The scope of my environmental law experience is reflected in the following examples from years of representing a wide range of clients:

Individuals and Families

 

negotiated settlements of environmental claims for Greater Toronto Area families arising from contamination of homes and properties due to long-term petroleum hydrocarbon leaks from gasoline stations

represented landowner before Ontario Municipal Board and negotiated settlement respecting appeal of proposed designation of property under City official plan

 

represented landholding family before Niagara Escarpment Commission seeking re-designation of lands to protect property from neighbouring aggregate activity expansion

 

Community, Farm, and Ratepayer Groups

 

won several major Joint Board hearings on behalf of community, farm, and ratepayer groups in municipal and hazardous waste site applications across Ontario under Environmental Assessment Act and related environmental laws

 

intervened before Divisional Court and Ontario Court of  Appeal on behalf of farm and ratepayer groups in various cases involving first-time interpretation of environmental laws and requirements

 

represented ratepayer groups in various proceedings before Ontario Municipal Board on development applications under Planning Act 

 

Non-Government Organizations

 

represented water works and municipal water associations before

Commission of Inquiry (Walkerton – Part II) investigation into future of safe drinking water system in Ontario

 

won major herbicide cancellation proceedings on behalf of two national environmental organizations before federal review board, Federal Court (Trial Division), and Federal Court of Appeal

 

represented province-wide conservation coalitions in several major hearings before Environmental Assessment Board (now Environmental Review Tribunal) and Joint Board regarding timber management and aggregate extraction applications

 

First Nations

 

represented several coalitions of First Nations in different proceedings before National Energy Board, Ontario Energy Board, and the Environmental Assessment Board regarding variety of energy projects in central and northern Ontario

 

represented First Nation council respecting major mining project in northern Ontario under Canadian Environmental Assessment Act process

 

Private Sector

 

represented Toronto-area manufacturer during environmental audit process and subsequent negotiations with Ontario Ministry of the Environment

 

negotiated settlement for company of appeal under Pesticides Act

 

represented western Ontario subdivision owner on compliance matters under municipal and safe drinking water laws

 

represented eastern Ontario company during negotiations regarding third party contamination of property

 

drafted model emissions trading agreement for consortium of private companies

 

Municipal Government

 

drafted agreement on behalf of eastern Ontario City for provision of safe drinking water to neighbouring municipality

 

represented municipal government in Divisional Court application challenging waste disposal site agreement entered into by nine other municipalities that interfered with rights of non-parties to agreement

 

provided compliance advice to numerous municipal governments on waste management, safe drinking water, source protection, and environmental assessment requirements

 

Regional and County Government

 

peer-reviewed waste disposal site agreement on behalf of eastern Ontario county government and drafted new language for provisions respecting allocation of future environmental liabilities

 

prepared extensive legal opinions for southwestern Ontario county government on official plan implementation of ground water protection strategy (opinions posted on county government website)

 

prepared submissions to province on behalf of regional government concerning waste management laws 

 

Provincial Government

 

represented provincial commission (Niagara Escarpment Commission) before Joint Board on major waste disposal site application under Environmental Assessment Act

 

adviser to provincial hearing panel on spills regulation under the Environmental Protection Act

 

provided advice & report to provincial commission (Environmental Commissioner of Ontario) on reform of environmental regulation process

 

provided advice & report to provincial government on environmental management system models for Ontario government agencies

 

Federal Government

 

provided advice & reports over extensive period of time to various federal government departments and commissions on such matters as regulation of toxic substances, pesticides, hazardous wastes, abandoned mines, federal contaminated lands, and emissions trading

 

International Commissions and Agencies

 

provided advice & reports over extensive period of time to several international commissions and agencies on such matters as environmental compliance and enforcement,  protection of the Great Lakes and Fraser River Basins, & mining, logging, and protected areas