Unit 4: International, Labour and Environmental Law

Question 1

true or false:

under Canada’s constitution, environmental regulation is shared between the federal government and the provinces

Answer 1

true

Question 2

what are some examples of federal environmental law?

Answer 2

• Canadian environmental protection act
• fisheries act
• Canadian environmental assessment act
• species at risk act

Question 3

what are some of the responsibilities of Ontario?

Answer 3

• environmental bill of rights
• environmental protection act
• Ontario water resources act
• clean water act
• environmental assessment act

Question 4

what is the aboriginal view of the environment?

Answer 4

• earth is seen as “mother”
• show thanks through respect of environment
• take only what you need
• nature does not belong to us- we must share with all

Question 5

what is green wave?

Answer 5

the evolution in social consciousness of environmental issues

Question 6

what is sustainable development?

Answer 6

an approach that seeks to preserve a healthy economy and environment

Question 7

what is injunction?

Answer 7

a court can grant a legal order to prohibit someone from doing something

Question 8

what is private nuisance?

Answer 8

arises when there is unreasonable interference with the use and enjoyment of another person’s land

Question 9

what is public nuisance?

Answer 9

an activity that interferes with a public right can be fought through legal action (ie. right to fish)

Question 10

define negligence

Answer 10

conduct that falls below the standard of care that a reasonable person would consider acceptable in a given situation

Question 11

define riparian rights

Answer 11

the right of an owner of land bordering a law/river/stream to sue another person who interferes with the quantity or quality of the water

Question 12

define legislative authority

Answer 12

the power given to a person or public body to do something that is otherwise forbidden

Question 13

when was the environmental legislation act signed?

Answer 13

1971

Question 14

what does the environmental protaction act outline?

Answer 14

regulates the actual and potential sources of contaminants. allows the gov’t to charge indv’ls/companies who contaminate the environment

Question 15

when was the environmental assessment act signed?

Answer 15

1975

Question 16

what does the environmental assessment act outline?

Answer 16

the process of carrying out environmental assessments; usually dams, highways, power plants

Question 17

when was the environmental bill of rights signed?

Answer 17

1993

Question 18

what does the environmental bill of rights outline?

Answer 18

environmental concerns in terms of human rights, the bill empowers members of the public in their efforts to protect the environment

Question 19

when and why was toxic waste banned?

Answer 19

• 2002
• Norampac Inc. sold a by-product as a dust suppressant on roads called Dombind
• it contained dioxin, durans and phenols that created many health issues and was banned

Question 20

what happened in Walkerton?

Answer 20

• in 2000 a town called Walkerton had contaminated water (ecoli) from a broken chlorinator in Well 7
• thousands became sick and several died because the utilities commissioner Koebel stated the water was fine

Question 21

what are the dangers of gov’t cut-backs?

Answer 21

• budget cuts lead to less enforcement and investigation

- ie. walkerton