Environmental Environmental

First of its kind – Ontario NDP tables civil liability for climate change bill

On March 26, 2018, Ontario NDP MPP Peter Tabuns introduced Bill 21: “an Act respecting civil liability for climate-related harms,”. Read more.

Changes to federal impact assessments, energy regulator and waterway regulation (Bills C-68 and C-69)

The Canadian government recently introduced Bills C-68 and C-69, respectively, which introduce several major changes to Canada’s federal regime for...

Ontario planning process undergoes significant changes: Bill 139 receives Royal Assent

On December 12, 2017, Bill 139 received third reading and Royal Assent in the provincial legislature, coming into force as the Building Better...

The electrification of the economy: Ontario’s 2017 Long-Term Energy Plan

On October 26, 2017, the Ontario government issued its latest Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP) pursuant to the Energy Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016,...

Supreme Court releases much-anticipated Chippewas and Clyde River decisions

On July 26, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada released unanimous judgments in the companion appeals of Hamlet of Clyde River (Hamlet) v Petroleum...

Ontario government proposes significant overhaul to municipal planning approval and appeal process with Bill 139

The Ontario government tabled Bill 139, the Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017 for 1st Reading in the provincial...

Climate Change – Why boards need to be proactive

We highlight below a few of the reasons why climate change needs to be a recurring topic on the board agenda.

Expert report on environmental assessment gives rise to more uncertainty

On April 5, 2017, the Expert Panel for the Review of Environmental Assessment Processes in Canada released its Final Report entitled Building Common...

Ontario Courts continue to clarify the scope and power of section 99 of the Environmental Protection Act

In Huang v Fraser Hillary’s Limited, 2017 ONSC 1500, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice confirmed that plaintiffs can rely on section 99 of the...

Known unknowns: Ontario Court of Appeal provides guidance on discoverability in potentially contaminated lands cases

The Ontario Court of Appeal released an important decision regarding environmental due diligence in a real estate transaction that provides guidance...