Free Talk! Board Governance: Roles & Responsibilities

April 29th, 2013 by Iler Campbell

Join the GTA Co‑op Network for this free talk by Paula Boutis
6:30PM Tuesday May 14 at Harvest Noon Cafe + Co-op.

If you’re on the board of a co-op, considering it, or just curious, you’re sure to gain some valuable information!

This talk will review the relevant legislation governing co‑operative governance, the roles of the directors & officers, and their obligations, including potential liabilities that arise when you are a director or officer of a Board.

Here’s the event listing on facebook. No RSVP or registration is required — just show up! This event is also an *optional potluck* so please bring something to share with the group if you have time! Finger-food is preferable. Join us afterwards for a drink, or just to socialize at the GSU Pub — just below Harvest Noon!

Why Canada needs more community power

April 25th, 2013 by Brian Iler

Given the scientific consensus that wind turbines are not dangerous to human health, as opponents have claimed, it is time to shift focus to a real issue: fixing wind energy policy to increase community power in Canada.

After extensive research and investigation, in Canada and globally, the consensus in the scientific community is that there is no direct causal link between wind turbines and adverse health effects. Scientists agree that the noise emitted by wind turbines ‑- the chief source of alleged health effects -‑ is basically indistinguishable from normal background sounds we experience in everyday life, whether we live in an urban or rural area.

Read more on rabble.ca

Federal government posts proposed revisions to regulations under CEAA 2012

April 17th, 2013 by Laura Bowman

Late Friday night, April 12, 2013, the federal government posted the latest revisions to the Regulations Designating Physical Activities under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012.   These regulations determine which projects are potentially subject to a federal assessment under the new Act.

The existing regulations were put in force without any public consultations when CEAA 2012 was enacted in July 2012.  The regulations were based on the comprehensive study list regulations under the old version of CEAA which was repealed in mid-2012.

The amendments to the Regulations Designating Physical Activities proposed by the government at this time are limited.  Some projects are removed and others are clarified.   Diamond mines, apatite mines, railway yards, international and interprovincial bridges and tunnels and “the first offshore exploratory wells in exploration licence area” and expansions to oil sands mines would be added to the project list.  Just being on the project list no longer guarantees an assessment is required.

Continue reading “Federal government posts proposed revisions to regulations under CEAA 2012”

Paula Boutis helps Osgoode Law School team make it to the final competition round

April 16th, 2013 by Iler Campbell

Paula Boutis, along with Michael McClurg of Olthius Kleer Townshend, coached one of two excellent Osgoode teams for the Willms & Shier Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, held at the Ontario Court of Appeal on March 9, 2013.

The team placed second overall, and team members Jesse Cohen ’14 and Luke Johnston ’14 both won distinguished oralist awards. Johnston also won the award for top oralist in the final round.

Congratulations to all the participants!

For more details on the event see here.

Free Talk: How to run a board meeting, and write your minutes, so you stay out of trouble and know what you decided.

April 4th, 2013 by Iler Campbell

Paula Boutis is giving a free talk on April 18, 2013, at Harvest Noon for the GTA Co‑op Network:

Topic: How to run a board meeting, and write your minutes, so you stay out of trouble and know what you decided.

Location: 16 Bancroft Ave, on the 2nd floor of the Graduate Students Union building:

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with time for networking.  No registration required.

This workshop will review the basics of running an efficient meeting and how to properly minute your meetings. As lawyers specializing in membership based organizations, including Co‑operatives, we frequently need to review our clients records for various purposes, including litigation purposes. Knowing how to run meetings, and properly minute your decisions is crucial. Workshop leader Paula Boutis has volunteered in the non‑profit sector for over a decade. She is also frequently litigating the various issues that arise for the firm’s clients, and has seen the grief bad minutes can cause.

Shark Fin Ban Case: Does Biodiversity Have Anything to Do With Social and Civic “Well-Being”?

April 2nd, 2013 by Laura Bowman

In November 2012 the Ontario Superior Court of Justice held that Toronto’s shark fin by-law was ultra vires.

Eng v. Toronto (City) was an application seeking a declaration that By-law No. 12347-2011 of the City of Toronto (Shark fin by-law) was ultra vires and of no force and effect. The by-law provides, in section 3, that “no person shall possess, sell or consume shark fin or shark fin food products within the city of Toronto”. The by-law was passed by a vote of 38-4 at council. The applicants argued that the shark fin by-law’s purpose was directed against the extinction of sharks and lacked a proper municipal purpose. The court agreed that this environmental threat was a purpose of the ban on shark fin food products as it was “a theme that persists in the public record of the proposed ban” and “environmental well-being of the City” was mentioned the preamble.

The applicants submitted that the City was the “wrong level of government” for the by-law and that there was no identifiable environmental benefit to the city. The court rejected the first argument and accepted the second.

Read more in the Ontario Bar Association’s Envronews (pdf) »