tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46889474784449862562024-03-13T22:51:58.070-06:00Ecological Society of America Canada ChapterWelcome to the Canadian Environmental Policy bulletin board. Here you will find the latest information on policies related to various aspects of the environment such as water quality, air quality, soil contamination, alternative energy, and climate change. Please contact the <u><a href="mailto:yeeka@ucalgary.ca">Canada Chapter</a></u> if you would like to request other information be posted or would like to add information to share to members.ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-41648479507172571642007-03-12T11:22:00.000-06:002007-03-12T11:24:14.633-06:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: GENERAL - Environmental Disclosure and Transparency in Public Company Disclosure Documents - January 17, 2007 by Anne-Marie Sheahan of McCarthy Tétrault"Although it has still not been convincingly demonstrated that good environmental and social practices create value for shareholders, it is clear that bad ones can destroy it."George Dallas, Standard & Poor’sOver the past 15 ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-39123231749113075122007-03-12T11:18:00.000-06:002007-03-12T11:19:31.565-06:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: AMENDMENTS - Odours Are Public Nuisance: Newmarket Gets Injunction - 2006by Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLPOn September 29 the Town of Newmarket won a significant legal judgment to eliminate composting odours that had distressed workers and residents for two years. Ontario Superior Court Justice Bryant found that the defendant company, Halton Recycling, had caused a ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-1404244784532853582007-03-12T11:13:00.000-06:002007-03-12T11:16:17.045-06:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: AMENDMENTS - Ontario MOE proposes Brownfields Changes - 2006by Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLPWould limit “reopeners”, civil liability for municipalities, but no protection from civil claims for property owners.After extensive stakeholder consultation, the MOE is finally proposing amendments to its Brownfields laws and regulations.Some proposed changes, including ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-39694545685633995382007-03-12T11:09:00.000-06:002007-03-12T11:12:02.280-06:00WATER QUALITY - The Amended Clean Water Act: Key Changes - November 14, 2006 by Joanna Rosengarten , Douglas R. Thomson of McCarthy TétraultOn October 20th, 2006, we reported in a McCarthy Tétrault E-alert that the Clean Water Act had been passed by the Legislature. The Act has received Royal Assent and, accordingly, is now law. However, regulations are still needed to implement the source water ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-40536623642090235072007-03-12T10:54:00.000-06:002007-03-12T10:58:01.043-06:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: COMPLIANCE & OFFENCES - Contaminated Site Update: Innocent Purchaser Responsible, Gasoline Manufacturer Not - December 13, 2006 by Nicholas R. Hughes of McCarthy TétraultIn Gehring et al v. Chevron Canada Limited et al, 2006 BCSC 1639, the Supreme Court of British Columbia embarked upon its first comprehensive allocation of responsibility among "responsible persons" for ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-77229554351166712512007-03-12T10:47:00.000-06:002007-03-12T10:52:59.726-06:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: AMENDMENTS - Mining: Civil Immunity for “Good Samaritan” Mine Rehabilitation - 2006by Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLPThe Ministry of Northern Development and Mines has posted a proposal to amend the Mining Act to protect mining companies participating in voluntary rehabilitation of Crown-held abandoned mines. This would apply so long as the volunteers did not cause theESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-8000375134872742602007-03-12T10:34:00.000-06:002007-03-12T10:40:04.921-06:00CLIMATE CHANGE - Special Report on Canada's Clean Air Act 2006 - November 2006by Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLPThis summary of the Clean Air Act (Bill C-30) summarizes the framework proposed by the government and provides a clause-by-clause analysis of the proposed changes to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. More Info...ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-60353950092703921102006-12-14T10:21:00.000-07:002006-12-14T10:25:33.384-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: AMENDMENTS - New Hazardous Waste Regulations Proposed - September 2006by GowlingsThe proposed Interprovincial Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on September 2, 2006. The proposed regulations would repeal and replace the existing Interprovincial Movement of Hazardous Waste Regulations. To ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-85975501544430639522006-12-14T10:08:00.000-07:002006-12-14T10:18:36.800-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: AMENDMENTS - Contaminated Sites British Columbia - September 2006by Dennis Ryan, Kevin O’Callaghan and Matthew Prescott of Fasken MartineauAn overview of the Enviromental Management Act and the new British Columbia contaminated sites regime. More Info...ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-55108447271859167752006-12-14T10:01:00.000-07:002006-12-14T10:03:44.314-07:00FORESTRY - Protection of the Environment – Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. Ltd. v. Government of British Columbia - August 2006by Larry Nelson and Lisa Sulek (Summer Student), Vancouver of Fasken MartineauThis bulletin summarizes the recent decision of the Forest Appeals Commission (the “Commission”) in two appeals by Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. Ltd. (“Kalesnikoff”) from determinations that it contravened the ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-52098647717072766352006-12-14T09:53:00.000-07:002006-12-14T09:59:41.984-07:00NATIVE ISSUES - First Nations consultation in proceedings before the British Columbial Utilities commission - September 2006by Matthew T. Ghikas of Fasken MartineauThe construction of a significant capital project by a public utility,2 such as a transmission line, generating facility, or pipeline, will generally require the proponent to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (“ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-12847601683951809012006-12-14T09:48:00.001-07:002006-12-14T09:52:12.572-07:00ALTERNATIVE ENERGY - Dokie wind energy project receives approval - August 10, 2006by B.C. Ministry of EnvironmentVICTORIA – Victoria-based Dokie Wind Energy Inc. (the proponent) has received provincial environmental certification for a proposed 300-megawatt wind energy project located in the Peace River Region. The project will be sited on a number of high-elevation ridge tops in the Rocky ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-66728374862482338312006-12-14T09:26:00.001-07:002006-12-14T09:29:42.097-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: COMPLIANCE & OFFENCES - Use of Jail Time in Sentencing in Environmental Cases - May 31, 2006 by Peter Brady of McCarthy TétraultA British Columbia appeal court has looked recently at the issue of the appropriateness of jail time in convictions for breach of environmental legislation.Alpha Manufacturing held a permit to operate a landfill in Delta, B.C. Eleanor Anderson was the ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-74717557276638414842006-12-14T09:22:00.000-07:002006-12-14T09:25:55.602-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: COMPLIANCE & OFFENCES - Appellate Court Considers Sentencing Principles for Environmental Offences - June 14, 2006by David H. Izett and David J. Stanford of McCarthy TétraultRecently, in R. v. Terroco Industries Ltd. (2005), 367 A.R. 1. (C.A.), the Alberta Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench to increase the fines imposed by the Provincial Court ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-10425777940516065372006-12-14T09:15:00.000-07:002006-12-14T09:25:03.048-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: COMPLIANCE & OFFENCES - Environmental Due Diligence in R. v. Gemtec Limited Et Al. - June 2006by Graham Reynolds and Lynn L. Mitchell of OslerOn April 26, 2006 the New Brunswick Provincial Court convicted an environmental consultant (Gemtec Limited) and its principal on two counts under section 36(3) of the federal Fisheries Act for depositing or permitting the deposit of a ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-36442999086798653532006-12-12T16:45:00.000-07:002006-12-14T09:52:46.306-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: COMPLIANCE & OFFENCES - B.C. government releases compliance summary - August 23, 2006by B.C. Ministry of EnvironmentBritish Columbia has released its Quarterly Compliance and Enforcement Summary. The second quarter report was released on August 23, 2006.During the second quarter compliance and enforcement actions taken by the Ministry of Environment were:• Three Orders issued ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-33788992614308636042006-12-12T16:24:00.000-07:002006-12-12T16:45:37.393-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: COMPLIANCE & OFFENCES - Ontario’s Corporate Environmental Tax Regime – Ministry of the Environment Releases Draft Environmental