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”
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.
The Drummond Report, Public Services for Ontarians: A Path to Sustainability and Excellence (pdf), recommends numerous changes to Ontario’s environmental protection regime that, if adopted, could fundamentally change environmental protection in Ontario.
Continue reading “Drummond Report could further erode environmental assessment in Ontario”
Ontario Nature, Earthroots, Ecojustice and Ducks Unlimited released a report this week on Ontario Wetlands: Protecting Greenbelt Wetlands: How Effective is Policy.
Many of the report’s suggestions relate to better interdepartmental and intergovernmental decision-making integration. Others propose more measurable and defensible standards in the approvals process.
Continue reading “Ontario’s wetlands framework needs revision”
In August David McRobert and Paula Boutis asked if it was time for Ontario political parties to revisit the issue of intervenor funding and access to environmental justice. They have followed up and made an application under the Environmental Bill of Rights requesting a review of existing laws, regulations and policies related to public participation and hearings under the Environment Assessment Act and other environmental and planning laws.
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