After bizarre saga, Information and Privacy Commissioner decision gives hope for better access to scientific studies

July 5th, 2013 by Paula Boutis

On May 14, 2013, the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) issued a long awaited appeal decision (pdf) on the Ministry of Natural Resources’ (MNR) and the Ministry of Transportation’s (MTO) refusal to release natural heritage reports. Ostensibly access was refused on the basis of Cabinet privilege. On appeal, the IPC ordered the release of these reports to Sierra Club Ontario Chapter (SCO).

This was a bizarre case of the left hand not talking to the right hand, and the Ministries wanting it both ways.

Continue reading “After bizarre saga, Information and Privacy Commissioner decision gives hope for better access to scientific studies”

Court rejects Conservative Party MPs’ attempt to block non-profit Council of Canadians from supporting public interest litigation

June 27th, 2013 by Paula Boutis

Amidst all the excitement around the Federal Court’s May 23, 2013 decision (pdf) in which the court held that “electoral fraud occurred during the 41st General Election,” the court was also asked to dismiss the applications outright on the basis of how the applicants were funding their legal bills.

This was one of many tactics employed by the respondent Members of Parliament (MPs) to derail the litigation and prevent it from ever being heard.

This issue around how the litigation was funded is of general importance in the context of public interest litigation. In public interest cases, the litigants, whether non-profits or individuals, have limited financial means to pursue the litigation. Funding public interest litigation only gets harder and harder, so it was refreshing to see a complete vindication of the funding of this case by the Council of Canadians.

Read more on rabble.ca

Brian Iler reelected to SolarShare board of directors

June 25th, 2013 by Iler Campbell

We’re pleased to announce that Brian has been reelected to the board of directors of SolarShare Co-operative. SolarShare is a not-for-profit co-operative corporation with the express goal of growing community-based solar electricity generation in Ontario by engaging residents and investors in projects that offer tangible financial, social, and environmental returns. Since 2010, SolarShare has been developing and installing solar power projects across the province. SolarShare is a project of TREC Renewable Energy Co-operative.

Along with Brian’s reelection, SolarShare President Mike Brigham also announced four new projects that will bring SolarShare’s total portfolio to 1.59 MW and $10 million invested by August 2013.

Brian has been on the Board of Directors of TREC and SolarShare since their inception and he is a founding director of Toronto’s innovative wind energy co-op, Windshare, which co-owns the wind turbine on Toronto’s waterfront. He’s also a past chair of Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, and a founding director of the Community Power Fund.

Client Profile: Hesperus Village

June 21st, 2013 by Iler Campbell

Hesperus Village

Hesperus Village in Vaughan, Ontario is a seniors’ affordable housing residence offering an independent lifestyle and a rich quality of life. Half of the apartments are rent-geared-to-income units. Located adjacent to the Toronto Waldorf School, Hesperus is surrounded by a protected green space on a wooded ravine along the East Don River.

Hesperus residents may choose to enjoy communal meals and many participate in a variety of social, cultural, spiritual, and gardening activities. Hesperus balances the strengths of a strong institutional organization with the nurturing aspects of a caring community. Residents experience the aging process with dignity and grace. Hesperus encourages interaction between the generations, people of diverse cultures, people on various spiritual paths, and those with a variety of interests, skills and talents. Hesperus residents enjoy the security of an on-site medical clinic with three physicians offering both conventional and holistic care. Trained personal support workers are also available as needed.

Hesperus founders were inspired by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) whose spiritual world view – called Anthroposophy – is reflected in the architecture of the residence building, biodynamic gardening, healthy foods, festival celebrations, and the value of communal life.

Iler Campbell LLP is pleased that Hesperus found our firm in 2012, bringing to us a range of questions and issues from how to operate a seniors’ facility in a manner that complies with human rights requirements to government relations questions and commercial real estate transactions. Our relationship, while relatively new, is strengthening as we develop our understanding of Hesperus’ work and the philosophy that underpins it.

Visit Hesperus’ website to learn more and see more photos of its facilities.

Priya Sarin included in rabble.ca’s best of 2013 collection

June 20th, 2013 by Iler Campbell

Last night marked the launch of rabble.ca’s latest publication, Red Squares, White Feathers: Best of rabble.ca 2013, and we’re very pleased to let you know that one of Priya’s articles is included in the book. In rabble’s words:

What a collection! Read Judy Rebick’s reflections on the 2012 political year, Maher Arar on Torture, Pam Palmater on Harper’s attack on Indigenous people, Karl Nerenberg on the racism facing the Roma, and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois on capitalism, Quebec politics and the student movement. And that’s not all! Keep reading and you will find Murray Dobbin on the need to talk taxes, Priya Sarin on eroding labour rights, Nora Loreto on the responsibility to act for non-Indigenous people. Plus tons more!

You can read Priya’s article here, and buy the book here for the very reasonable cost of $10.00 + $2.95 shipping/handling.

Lake Simcoe five years later: Limitless growth causes limitless problems

June 17th, 2013 by Laura Bowman

This upcoming December will mark the fifth anniversary of the Lake Simcoe Protection Act (LSPA), the passage of which led to the implementation of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. This legislation was the result of a lot of hard grassroots work by many people in the community.

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment claims that actions under the LSPA and the Plan have resulted in decreasing levels of total phosphorous in the spring, more naturally reproduced sport fish and increasing deep water oxygen levels. These are important steps toward a healthy Lake Simcoe, but do these claims stand up to scrutiny? How much real progress has been made toward protecting Lake Simcoe, and is there room for improvement?

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