Signing a commercial lease? Make sure you know exactly what you are getting into

September 6th, 2011 by Ted Hyland

Charities, non-profits and co-operatives often enter into commercial lease agreements without having first consulted with a lawyer.  By the time they arrive at our offices at Iler Campbell with a signed 50 or 60 page standard lease agreement (sometimes years after signing it) they often have made commitments that will have serious implications for their organizations, creating problems that likely could have been avoided if they had checked with a lawyer first.

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Funding for Public Participation and Access to Justice: Where Are We in 2011?

August 17th, 2011 by Iler Campbell LLP

When the Intervenor Funding Project Act (IFPA) expired in 1996 there was concern that access to environmental justice would be seriously affected in Ontario and there is growing evidence that this has happened. Under IFPA, environmental groups and individuals were able to better contribute to tribunal hearings under the Environment Assessment Act and other laws because of financial assistance provided to them. We argue that participant and intervenor funding for participation in approval processes such as those created by the Environmental Protection Act, Environmental Bill of Rights, the Planning Act, the Endangered Species Act, 2007 and the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009 would be beneficial and promote better decision making by government ministries and proponents. Early participation in planning can avoid surprises and controversies for decision-makers at later stages in the approval process.

Read the full article (pdf).

Duty to accommodate in Small Workplaces: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

August 9th, 2011 by Iler Campbell LLP

Small, non-profit employers frequently come to us with the impression that human rights laws do not apply to them. All employers, no matter how small or underfunded, have a duty not to discriminate and to accommodate individuals who may be experiencing discrimination in the workplace.

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Paula Boutis in the OBA’s Environews

July 14th, 2011 by Iler Campbell LLP

Paula Boutis has an article, written with David McRobert, in the July issue of the Ontario Bar Association’s Environews newsletter. In it, they describe the arguments recently put before the Divisional Court in a judicial review of a decision of the Ontario government to grant a permit under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 for a controversial bridge project at the Detroit-Windsor border crossing.

Read it here (pdf).

Brian Iler joins the Ontario government’s Advisory Committee on the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010

June 16th, 2011 by Iler Campbell LLP

It’s been almost exactly a year since we last wrote about the Not‑for‑Profit Corporations Act, 2010. This time we’ve just a quick note to let you know that Brian has joined the Ontario government’s new Advisory Committee on the Not‑for‑Profit Corporations Act, 2010. He will be representing the Center for Social Innovation.

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Come Article With Us!

May 30th, 2011 by Iler Campbell LLP

Iler Campbell is currently accepting applications for the 2012-13 articling year. We’re looking for like-minded progressive people to join our team. Please submit your application (including cover letter, resume, reference letters and copies of your transcripts) by July 8, 2011 to the Articling Student Hiring Committee at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!