CLE Online

Welcome and Introduction

Liability Regime 

• responsibility for contaminated lands
• the real driver: development approvals and financing
• allocation of responsibility
• defences
• notice of actual or likely offsite migration
• Adminstrative Guidance 11

Una Radoja — Harper Grey LLP, Vancouver

Getting a Grounding in Groundwater 

• regulatory standards
• regulatory instruments — the Certificate Compliance process
• historical uses
• groundwater, soil, and vapour contamination (case studies)

Andrea C. Akelaitis — Letcher Akelaitis LLP, Vancouver
Dr. James G. Malick — SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., Vancouver
Guy Patrick — Patrick Consulting Inc., Ganges

Break

Making a Cost Recovery Claim 

• pleadings
• proof issues
• what is recoverable?
• limitations

Tony Crossman — Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Vancouver

Cost Recovery Expert Evidence 

• purpose of the evidence
• necessary assumptions
• cross examination
• "dual purpose" experts

Nicholas R. Hughes — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver

Networking Lunch with Special Panel
Contaminated Sites Issues in Other Provinces: Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec

Moderator: Leonard J. Griffiths — Bennett Jones LLP, Toronto
Ron Kruhlak, QC — McLennan Ross LLP, Edmonton
Jean Piette — Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Quebec City
Sarah V. Powell — Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, Toronto
John Stefaniuk — Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP, Winnipeg

Drafting the Deal: Words Matter 

• theory of the deal
• environmental due diligence
• indemnities and covenants not to sue
• remediation agreements
• drafting tips

R. Max D. Collett — Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Vancouver
Sarah V. Powell — Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Toronto 

A Parallel Process — The Environmental Appeal Board 

• what is an appealable decision and what is the time limit for appeal?
• how the appeal process works
• stays
• document motions
• strategies for success

Gary Letcher — Letcher Akelaitis LLP, Vancouver

Break

Resolution Strategies 

• why environmental mediation works
• how to best advance your position in an environmental mediation
• one more thing:
  • once the money terms are settled, there still remains papering the deal to address potential long tail liability

Paul Cassidy — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver

Tips and Traps: Concluding Expert Panel

Drawing on decades of experience in contaminated sites, our concluding panel will offer insights and observations on how to effectively and efficiently manage contaminated site remediation and cost recovery litigation

• how to stay on budget and on time
• traps and how to avoid them

Daniel R. Bennett, QC — Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Vancouver
Paul Cassidy — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver 
Dr. James G. Malick — SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., Vancouver
Guy Patrick — Patrick Consulting Inc., Ganges