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Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit Program Launched
On June 8, 2022, Canada launched “Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System.” According to a News Release, “The offset system will give municipalities, foresters, farmers, Indigenous communities, and others a market-based incentive to undertake innovative projects that reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) by preventing emissions and removing GHGs from the atmosphere.” Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System consists of the following: Regulations to implement the operational aspects of the system; Federal offset...
read morePlastics Ban, Environmental Enforcement, and Algae Blooms
Below, we look at a few recent environmental developments (federal and provincial). In our blogs, we often refer back to previous blogs we have written on a similar topic. If you would like to look for a specific topic that we may have covered in a past blog, you can use the search function, which is on the right-hand side of our blog page. Certain Plastics Banned in Canada As mentioned in our January 12, 2022, blog (The Complexity of Canada’s Plastics Ban), the Canadian Government is moving forward with the ban on certain types of...
read moreNew Offshore Oil Project Approved and a $15 Million Fine
The “tension” of energy needs and climate concerns was recently on display. A June 10, 2022, press release from the Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding Canadian Environment Week read, “As the celebrations for Canadian Environment Week end, we are reminded that we have only one Earth. From the Torngat Mountains on the Labrador Peninsula to Haida Gwaii on the Pacific Ocean, from Point Pelee in Lake Erie to Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan all the way to Iqaluit in Nunavut, Canada makes a signature...
read moreExpenditures on Environmental Protection in Canada
Environmental protection has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. Likewise, Canadian citizens seem more attuned to environmental protection. Brief History of Canadian Environmental Protection Awareness and concern about the environment dates back to the 1800s and the work of ecologist, John Muir. The Water Survey of Canada was established in 1908 and the Canadian Wildlife Service was founded in 1947. However, the modern environmental protection efforts were founded in the 1970s and Environment Canada was created in 1971....
read moreImpact Assessment Act Headed for the Supreme Court of Canada?
Is the Supreme Court the next stop for Bill C-69 (Impact Assessment Act – IAA)? That seems to be the consensus following the Alberta Court of Appeal ruling that the federal government’s environmental impact law is unconstitutional. The IAA deals with how energy projects are reviewed (mines, dams, electrical lines, pipelines, etc…). It considers the impact of energy projects on the climate and social factors and increases public participation. It was introduced in 2019 to replace the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and drew criticism...
read moreEnvironmental Violations in Nunavut and Saskatchewan
While the population of Canada is, for the most part, concentrated within 200 kilometers of the US border, many citizens live in remote areas including the three Territories (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon). The challenges of life in these remote areas include a colder climate, higher cost of living, and difficulty in getting supplies to the citizens. Being in remote areas also means that you may not have access to natural gas or electricity for heating your home. According to the Canada Energy Regulator, “Almost all of...
read moreEnvironmental Enforcement Across Canada
Has or will environmental enforcement increase now that we are presumably past the COVID-19 pandemic? Based on discussions and casual observations, it appears some provinces may be increasing their enforcement efforts. The enforcement actions below, however, are all on the federal level and include enforcement in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island. While it is not possible to avoid every mishap, the more proactive a company can be in self-assessing its overall environmental management and making corrections ahead of...
read moreAddressing PFAS in Canada
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been identified as a group of contaminants of concern around the globe. While used for decades in a variety of consumer and industrial products, in recent years there has been growing concern that this group of chemicals may pose risks to human health and the environment. What Are PFAS? PFAS are a group of manmade fluorinated compounds that have been widely used in commerce. Estimates with respect to the number of PFAS chemicals range from 4,000 to more than 9,000. PFAS have been used in a...
read moreNatural Resources Getting More Attention
There is a global focus on renewable energy and the natural resources needed for this energy. With the conflict in Europe, other natural resources, including oil and gas are also increasingly important. Canada is one of the richest natural resource nations and should be in a good position to meet this increased demand for natural resources. Global Natural Resources According to Mining Digital Magazine, Russia ranks first globally in natural resources (valued at $75 trillion in US dollars). Most already know that much of Europe is...
read moreEnvironmental Violations
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. pleaded guilty in the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia to one count of...
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