Brownfields: Opportunity is Knocking in Alberta
Co-author: Evan Schube, Summer Student, Miller Thomson Edmonton As brownfields are unused and unproductive contaminated lands, they present unique opportunities and challenges. The challenges, however, are being mitigated as the regulatory environment is trending towards more favourable liability conditions, municipalities are more...
Canada Plans New Emission Rules for Heavy Trucks
Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced on May 21 that Canada will impose new emission standards on heavy trucks under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. In Canada, the transportation sector accounts for about 25 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions...
Ontario’s Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act
On May 18, 2010 the Ontario government introduced Bill 72, Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act. The Bill aims to encourage water conservation, strengthen sustainable municipal water planning and make Ontario a leader in developing and selling water technologies and...
West Moberly First Nations v. British Columbia (Chief Inspector of Mines), 2010 BCSC 359: Delegation to Departmental Officials Failed to Satisfy the Honour of the Crown
In February 2010, the Supreme Court of British Columbia heard an application by West Moberly First Nations to quash three decisions of individuals appointed as statutory decision makers for the Crown: A September 1, 2009 decision of the Chief Inspector...
Species at Risk – Incidental Harm Agreements and Permits
The Species at Risk Act (SARA) came fully into force on June 1, 2004. The goal of the Act is to prevent wildlife species from becoming extinct and to help species at risk recover. SARA is intended to work with...
Major Petroleum Spill in Johnstone Strait in Orca Sanctuary: Due Diligence Lessons for Captains and Barge Owners
Co-author: Christina Cook (Articled Student, Miller Thomson Vancouver) A recently reported decision provides useful insight into the due diligence defence. The Accident On August 20, 2007 the “Kathy L”, a barge loaded with large logging equipment and 19,453 litres of petroleum products,...
Environmental Approvals Reform in Ontario
In the April 2010 issue of EnviroNotes we reported on a proposal by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment to fundamentally reform the environmental approvals process in Ontario. The reforms were included in Bill 68, the Open for Business Act,...
Ontario Snapshot
Miller Thomson Climate Change Newsletter
Developing Brownfields – Regulation Changes in Ontario have big impact
Canadian Consulting Engineers
BC Introduces New Clean Energy Act
Introduction Last week, the British Columbia government introduced Bill 17 (2010), the Clean Energy Act (the “Act”). The Act implements many of the recommendations of the Clean Energy Task Force as well as policy initiatives announced in the 2010 Throne...
