a lot of time and money, and are usually considered a major obstacle to the approval…
View the post titled Melancthon Mega Quarry to have full EAReceive Blog Posts
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