PFAS in Canadian Provinces: Where are the environmental regulations?
Per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are all around us, in many places. You can find these persistent contaminants in our soils, water, and in our atmosphere.
Legal Notes: Ontario’s Excess Soil Regulations back to ground zero
Seven months ago, Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) surprised the construction and soil management industries by placing a “pause” on Phase Two of the province’s Excess Soil Management regulations first put into effect on Jan. 1.
On April 21, 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks paused the implementation date for the notice, reporting and tracking provisions of Ontario’s...
FCM says national adaptation strategy must protect communities
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) recently released concrete proposals to protect Canadians and communities of all sizes across the country from the impacts of climate change.
Government of Canada bans many single-use plastics
The Government of Canada has begun the roll-out of its much-anticipated ban on single-use plastic products. On June 22, 2022, the federal government published the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (the Regulations) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).
Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit Regulations: Now in Force
On June 8, 2022, Canada released its final Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations.
Canada’s ineffective building energy regulations are the elephant in the warming room
We keep building poorly performing homes while we talk about climate resilience. Let’s stop ignoring our inadequate building regulations.
Ontario Proposes to Postpone Implementation of Phase Two of the Excess Soil Regulation
On March 11, 2022, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks published a proposal to delay the implementation of Phase Two of the On-Site and Excess Soil Management Regulation under the Environmental Protection Act, which took effect on January 1, 2022...
Ontario Releases Draft Regulations to Implement New Environmental Assessment Regime
On November 26, 2021, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (the Ministry) released four draft regulations that offer project proponents greater clarity about whether their projects will need to undergo an environmental assessment (EA) under Ontario’s recently amended Environmental Assessment Act (EAA).
Inclusionary Zoning Framework approved in Toronto
On November 9, 2021 the City of Toronto approved Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments as well as draft Implementation Guidelines introducing Inclusionary Zoning requirements.
B.C. Extends Land Owner Transparency Registry Filing Deadline for Pre-Existing Owners
On November 2, 2021, the B.C. government extended the Land Owner Transparency Registry filing deadline for pre-existing owners from November 30, 2021, to November 30, 2022.
BC Government Extends LOTR Filing Deadline
This morning, the Province posted an Information Bulletin announcing that the mandatory filing deadline for pre-existing owners of certain interests in land to file a report with the Land Owner Transparency Registry (LOTR) will be extended by 12 months...
Selling your Sacred Spaces? Don’t Overlook Ontario’s Religious Organizations’ Lands Act
The acquisition, disposition and mortgaging of land owned by churches and other religious institution non-profit organizations have become increasingly common in recent years.
On October 18, 2021, the Canadian Securities Administrators published for comment Proposed National Instrument 51‑107 ‑ Disclosure of Climate‑Related Matters and its companion policy.
Action Required: Reporting of Any Interest in Land Held in BC
On or before November 30, 2021, every relevant corporation, relevant trust, or relevant partnership (each, a “Reporting Body”) holding a registered interest in land in British Columbia is required to complete and file a Transparency Report under the Land Owner Transparency Act (“LOTA”), unless...
The purpose of the Regulation respecting the regulatory scheme applying to activities on the basis of their environmental impact is to identify activities that are considered to be of moderate, low or...
Ontario Regulation Governing Excess Soil Management
The province of Ontario has implemented the On-Site Soil Management Regulation (Regulation 406/19) to ensure the best management of excess soil from construction projects.
Adoption of the Regulation respecting the traceability of excavated contaminated soils
On June 28, 2021, the Minister of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change announced in a press release the adoption of the Regulation respecting the traceability of excavated contaminated soils, which was subsequently published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on July 7.
On June 3, 2021, Ontario enacted the HSP Regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, which shifts financial and operational responsibilities of collecting, managing...
Why liability insurance did not cover the defence of a remediation order
An eastern Ontario municipality does not have coverage with any of its four former liability insurers for a dispute with the provincial environment ministry over alleged pollution occurring more than six decades ago.
