CELA Bulletin

63: 12-June-2008

Periodic E-News from the Canadian Environmental Law Association

• Vinyl Shower Curtains Release Toxic Chemicals

• Ontario's Proposed Pesticide Law Should Not Undermine Municipal Authority to Enact Bylaws
  

• Announcement: CELA's Legal Team

Vinyl Shower Curtains Release Toxic Chemicals

Up to 100 toxic chemicals associated with adverse health effects are released from vinyl shower curtains according to a report by the US-based Center for Health, Environment and Justice and released in Canada today by CELA and Environmental Defence. The study found that shower curtains made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) released dozens of volatile organic compounds and contained high levels of two phthalates, both suspected carcinogens and associated with reproductive toxicity. View today's media release, the full report or executive summary on-line. To download broadcast quality b-roll, high resolution photos and other resources, visit the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (www.chej.org/showercurtainreport)

For more information:
Theresa McClenaghan, CELA Executive Director and Counsel, 416-662-8341 (cell) theresa@cela.ca
Jennifer Foulds, Environmental Defence, 416-323-9521 ext 232; 647-280-9521 (cell)

Ontario's Proposed Pesticide Law Should Not Undermine Municipal Authority to Enact Bylaws

CELA continues to support the overall intent of Ontario's proposed law to ban the use and sales of cosmetic pesticides. However, echoing concerns that have been expressed by several large and small municipalities, we are calling upon the provincial government to amend Bill 64 so that municipalities retain the power to establish more restrictive bylaws should their citizens or local circumstances warrant it. CELA is also calling for removal of a clause in Bill 64 that might allow for future exemptions that could undermine the overall purpose of the law. For CELA's submissions and joint statements made with a very broad coalition of health and environmental organizations, further details are available on-line.

For more information: Kathleen Cooper, 705-341-2488 (cell)

Announcement: CELA's Legal Team

CELA is delighted to announce that Joe Castrilli has joined CELA’s legal team as counsel on a permanent basis. Many of CELA’s clients and colleagues will be aware that Joe has been providing services for CELA on a contract basis over periods of the last two years. Joe brings a wealth of experience in environmental law and advocacy. He is a member of the Ontario and British Columbia Bars and is certified as a specialist in environmental law by the Law Society of Upper Canada.  He has taught environmental law courses and seminars at Queen's University, University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School at York University and at present is teaching the Bar Admission Course at Ryerson University. CELA welcomes Joe!

CELA is also very pleased to announce that Ramani Nadarajah has returned from her maternity leave. We are sure that Maya and Alan have been very happy to have her all to themselves, but we are glad they will now be sharing her with us as Ramani returns. Ramani has been counsel with CELA since 1994 and previously was a prosecutor with the Ontario Ministry of Environment. She is an editor of the Canadian Environmental Law Reports and has been a member of the Environmental Law Section Executive of the Ontario Bar Association for the past decade.  She has taught environmental law and land use planning at Ryerson University and was an instructor in public law at the Law Society of Upper Canada's Bar Admission Course for the past four years. Ms. Nadarajah received her LL.B (1989) from Osgoode Hall Law School and her LLM (2007).  Welcome back Ramani!