Reading Time: 4 minutes The Alberta Water Council is interesting because of its role and how it makes decisions – by consensus only. This article is about two things. First it briefly describes the Alberta Water Council. Second, it talks about consensus decision-making – a way groups can work together toward a common goal even when their interests appear […]
BenchPress – Vol 40-5
Reading Time: 3 minutes 1. Miscarriage as a Workplace Disability The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has issued a decision stating that a miscarriage can be a disability. Winnie Mou was dismissed from her position after failing to meet work targets. She had missed three weeks of work due to a deep tissue injury, and several months later had a […]
Unleashing the Environmental Power of Municipalities: Recommendations to Strengthen Alberta’s Municipal Government Act
Reading Time: 5 minutes Municipalities play a key role in the management and protection of Alberta’s environment. This occurs through regulation of private land uses and through local land use planning. Municipalities can also direct local changes that reduce the trajectory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and create resilient communities that can adapt to the changes caused by climate […]
BenchPress – Vol 40-4
Reading Time: 5 minutes Gonzo Language! The Federal Court of Appeal used some unusually strong language in a recent judgment about a claim for costs. The claim was made by the two lawyers who successfully challenged the appointment of Judge Marc Nadon to the Supreme Court of Canada. Together, the two lawyers asked for almost $70,000 in costs. The […]
Can Administrative Agencies Grant Common Law Public Interest Standing?
Reading Time: 6 minutes Whether administrative agencies can grant public interest standing the way that courts do is an unsettled question. This question usually arises at environmental agencies whose enabling legislation provides standing based on affected personal interests. Multiple court cases have found that specific agencies have “no jurisdiction” to grant a discretionary form of standing, but these cases […]
Bench Press 38-4: Cabinet Ministers Breaking the Law
Reading Time: < 1 minute Several environmental groups took the federal ministers of oceans and fisheries and the environment to Federal Court seeking a declaration that they must act to protect endangered species. Madame Justice Anne McTavish granted them the declaration they sought. She noted that the Species at Risk Act requires the ministers to publish a proposed recovery strategy, […]
Bench Press 38-2: The Environment, Fair Play and Natural Justice
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Pembina Institute and the Fort McMurray Environmental Association asked for a judicial review of a decision by the Director of Northern Region Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resources Development. The Director had rejected a Statement of Concern filed by the two entities under the Alberta Water Act and the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act concerning an […]
Bench Press 38-1: Cabinet Tries to Flip the Bird
Reading Time: < 1 minute A group of Alberta and Saskatchewan environmentalists asked former environment minister Peter Kent to issue an emergency protection order for the sage grouse under the federal Species at Risk Act. There are very few of the birds left and scientists worry they could disappear altogether if their habitat is not protected from development. When they […]
Vol 37-4: Mar/Apr 2013
Reading Time: 2 minutes Full PDF of this Issue Table of Contents Featured Articles: Environmental Causes Special Report: Helping Yourself Departments Columns Printable PDF version Featured Articles: Environmental Causes Canadians treasure their environment, and for many, preventing its degradation becomes a cause. The law can be used in some interesting and unique ways to help the […]
