Articles 2022

This article examines various regulatory reforms to strengthen the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) that Canadian environmental groups, public health advocates, occupational health experts and Indigenous organizations have advocated for since the mid 2000s. It focuses on reforms to protect vulnerable individuals and communities from toxic substances.

On March 25, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada released its highly anticipated decision in the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act references, with the majority confirming that the federal carbon pricing backstop is constitutional. This article unpacks the Court's decision, and reflects on its impacts.

On March 3, 2021, the public consultation period for the federal government’s proposed Clean Fuel Regulations ended. The Regulations are intended to contribute to Canada’s reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This article provides an overview of the proposed Regulations and a survey of their potential impact.

This article discusses the federal government's recent publication of the Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations. These proposed regulations aim to govern offset projects in order to allow industrial emitters subject to the federal Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to meet their compliance obligations by investing in projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions.

The Government of Canada recently released its new climate plan, “A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy – Canada’s strengthened climate plan to create jobs and support people, communities and the planet” (Plan). Building on the 2016 Pan-Canadian Framework, the Plan proposes to exceed Canada’s 2030 emissions reduction target under the Paris Agreement, achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and create over one million jobs, restoring employment to pre-pandemic levels.

While the rapid growth of the cannabis industry in Canada has created new and exciting opportunities, this breakneck pace raises questions regarding the management of cannabis-related waste. Despite the general emphasis of regulators on the importance of proper waste management, there is little guidance from either the federal or the provincial governments on this issue specific to the cannabis industry.

The Federal Government has recently announced proposed regulations for single-use plastics. From a plastics ban, to recycled content requirements, to extended producer responsibility schemes, this article provides a high-level overview of the proposed measures being contemplated by the Federal Government, and outlines next steps for stakeholders that may be impacted by them.

On Oct. 7, 2020, federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced the federal government would draft regulations to add “plastic manufactured items” to the Schedule 1 list of toxic substances under the Canada Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) by December 2021. This article looks at various aspects of the proposed federal plastics regulatory plan, including potential complications arising from the public and provinces.