Associations

The Canadian government is moving ahead with new rules it says will speed up approvals for exploratory oil and gas drilling off the east coast of Newfoundland, but conservation groups are warning the changes undermine environmental protections.Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan issued a statement last week saying the new regulation will improve the efficiency of assessments while upholding the “highest standards'' of environmental protection.“Our government recognizes that Newfoundland and Labrador's ability to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic will depend largely on a strong, resilient and innovative offshore,'' O'Regan said.Three environmental groups have launched a federal court challenge, arguing exploratory drilling off Newfoundland will now be green-lit without proper environmental assessments.The Ecology Action Centre, Sierra Club Canada Foundation and World Wildlife Fund Canada argued earlier this month that the science behind the new “regional assessment'' or RA process is flawed.Lawyer James Gunvaldsen-Klaassen, whose firm Ecojustice is representing the groups, argued that the regulation “flies in the face'' of the purpose of environmental scrutiny under the new Impact Assessment Act.The court later decided the case can proceed to a judicial review, but denied the group's request for an injunction.“The federal government stated that it intended to use the flawed RA and a loophole in the ...

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These are challenging times and to a large extent, previous models and economic expectations will have to be revised as our society muscles through this public health crisis.

Nova Scotia has approved a new regulatory cap on e-liquids and cigarettes making it the first province to adopt a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 milligrams per millilitre.An order in council signed in May amends the province's Tobacco Access Act regulations and takes effect Sept.

The majority of Canadian consumers believe the convenience industry has stepped up to support communities and front-line workers during the COVID-19 crisis, according to a new survey from the Convenience Industry Council of Canada.

Convenience Industry Council of Canada president and CEO Anne Kothawala joins Tony Chapman on his Chatter that Matters podcast to discuss the essential role of convenience during COVID-19.

With stay-at-home measures in place across the country, c-stores are experiencing an unprecedented spike in tobacco sales, in part because First Nations reserves (and their popular smoke shacks) are largely closed to outside visitors Dave Bryans, CEO of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association, estimates that the legal tobacco business is on track to grow by 20-25% while the reserves stay closed and he'd like to see c-stores to hold on to that business once the restrictions are lifted.

The 23rd World Petroleum Organizing Committee is moving ahead with plans to host the event in Texas at the end of the year.