Articles 2019

Ian reports on changes that the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change is considering to the way it assesses contaminant emissions in its environmental compliance approval process.

The authors discuss the role of experts in environmental litigation and summarize the trial decision in Weenen v. Biadi, 2015 ONSC 6832.

Paula reports on the B.C. Provincial Court sentencing decision in R. v. Gwaii Wood Products Ltd., et al, 2017 BCPC 6 for convictions on charges under section 35(1) of the Fisheries Act resulting from logging and road construction that resulted in the harmful alteration, destruction or disruption of fish habitat.

Stan comments on the Ontario Superior Court of Justice trial decision of March 6, 2017 in Huang v. Fraser Hillary's Limited, 2017,. ONSC 1500. The trial court awarded the plaintiff compensation under s.99(2) of the Environmental Protection Act for dry cleaning solvent contamination on its property that was allowed to enter the defendant's property in the 1960s and 1970s, up until 1974.

Tamara discusses director and officer liability in the wake of the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision in Midwest Properties Ltd. v. Thordarson, 2015 OCA 819 where John Thordarson and his company, Thorco Contracting Limited were held to be jointly and severally liable for $1,328,000 in remediation costs to Midwest under section 99(2) of the Environmental Protection Act.

The authors comment on the Ontario Court of Appeal's January 11, 2017 decision in Crombie Property Holdings Limited v McColl-Frontenac Inc. (Texaco Canada Limited), 2017 ONCA 15 regarding discoverability in contaminated lands litigation.

Jack comments on the January 19, 2017 oral decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Bédard in which the Court confirmed the law of officially induced error.

Jack comments on the January 20, 2017 Ontario Court of Justice summary judgment decision in Yaiguaje v. Chevron Corporation, 2017 ONSC 135 that terminated a civil claim by Ecuadorian plaintiffs against Chevron Canada Limited.

The authors consider Brexit’s effect on UK environmental law and identify potential models the UK might implement to address gaps in environmental law post-Brexit.

Alex and Ben provide an overview of the MOECC's Carbon Offset Credits Regulatory Proposal.