According to the technical definition of a two-quarter economic slump, we are in an official recession in Canada. While I’m not an economist, I would venture to guess that commodity prices, especially crude oil prices dropping so dramatically, have had a disproportionate impact on the Canadian economy. In any regard, as businesses mull over what this may or may not mean to future demands for goods and services, including at least a consideration of consolidation, we...
Read MoreLegislating Changes in Microbead Use in Canada
It’s rare when those on the political right and political left agree on an environmental issue. It’s even rarer when environmental groups and industry groups can agree on the same environmental issue. And, when this general agreement crosses boarders, not just between Canada and the United States, but across the “big pond,” we have something truly unique. Microbeads The subject of this (general) agreement surrounds the issue of the use of microbeads and their fate in the...
Read MoreNew Focus on Air Quality in Ontario
In case you missed it, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) recently proposed three “Air Zones” for the province. According to the June 22, 2015, announcement, the Zones will be the following: Air Zone 1 – Areas with limited pollution from either point or non-point sources or transboundary influence; where air quality management activities are focused on maintaining good air quality. Air Zone 2 – Areas under pressure from multiple sources including some or...
Read MoreRecent Environmental Fines
While not quite to the level of the attention-getting $7.5 million fine that Cliffs Natural Resources had to pay last December for environmental violations, there have been a few environmental fines that are at least worth noting. Also, notice that these violations were not the result of any spectacular release of some exotic chemical; they are all fairly relatable types of substances. Recent Environmental Enforcement Action On June 5, 2015, an electronic company in...
Read MoreCanadian Government Changes Position on Asbestos
Asbestos, because of its superior insulating properties, has been widely used in hundreds (maybe thousands) of products, including: pipes, floor tiles, brake pads, and countless types of insulation. The properties of asbestos (heat and fire resistance) have been called life saving. However, it’s now common knowledge that breathing in asbestos fibers may cause serious illnesses (i.e., lung cancer, mesothelioma) that could be fatal. Surprisingly, until recently,...
Read MoreReal Solutions and Practical Application of Environmental Forensics
On Wednesday, August 5th, Dr. Michael Sklash, P. Eng. will be among a group of scientists, engineers, and lawyers speaking at the International Network on Environmental Forensics, which is part of the Royal Society of Chemistry. The conference will be held at Victoria College in Toronto. The title of Mike’s presentation is, “How would Albert Einstein do as a forensics expert? The Art of Effectively Communicating Complex Information.” Mike will be co-presenting with...
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