Mishaps occur in life. When they happen in the environmental protection profession, there is usually a price to pay, in some cases a steep price. The profiles below involve one six-figure fine; the others are relatively early in the evaluation or hearing process. Six-Figure Fine A Nova Scotia mining company violated the federal Fisheries Act and will pay a six-figure fine as a result. According to the release from the Government of Canada, Atlantic Mining NS Inc....
Read MoreSignificant Changes Proposed to Canadian Environmental Protection Act
Significant changes to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) have been introduced in the Senate Bill (S5), “Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act.” The Senate completed the first reading on February 9, 2022. What is CEPA? According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, “CEPA is Canada’s cornerstone federal environmental protection law that protects Canadians and the environment. Over the years, CEPA has been used to...
Read MoreGovernment Proposals to Reduce Methane from Landfills
As Canada seeks to reduce their Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions, they are looking at various sources of GHGs, including methane from landfills. This focus on methane led to the release of two “measures” to address methane. The first measure is outlined in a document by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), “Landfill Methane Recovery and Destruction.” The draft document was available as of January (2022). Federal Offset Protocol According to the news release on...
Read MoreManaging Excess Soils in Ontario: Requirements for 2022
Some people were hoping that there might be a reprieve or delay on the next phase of Ontario’s Excess Soils Regulation (O. Reg. 406/19: On-Site and Excess Soil Management). However, as the New Year opened, the Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority (RPRA) announced that “From January 1, 2022, construction and development Project Leaders and Operators/Owners of soil Reuse Sites, and Residential Development Soil Depot sites must file notices about how they reuse and...
Read MoreThe Complexity of Canada’s Plastics Ban
The national ban on single use plastics (i.e., plastics that will not be recycled) was supposed to have taken place in 2021. That did not happen, perhaps owed to the ongoing global battle with the pandemic. However, on December 21, 2021, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Health announced draft regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) banning certain single-use plastics deemed to be harmful. What paved the...
Read MoreOffice of Auditor General 2021 Report: Critical of Ontario’s Environmental Management
In our September 21st blog, we shared the news that the Ontario Divisional Court ruled that the Ontario Government broke the law by failing to consult with the public. This obligation to consult with the public is spelled out in the Ontario Bill of Rights. It should be noted that the above criticism and subsequent ruling was with respect to actions taken under Bill 197, the COVID–19 Economic Recovery Act. 2021 Annual Report Critical of Environment Ministry The recently...
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