Penalties Regulations - October 10, 2006by Peter Brady and Douglas Hamilton of McCarthy TétraultOn October 6, 2006, the Ministry of the Environment ("MOE") released the much-anticipated draft regulations concerning the implementation of Environmental ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-37309739787098303202006-12-12T16:11:00.000-07:002006-12-12T16:14:54.876-07:00AIR QUALITY - Clean Air Bylaws Guide - 2006by Andrew Gage and Sagarika Saha at West Coast Environmental LawPart I of this Guide provides background information on air pollution problems facingmany municipalities and the range of tools available to local governments. PartII then discusses in detail what local governments can and can’t do about air pollutionthrough their bylaw-making powers. Part ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-7444986184496869262006-12-12T16:03:00.000-07:002006-12-12T16:10:02.697-07:00CLIMATE CHANGE - 2006 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the House of Commons - August 29, 2006by Office of the Auditor General of CanadaThe Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development is expected to table her Report in the House of Commons on 28 September 2006. The following is a brief description of the five chapters contained in the ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-58328041203728747072006-12-12T16:01:00.000-07:002006-12-12T16:18:28.223-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: COMPLIANCE & OFFENCES - Ontario court of appeal certifies environmental class action - Winter 2006by Gabrielle Kramer (Toronto Office) of Borden Ladner GervaisOn November 18, 2005, the Ontario Court of Appeal certified the class action brought by Wilfred Pearson against Inco Limited for property damage caused by historic emissions from the company’s former nickel refinery in ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-77004985690841908472006-12-12T15:57:00.000-07:002006-12-12T16:19:19.232-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: COMPLIANCES & OFFENCES - Large fines under environmental legislation upheld - Winter 2006by Dean Watt (Calgary Office) of Borden Ladner GervaisIn R. v. Terroco Industries Limited (released April 8, 2005), the Alberta Court of Appeal addressed appropriate sentencing considerations for convictions under environmental legislation. In this case, as a result of the improper mixing ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-59422727414540579502006-12-12T15:53:00.000-07:002006-12-12T16:20:11.463-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: COMPLIANCE & OFFENCES - Court rules minister's authority to order a revew panel confined to planning phase - Winter 2006by Dean Watt (Calgary Office) of Borden Ladner GervaisAt issue in Bennett Environmental Inc. v. Canada (Minister of the Environment) was whether the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (“CEAA”) authorized the federal Minister of the Environment to refer to aESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-21296504309899592702006-12-12T15:40:00.000-07:002006-12-12T16:21:29.050-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: COMPLIANCE & OFFENCES - Supreme court dismisses leave to appeal pesticide use decision - Winter 2006by Rick Coburn (Toronto Office)of Borden Ladner GervaisOn November 17, 2005, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed, without reasons, the application for leave to appeal from the decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal in Croplife Canada v. Toronto (City). The Court of Appeal had ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-51001626306503628162006-12-12T15:35:00.000-07:002006-12-12T15:40:42.530-07:00NATIVE ISSUES - Court orders crown to consult First Nation before removing privately owned forest land from tree farm licence - Winter 2006by Stephanie Lysyk (Vancouver Office)of Borden Ladner GervaisIn Hupacasath First Nation v. British Columbia (Minister of Forests), released in December 2005, the British Columbia Supreme Court held that the Provincial Crown owed, and failed to meet, a duty to ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4688947478444986256.post-68652931564077943762006-12-12T15:28:00.000-07:002006-12-12T15:33:17.435-07:00ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: GENERAL - Alberta Environmental Protection Commission Issues Report on Emergency Response - Winter 2006by Dean Watt (Calgary Office) of Borden Ladner GervaisOn August 3, 2005, 43 rail cars went of the tracks beside Lake Wabamun in Alberta, spilling oil into the lake and resulting in a major environmental, social and economic disaster. The response of various levels of ESA Canada Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411899921642957noreply@blogger.com