The ability to extend a limitation period for an environmental claim is subject to considerable judicial discretion, the Court of Appeal of Alberta recently held in Paramount Resources Ltd v Grey Owl Engineering Ltd, 2024...more
In a recent decision, the Federal Court has rejected an attempt by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to set aside ministerial approval of a significant offshore oil and gas project. The NGOs argued that the Minister...more
In IFP Technologies (Canada) Inc v EnCana Midstream and Marketing, 2022 ABKB 807, the Court considered for the first time how to perform an accounting of profits from an oil and gas working interest between tenants in common...more
Government Advantage and Reasonable Land Use -
A majority of the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) recently clarified that any public “advantage” that government obtains through land regulations that deprives a property owner...more
Vancouver City Council recently passed a motion to fund a proposed class action against various oil and gas companies to recover costs associated with climate change....more
Section 218 of Alberta's Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, RSA 2000, c E-12 (EPEA) is not available to extend the limitation period for a party liable for remediation costs to make claims against other alleged...more
Britton v Ford Motor Company of Canada -
A recent decision of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench addresses the challenges of considering a pre-certification application to stay a class action when the decision may impact...more
U.S. courts have often relied on the political question doctrine to dismiss climate change actions. The Canadian equivalent of the political question doctrine, justiciability, has recently been considered by Canadian Court in...more
Courts across Canada are limiting hearings due to the rapidly evolving novel COVID-19 outbreak. Courts in each jurisdiction are responding differently and implementing measures that are affecting existing and contemplated...more
Canada's duty to consult with Indigenous peoples does not guarantee outcomes, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA or Court) confirmed in Coldwater First Nation v Canada (Attorney General), 2020 FCA 34 [Coldwater]....more
On July 11, 2019, Quebec's Superior Court rejected a class action lawsuit seeking federal action relating to climate change. The Court found that the questions raised by the plaintiff, Environnement Jeunesse, were justiciable...more
With its decision on June 28, 2019, the Ontario Court of Appeal became the second appellate court to conclude that Canada's federal carbon tax regime complies with the Constitution. The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal released a...more
On May 24, 2019, a five-member panel of the British Columbia Court of Appeal (BCCA) unanimously determined that British Columbia's proposed amendments to the Environmental Management Act, SBC 2003, c 53 (the EMA) are...more
On May 3, 2019, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal (SKCA) released its lengthy decision in Reference re Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, 2019 SKCA 40. This much-anticipated decision represents the first judicial...more
On February 6, 2019, the Alberta Court of Appeal (ABCA) released its first ever decision on section 218 of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA), which may extend limitation periods applicable to...more
On November 27, 2018, a class action lawsuit was filed in Québec seeking relief against the federal government on the basis of its alleged inaction on climate change. The action, commenced by a group called ENvironnement...more
The Alberta Court of Appeal (ABCA) may have lowered the standard of proof for summary judgement. This could help shorten the process to judgment for clients pursuing claims as well as assist clients bring unmeritorious claims...more
There was no error in granting partial summary judgment on more than $5 million dollars in gas facility invoices, the Alberta Court of Appeal held in SemCAMS ULC v Blaze Energy Ltd, 2016 ABCA 113, despite the gas producer’s...more
Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a unanimous decision in Daniels v Canada (Indian Affairs and Northern Development), 2016 SCC 12 declaring that non-status Indians and Métis are “Indians” under s 91(24) of the...more
The British Columbia Court of Appeal upheld a lower court decision ordering ICI Canada Inc. (now PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Ltd) to pay $4.75 million in remediation costs following a trial which enforced the “polluter...more
The City of Burnaby’s latest effort to assert jurisdiction over work performed in Burnaby in connection with the Trans Mountain Expansion Project was recently dismissed for procedural and constitutional reasons in Burnaby...more
A challenge to the validity of oil and gas permits outside the judicial review process is a collateral attack and will be struck, the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench held recently in Ominayak v Penn West Petroleum Ltd, 2015...more
First Nation Prevails in BC Environmental Appeal Board Decision By Mike Theroux, Brad Gilmour and Laura Gill In a decision released on September 3, 2015, the British Columbia Environmental Appeal Board granted the appeal of...more
The City of Vancouver and Brenhill Developments Ltd. successfully appealed the January 27, 2014, decision of the BC Supreme Court (BCSC) in Community Association of New Yaletown v Vancouver (City), 2015 BCSC 117. The appeal...more
A gas facility operator was recently awarded summary judgment for its unpaid invoices, even though the non-paying producer disputed the amounts owing and claimed various set-offs. In SemCAMS ULC v Blaze Energy Ltd, 2015 ABQB...more