Laura Bowman nominated as Provincial NDP candidate for York-Simcoe

April 16th, 2014 by Iler Campbell

We’re very pleased to announce that Laura Bowman is the provincial NDP candidate for York-Simcoe. Laura grew up in Holland Landing, East Gwillimbury and maintains many ties with the area. Regular readers of our blog will recall her articles on development issues in the Lake Simcoe region.

She plans to campaign on curtailing sprawl, improving transit infrastructure, protecting water,  affordable housing, local agriculture, improving local employment opportunities and municipal and planning reform.

Laura will continue working at Iler Campbell until the election, in which we wish her all the best. For more about her and her platform, visit her website at laurabowman.ca.

Iler Campbell at CHFT Spring Member Education Event

April 15th, 2014 by Iler Campbell

Shelina Ali will be leading a workshop on minute taking, Saturday April 26, at the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto’s 2014 Spring Member Education Event. Her workshop, entitled Minutes Matter, aims to take the mystery out of taking minutes for housing co-ops.

For more info about the event, see the brochure here (PDF).

If you’re interesting in having us lead a workshop for your event or organization, let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Update on Not‑for‑Profit Legislation

April 11th, 2014 by Shelina Ali

The deadline for federally incorporated non-profit organizations to continue under the Canada Not-for‑Profit Corporations Act (CNCA) is approaching quickly. Federally incorporated organizations have until October 17, 2014 to make the transition.  Failure to transition to the new legislation means dissolution.

To transition, federally incorporated non-profits will need to prepare and file Articles of Continuance, Notice of Initial Directors, and Notice of Registered Office, with Industry Canada.

Continue reading “Update on Not‑for‑Profit Legislation”

Client Profile: North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT)

April 4th, 2014 by Iler Campbell

NDACT is an incorporated, not for profit, entity which was formed in January 2009 by concerned citizens, including a number of farmers from Melancthon and Mulmur Townships.

NDACT was formed when members of the community gathered to voice their concerns about The Highland Companies plans to build a 2,316 acre “Mega‑Quarry” on more than 6,000 acres of prime agricultural land that they had amassed as of that date.

Concerned about the future of the croplands and water resources in the community and province wide, residents gathered together to rally opposition to the project.

Our relationship with NDACT goes back to 2011.  Iler Campbell provided NDACT with legal advice and assistance in their fight to stop the Mega‑Quarry and protect farmland and water in Ontario.

In late 2012 the Quarry application was withdrawn and in 2013 the land was sold to a farmland investment company.   Although this application has been withdrawn, there are still many communities around Ontario that are facing challenges with land use and agricultural protection.  NDACT continues to advance farmland preservation and the protection of water resources through its “Food and Water First” campaign.  You can find out more at foodandwaterfirst.com

Iler Campbell at Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation Spring Education Conference

April 1st, 2014 by Iler Campbell

Celia Chandler and Lauren Blumas will be presenting at the Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation Spring Education Conference this Saturday in Cambridge. Their workshop will explore human rights issues and issues that people claim are human rights issues in co-op housing. They’ll address how to determine which issues are really human rights issues, what to pay attention to in by-laws and policies concerning human rights, how to respond when questioned and what to do if you receive a human rights application.

If you’re interesting in having us lead a workshop for your organization, let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Federal Court finds Canadian government failed to protect species at risk

March 28th, 2014 by Laura Bowman

Recently, a number of environmental groups represented by Ecojustice brought a series of judicial reviews alleging that the federal government has unlawfully failed to protect four species due to delays: the Pacific Humpback Whale, Nechako White Sturgeon, Marbled Murrelet and Southern Mountain Caribou.

Without a recovery strategy, the species are not fully protected under the federal Species At Risk Act, which depends on the recovery strategy for some protections to kick in. All four species’ habitat lies along the controversial proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and shipping route in northern B.C.

In the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline hearings, there were about 34 listed species at risk that the panel considered, most of which did not have protected critical habitat in a recovery strategy. In January, environmental groups started other legal proceedings dealing with endangered species and other issues specific to those hearings.

Read more on rabble.ca