Natural Resources

  • July 15, 2024

    Canada updates draft report on forever chemicals, proposes new health and environmental regulations

    The federal government has updated its draft report on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, proposing to conclude that they may cause harm to human health and the environment.

  • July 15, 2024

    AGRICULTURE — Farms — Financing — Price supports and guarantees

    Motion by Plaintiff for summary judgment to recover a certain amount plus interest and cost against the Defendants. The Corporate Defendant (“Wimmer Brook”) applied to the Canadian Canola Growers Association (“CCGA”) for an advance payment for the crop year and entered into a Repayment Agreement with CCGA.

  • July 12, 2024

    Long-awaited B.C. coastal marine strategy to fill gaps in regulation of marine resources

    British Columbia has launched a comprehensive new coastal marine strategy, co-developed with First Nations groups, which includes new regulations designed to enhance coastal marine management and create resilient communities.

  • July 12, 2024

    Supreme Court declines to hear municipalities’ challenge to CN Rail intermodal hub in Milton

    The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear arguments by several southern Ontario municipalities that CN Rail is obligated to seek and obtain requisite approvals under more than 65 listed provincial laws, regulations and municipal bylaws to continue the construction of a $250 million intermodal container facility in Milton, Ont.

  • July 12, 2024

    Drastic need for improvement for migrant worker laws | Taneeta Doma

    In the summer, many Canadians will sit by the pool to stay cool or heat up the barbeque and enjoy their time with loved ones. At the same time, migrant workers across the country will be working in 30-plus degree weather in the fields or greenhouses, where there may be no shade for their entire shift — all to provide for their loved ones, whom they may see once a year if that.

  • July 11, 2024

    Ontario cy-près class action settlement approved over municipal development that increased flood risk

    The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has approved a cy-près class action settlement involving residents in the Ontario communities of Oakville and Milton who faced an increased risk of flooding and reduced property values due to municipal development that expanded a flood plain. 

  • July 11, 2024

    What about those new recycling bins? | Daniel Dylan

    Recently, or perhaps again, the Doug Ford government in Ontario has come under fire from environmental advocates for what essentially amounts to rapid and expansive deregulation of established environmental protections in the province. The Ford Government continues to make assertions that it is “cutting red tape” (see Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024) in the province so that it (one assumes the government) can “get it done” (see Bill 162, Get It Done Act, 2024). The “it” in this case being “building more homes faster” (see Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022), “building transit faster” (see Bill 171, Building Transit Faster Act, 2020), and building provincial infrastructure throughout Ontario, among other things.

  • July 10, 2024

    Record-breaking heatwave warnings, employer advice on keeping outdoor workers safe

    As provinces across the country struggle with soaring temperatures, many are experiencing an increase in heatwaves. Ontario has been hit hard with its fair share of extreme waves, and now B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan are also witnessing record-breaking heatwaves, posing a significant threat to outdoor workers.

  • July 10, 2024

    Post-sentencing Code change results in successful appeal in animal rights case

    People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal rights organization, asked a troubling question: “Have you ever wondered how someone can be moved to tears by a news story about an abused dog yet feel no remorse over eating a bucket of chicken wings that caused multiple birds to suffer and die?”

  • July 09, 2024

    B.C. Court of Appeal rejects gold commissioner's ruling in ownership dispute over gold waste rock

    The British Columbia Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal regarding the ownership of waste rock and tailings deposited in a lake that were found to contain traces of silver and gold.