Webinar – Environmental Assessment is Not Red Tape
October 23, 2020
Casework: Judicial Review of Bill 197 - COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020
On behalf of several environmental organizations and individuals, CELA is seeking a judicial review in Divisional Court of the statutory decision by two Ontario Cabinet Ministers that denied our clients and other members of the public their legal right to be notified and consulted on environmentally significant legislative amendments contained in Bill 197 (COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020) before they were enacted by the Ontario Legislature on July 21, 2020. These amendments include changes to the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA), the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) and the Planning Act.
These changes to the EAA, Ontario’s key environmental planning law, are of particular concern to CELA’s clients because, among other things, they impose new restrictions (and create uncertainty) on how the Act is applied to proposed undertakings, and terminate long-standing public safeguards in the EA process in relation to infrastructure projects.
Media Releases, Blogs, Presentations
Municipal Climate Action – Priorities for Ontario Municipalities
October 15, 2020
Concerns raised about Ontario’s environmental assessment changes
September 8, 2020
Legal Action Launched Against Ontario’s Omnibus Bill 197
August 31, 2020
Publications, Legal Submissions
CELA’s judicial review application contends that the two Ministers: 1) failed or refused to comply with public notice and consultation requirements under the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR); 2) make erroneous interpretation, and unreasonable reliance upon, a proposed amendment to the EBR; and 3) failed or refused in the exercise of their statutory power in enacting amendments to, and removing existing provisions from, the EAA to comply with international law conventions, principles, and norms on environmental assessment, public participation, and human rights applicable in Ontario.
It is anticipated that the applications will be heard by the Divisional Court in early 2021.
