CELA participates in Deep Geologic Repository hearings
In September, CELA participated in the additional public hearings held in Kincardine, Ontario, by the Joint Review Panel (JRP) on the proposed Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. This latest round of public hearings gave Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, other federal authorities, and various intervenors (including CELA) the opportunity to present evidence, opinions and perspectives on the subject-matter of the Information Requests issued to OPG by the JRP since November 2013. CELA’s presentation concluded that OPG’s responses to the Information Requests still left serious questions about whether OPG’s analysis adequately fulfills the key requirement to consider the extent to which the proposed DGR contributes to sustainable development. CELA also raised concerns that OPG’s failure to conduct a reasonable site selection process — and the attempted comparison of OPG’s proposed DGR in sedimentary rock at the Bruce site to a hypothetical DGR at a conceptual granite bedrock site — did not meet international standards. The JRP public hearings ended on September 18th, and CELA and other intervenors may file final submissions by October 9th, and OPG’s final submissions are due by October 19th. It is anticipated that the JRP’s Environmental Assessment Report (with findings and recommendations on whether the proposed DGR should be approved) will be filed with federal decision-makers in early-2015.
CELA provides comments to Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
CELA provided feedback on stakeholder comments to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regarding a draft regulatory document entitled Environmental Protection: Environmental Assessments. Our concerns focused on how to properly integrate environmental assessment requirements into the licensing process under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. The CELA brief also addressed the need to improve procedural timeframes and clarify information requirements imposed under this Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012.
CELA awaits review of Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights Act
CELA contacted Hon. Glen Murray, the Minister of the Environment & Climate Change, to express our concerns about the lack of progress on the Ministry’s long-promised review of Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights. CELA filed an Application for Review of the EBR in December 2010. We are waiting for meaningful public involvement in this important review.
CELA and Ecojustice present Legal Toolkit Workshop for ENGOs
On Thursday, October 30th, at the Sustainability Network offices in Toronto, a one-day training session will be held to to educate environmental nonprofits about the legal tools available to protect air, water, land, and human health. The workshop will be hosted by Ecojustice’s John Swaigen. CELA lawyers Joe Castrilli, Ramani Nadarajah and Rick Lindgren will be making presentations at this workshop.
Medical Legal Partnership Seeking Lawyer
The ARCH Disability Law Centre is the lead agency in an exciting project among the Family Health Team at St Michael’s Hospital and several legal aid clinics, including CELA. The project is now ready to offer a full-time contract position for a lawyer with possible renewal funded through a three-year grant from Legal Aid Ontario. The lawyer will be hired by ARCH and work on-site at St. Michael’s Hospital’s Academic Family Health Team to provide legal services to patients.
The successful candidate will be a member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada and will be a committed social justice advocate who is able to work both independently and as part of a team. Personal experience with or knowledge of disability, the disability community, experience with low-income and diverse communities, are all considered assets. Preference will be given to candidates with a minimum of three years experience in human rights law, as well as experience in one or more of the following practice areas: income maintenance, housing law, immigration, employment, family and criminal law.
Interested candidates must send their cover letter and resume by October 3, 2014 to:
Ms. Yangtzee Tamang, ARCH Disability Law Centre
425 Bloor Street East, Ste. 110 Toronto, Ontario M4W 3R4
c/o Fax: 416-482-2981 E-mail: tamangy@lao.on.ca
September 2014 Bulletin
CELA participates in Deep Geologic Repository hearings
In September, CELA participated in the additional public hearings held in Kincardine, Ontario, by the Joint Review Panel (JRP) on the proposed Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. This latest round of public hearings gave Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, other federal authorities, and various intervenors (including CELA) the opportunity to present evidence, opinions and perspectives on the subject-matter of the Information Requests issued to OPG by the JRP since November 2013. CELA’s presentation concluded that OPG’s responses to the Information Requests still left serious questions about whether OPG’s analysis adequately fulfills the key requirement to consider the extent to which the proposed DGR contributes to sustainable development. CELA also raised concerns that OPG’s failure to conduct a reasonable site selection process — and the attempted comparison of OPG’s proposed DGR in sedimentary rock at the Bruce site to a hypothetical DGR at a conceptual granite bedrock site — did not meet international standards. The JRP public hearings ended on September 18th, and CELA and other intervenors may file final submissions by October 9th, and OPG’s final submissions are due by October 19th. It is anticipated that the JRP’s Environmental Assessment Report (with findings and recommendations on whether the proposed DGR should be approved) will be filed with federal decision-makers in early-2015.
CELA provides comments to Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
CELA provided feedback on stakeholder comments to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regarding a draft regulatory document entitled Environmental Protection: Environmental Assessments. Our concerns focused on how to properly integrate environmental assessment requirements into the licensing process under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. The CELA brief also addressed the need to improve procedural timeframes and clarify information requirements imposed under this Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012.
CELA awaits review of Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights Act
CELA contacted Hon. Glen Murray, the Minister of the Environment & Climate Change, to express our concerns about the lack of progress on the Ministry’s long-promised review of Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights. CELA filed an Application for Review of the EBR in December 2010. We are waiting for meaningful public involvement in this important review.
CELA and Ecojustice present Legal Toolkit Workshop for ENGOs
On Thursday, October 30th, at the Sustainability Network offices in Toronto, a one-day training session will be held to to educate environmental nonprofits about the legal tools available to protect air, water, land, and human health. The workshop will be hosted by Ecojustice’s John Swaigen. CELA lawyers Joe Castrilli, Ramani Nadarajah and Rick Lindgren will be making presentations at this workshop.
Medical Legal Partnership Seeking Lawyer
The ARCH Disability Law Centre is the lead agency in an exciting project among the Family Health Team at St Michael’s Hospital and several legal aid clinics, including CELA. The project is now ready to offer a full-time contract position for a lawyer with possible renewal funded through a three-year grant from Legal Aid Ontario. The lawyer will be hired by ARCH and work on-site at St. Michael’s Hospital’s Academic Family Health Team to provide legal services to patients.
The successful candidate will be a member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada and will be a committed social justice advocate who is able to work both independently and as part of a team. Personal experience with or knowledge of disability, the disability community, experience with low-income and diverse communities, are all considered assets. Preference will be given to candidates with a minimum of three years experience in human rights law, as well as experience in one or more of the following practice areas: income maintenance, housing law, immigration, employment, family and criminal law.
Interested candidates must send their cover letter and resume by October 3, 2014 to:
Ms. Yangtzee Tamang, ARCH Disability Law Centre
425 Bloor Street East, Ste. 110 Toronto, Ontario M4W 3R4
c/o Fax: 416-482-2981 E-mail: tamangy@lao.on.ca
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