Environment

Iler Campbell Supports the Black Out Speak Out Campaign

June 1st, 2012 by Iler Campbell LLP

We’ve joined millions of Canadians to speak out in defence of two core Canadian values: Nature and Democracy.

Our land, water and climate are all threatened by the latest federal budget. Proposes changes in the budget bill will weaken environmental laws and silence the voices of those who seek to defend them.

On June 4th, we will black out our website and blog in support of the Black Out Speak Out campaign.

Be sure to visit the campain website to learn about what this bill will mean if it’s passed.

If you’ve been following our blog you’ll already have read about a number of the issues including how changes to the Income Tax Act will restrict charities’ political activities, and how proposed changes to fish habitat provisions of the Fisheries Act will impact fish species.

Please join us in supporting this campaign.

Learn More

The costs of hiding environmental information

April 26th, 2012 by Iler Campbell LLP

Laura Bowman wrote our Pro Bono column on rabble.ca this month. In it, she discusses access to environmental information:

For citizens and NGOs who want to challenge environmental decisions, the biggest obstacle is usually obtaining information about the potential environmental effects of a decision or project.  In the 1990s, the Ontario government passed the Environmental Bill of Rights which was supposed to make access to environmental information easier.

Read the column here

Rumours about forthcoming federal environmental assessment changes abound

April 19th, 2012 by Laura Bowman

On April 17, Joe Oliver, federal Minister of Natural Resources made announcements and gave interviews about the fate of Canada’s beleaguered federal environmental assessment law, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.  No specific amendments have been provided, so it is difficult to understand exactly what the government is proposing to do.

Continue reading “Rumours about forthcoming federal environmental assessment changes abound”

Proposed Changes to Fish Habitat Provisions of the Fisheries Act

April 18th, 2012 by Laura Bowman and Paula Boutis

In mid‑March 2012, a number of news outlets reported that the Harper government is looking at significant changes to the wording of the Fisheries Act after they were leaked to Otto Langer.

Continue reading “Proposed Changes to Fish Habitat Provisions of the Fisheries Act”

Important Environmental Law Amendments in the Ontario 2012 budget bill

April 17th, 2012 by Laura Bowman

The Ontario Government recently introduced Bill 55 – Strong Action for Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2012.   Budget bills are exempt from the posting and public consultation requirements of the Environmental Bill of Rights.  As a result, the public does not have the same opportunities to contribute to decision making when a number of environmentally significant laws are changed in a budget Bill.  Overall the budget Bill adds exemptions both in law and through additional regulatory powers to a variety of environmental processes.

Continue reading “Important Environmental Law Amendments in the Ontario 2012 budget bill”

Toronto Cyclists Union Calls for Full Environmental Assessment Process on Jarvis Street

April 3rd, 2012 by Iler Campbell LLP

The Toronto Cyclists Union released a legal opinion (pdf)  by Laura Bowman today which outlines the case that the City of Toronto must conduct a Schedule C Environmental Assessment in order to remove the Jarvis Street bike lanes and re-install the centre reversible lane. The bike lanes have been slated to be removed this summer.

In an article on spacingtoronto.ca, Mathew Blackett praises the action, writing, “instead of the typical cycling activist action of taking over an intersection and holding bikes high overhead to piss off drivers, the Union is taking the game to the City.”

The Union has given the city ten days to respond after which they will submit their request to the Minister of the Environment.

Continue reading “Toronto Cyclists Union Calls for Full Environmental Assessment Process on Jarvis Street”