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Environmental Compliance Tips and Insights
If you have a question about an environmental compliance issue or would like us to address a specific environmental compliance concern in the future, please contact Christopher Paré, P.Geo., Q.P., at 519-948-7300, ext. 114. Are you managing excess soil? See our summary: Excess Soil Regulation by Province Environmental Compliance Tips and Insights 2026 February: RSC Based on a Phase One ESA Can I still file a Records of Site Condition (RSC) solely based on a Phase One Environmental Site Assessment? The Ministry of Environment Conservation...
read moreOntario Cooperative Agreement with the Federal Government to Eliminate Duplication on Impact Assessments
The relatively short history of the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), which was enacted in 2019, has been marked by controversy and two court decisions, one by the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC). The IAA provides for the assessment of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of major projects that are likely to have significant effects in areas of federal jurisdiction (dams, mines, ports, pipelines, etc.). The SCC’s decision (October 2023) essentially held that the IAA went too far, and portions of the IAA were unconstitutional. From...
read moreEnvironmental Issues Data Centers
Demand for computing power is rapidly surging, especially with the growth of Artificial Intelligence, or AI. This hunger for computing power likely means there will be more and larger data centers across Canada. Below, we look at the environmental issues associated with these data centers, including environmental permitting requirements. Canadian Energy Policy and AI Development In a recent report in Energy Reporters, they state, “Canada’s recent suspension of clean energy regulations, agreed upon by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta...
read moreMore Environmental Regulatory Changes: Single-Use Plastics
The National Single-Use Plastics ban was announced on October 7, 2020. Since the announcement, the plastics ban has faced legal challenges. As with many other environmental regulations, it appears there will be a change in the single-use plastic regulations. The reason behind the change came “following a review of the current policy landscape, global trade conditions, and domestic economic challenges” (in a post on “X” by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change). This change is part of a series of federal environmental regulatory...
read moreChanging Environmental Regulations and Potential Changes to Greenwashing
Driven by global competitiveness and the desire to increase investment in Canada, there have been several changes in federal and provincial environmental-related regulations. It now appears that the Canadian Competition Act, Greenwashing Rule, may be changing. Ontario Environmental Changes As we have discussed throughout the year, there have been several changes in Ontario’s approach to environmental regulations, as well as an emphasis on natural resources development, including: Amendments to Ontario’s Excess Soil Regulations and Records...
read moreEnvironmental Enforcement News
Staying compliant with provincial and federal environmental regulations can be challenging. One of the reasons we post monthly environmental compliance tips is to provide compliance reminders and updates to help avoid or limit instances of environmental enforcement. However, even the most diligent approach to environmental compliance can sometimes fall short. Below, we look at some recent environmental enforcement news that may provide some cautionary tales. Rain Event Leads to Potential Fine Trans Mountain is facing $292,000 in...
read moreChanges to Ontario’s Records of Site Condition and Excess Soil Regulations
As with many of the recent regulatory changes we have documented, the changes below (to Ontario’s Records of Site Condition and Excess Soil Regulation) seem intended to cut red tape, encourage development (including residential development), and spur economic growth. Records of Site Condition In our January 22, 2025, blog, we discussed proposed changes to Ontario’s Record of Site Conditions. On October 23, 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks issued its decision. As we outlined in our January blog, there are two...
read moreInvesting in Ontario’s Ring of Fire
In our May 7, 2025, blog, we discussed Ontario Bill 5, “The Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act 2025.” The action taken in Bill 5 was “in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats of economic force against Canada…” One of the Key Measures of Bill 5 is to “Accelerate mining development in every part of the province.” With the recently announced investment in the infrastructure related to Ontario’s Ring of Fire, it appears Ontario is wasting little time in accelerating mining development activity. $61.8 Million...
read moreCanada’s Risk Management Approach for PFAS: Phase 1
As we covered in our March 11, 2025, blog, the Government of Canada introduced the Risk Management Approach to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances. The approach includes three phases. Phase I of the Risk Management Approach was released on September 26, 2025. Phase 1 proposes to address all known remaining uses of PFAS that are not already regulated in firefighting foams that contain Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). Proposed Risk Management Plan for PFAS: Phase 1 The proposed regulatory framework for Phase 1 includes the...
read moreCommunities in Ontario Face Challenges from Historical Oil and Gas Wells
Across southwestern Ontario, there are an estimated 27,000 inactive oil and gas wells. These historical oil and gas exploration wells, along with the environmental, health, and safety risks they pose, are receiving increased attention. Abandoned Well Increases Project Cost A September 18, 2025, article discussed how these often-unidentified wells affect projects. In 2024, Lambton County, Ontario, allocated $125,000 to replace underground fuel storage tanks with aboveground tanks. During the project, soil and groundwater contamination...
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