What’s the most important environmental issue to you? This is the question we have asked the last two years while attending the CANECT Environmental Compliance and Due Diligence Training Conference in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Just as last year, the entire survey consisted of one question: “What is the most important environmental issue facing the regulated community in Ontario or Canada wide?” We offered no explanation beyond this. We spoke with people from a wide...
Read MoreSix-Figure Fine for Stormwater Violations
Earlier this year, the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) fined a subcontractor $600,000 for the discharge of “sediment-laden water” into nearby streams, for not reporting the discharge, and for failing to employ the best management practices. According to the news release, a stormwater and erosion prevention plan was submitted for review and approved by the MOECC. It is noteworthy that the main contractor was exonerated because it was specifically...
Read MoreEnvironmental Violations and Fines in Ontario
While we haven’t gathered long-term data or plotted any trends as it relates to environmental enforcement in the Province of Ontario, there seems to be an uptick in enforcement news. The fines are not like we saw earlier this year following an explosion or at the seven-figure level that my colleagues in our US office have seen (see our July 13th blog for our US office); however, any environmental enforcement is “bad news” and can create some public relation challenges....
Read MoreFarmers Protest over Federal Nitrogen Policy
Farmers in several countries including Canada are protesting. In at least one instance overseas, a farming policy led to a chaotic result. The overriding concern seems to be fear that government policies are going to interfere with the farmers’ ability to produce enough food to meet growing global demands. What is going on and why are they protesting? As reported in the Toronto Sun on July 22, 2022, “Last week, Canadian news reports told of farm-related protests...
Read MoreFinancial Institutions Put Pressure on Environmental Programs
There are many environmental laws and regulations that apply to a variety of activities at companies. These laws may require filing for permits with local, provincial, or federal regulators. Laws and regulations apply to everyone. From local ordinances that may dictate the height of a fence on your property to speed limits on roads, we are required to be aware and comply with laws. Enforcement from Regulators We routinely report in our blogs about various environmental...
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