John Tidball is an experienced Environmental Law Specialist, certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada. He has special expertise in matters relating to regulatory compliance and approvals, waste management and contaminated property. He provides environmental law advice and counsel to a wide range of clients in the private and public sectors, where his understanding of government proves invaluable.
He represents clients in their dealings with government regulators, particularly the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and in proceedings before the Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal (formerly the Environmental Assessment Board and the Environmental Appeal Board) and the Ontario Municipal Board. He is knowledgeable in a number of technical areas, especially in relation to subsurface contamination, air pollution, water pollution and environmental remediation, and is frequently called upon to review consultants' reports. He is recognized as an authority on waste management law and policy.
John also advises buyers, sellers and lenders on the environmental aspects of a wide range of commercial and real estate transactions, particularly in relation to contaminated property.
Prior to entering private practice in 1988, John was legal counsel with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, where he assisted Ministry staff throughout Ontario on all aspects of environmental regulation.
Professional Achievements
· Leading Practitioners, Best Lawyers in Canada (2008), Environmental Law
· Leading Practitioner, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2010, Environmental Law
· Certified Specialist, Environmental Law, The Law Society of Upper Canada
Representative Work
· Counsel to Ontario Power Generation for the Joint Review Panel proceeding on the Darlington New Nuclear Project
· Counsel to a major automotive company on an application brought by a neighbour for leave to appeal the issuance of a certificate of approval for air emissions
· Counsel to several Ontario municipalities with respect to the acquisition of landfill contaminant attenuation lands
· Counsel to a major Canadian corporation with respect to the remediation and long-term management of a legacy contaminated industrial site in Toronto
· Counsel to a major environmental remediation contractor
· Counsel to several Ontario municipalities with respect to contaminated sites and brownfields funding
Community Involvement
· Member, Markham Theatre Advisory Board
Memberships
· Canadian Bar Association
· Ontario Waste Management Association
· Canadian Nuclear Law Organization
· International Nuclear Law Association
Presentations
· "Current Government Regulations Impacting EFW Projects", Canadian Institute Waste-Based Energy Conference (November 2009)
· "Energy and Waste in Ontario: The Current Regulatory Climate", Insight Conference (2008)
· "Legal Liability Update", Strategy Institute Conference on The Future of Urban Waterfronts (2008)
· "Recent Developments in Environmental Assessment Waste Management", Insight Conference (2005)
Publications
· "Legislative Initiatives to Modernize the Environmental Approvals Process", in Key Developments in Environmental Law 2009-10, Canada Law Book
· "Environmental Law", in Business Laws of Canada, West (a Thomson Reuters business), (2010)
· The Key to Environmental Compliance: How to Avoid Environmental Liability, Exercise Due Diligence and Keep Out of Jail (Toronto: Emond Montgomery, 1993) (with J.B. McMeekin and M.C. O'Donohue)
Industry Expertise
CleanTech
Areas of Focus
Waste Management
Environmental Approvals and Permits
Environmental Assessment
Contaminated Sites
Brownfield Re-development
Government Affairs
News
September 14, 2010, Toronto, Miller Thomson is proud to announce our leading practitioners as recognized in the Best Lawyers in Canada® 2011 edition
March 12, 2010, Toronto, Miller Thomson has authored "Business Laws of Canada" (2010 edition), published by West.
Events
January 30, 2012 - January 31, 2012, Toronto, John Tidball speaks at the Federated Press' 6th Environmental Deal-Breakers in Real Estate and Business Transactions Conference on the topic, "So You've Bought Dirty Property: Dealing with Liability and Tips for Redevelopment."
September 29, 2011, Munich, Germany, John Tidball speaks on current Canadian markets and incentives for solar energy development at Photovoltaik - Emerging Markets conference.
November 26, 2009, Toronto, Aaron Atcheson, Tony Crossman and John Tidball present a seminar on environmental and cleantech developments, in Toronto on November 26.
November 23, 2009 - November 24, 2009, Toronto, John Tidball speaks on "Highlighting Current Government Regulations Impacting EFW" at the Canadian Institute Conference on Waste-Based Energy in Toronto on November 23.
December 3, 2008 - December 4, 2008, Toronto, John Tidball will be speaking at the Waste-Based Energy conference in Toronto on Dec. 3rd, 2008
November 26, 2008, Kitchener-Waterloo, Miller Thomson is hosting a seminar on "Understanding Aboriginal & Environmental Issues in Project Development" on Nov. 26 in Waterloo
Publications
September 2011, MOE Proposing to Provide Guidance to Municipalities on the Regulation of Fill Sites, Municipal Services Newsletter
March 9, 2011, Toronto, Sale of a Business, 8th Edition, LexisNexis Canada
September 2010, Environmental Approvals Reform in Ontario, EnviroNotes!
Bill C-9 Changes Federal Environmental Assessment Regime, EnviroNotes!
Canada Plans New Emission Rules for Heavy Trucks, EnviroNotes!
January 1, 2010, Vancouver, Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Some Recent Developments in Canada, Canadian Consulting Engineer
January 1, 2010, Markham, Environmental Law, Business Laws of Canada, West (a Thomson Reuters business)
December 2009, Developments in Establishing a Cap and Trade System for Ontario, EnviroNotes!
Spring 2009, Staying Green in Troubled Times, EnviroNotes!
January 1, 2009, Markham, Legislative Initiatives to Modernize the Environmental Approvals Process, Key Developments in Environmental Law 2009-10, Canada Law Book
January 15, 2008, Toronto, Business Laws of Canada, West (a Thomson Reuters business), 2009
Spring 2007, Ontario's Waste Diversion Act, EnviroNotes!
November 2004, Land Disposal Restrictions Proposed in Ontario, EnviroNotes!
April 2004, MOE Orders, EnviroNotes!
April 21, 2003, Ontario Brownfields Regulation Proposed, EnviroNotes!
February 1, 2003, Toronto, Litigating claims concerning contaminated land
January 1, 2003, Markham, The Key to Environmental Compliance: How to Avoid Environmental Liability, Exercise Due Diligence and Keep Out of Jail, Toronto: Emond Montgomery
February 13, 2002, Ontario Makes Significant Changes to Hazardous Waste Management Regulation, EnviroNotes!