by Jacquelyn Stevens Partner, Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP


Your meeting with your environmental lawyer


There are many reasons why you may need to seek the advice of an environmental lawyer. Perhaps you need advice on the sale of your dry cleaning business or your property. It might be a visit from an Environment and Climate Change Canada inspector or investigator; maybe you have been sued. Bringing appropriate documentation will make the meeting productive.


MAKE THE MOST OF IT Before you meet with your environmental lawyer for the first time, consider some basic questions and documents to bring with you. This is information that will help your environmental lawyer understand your case and advocate on your behalf.


INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRY CLEANING PROPERTY • Who owns the property? Bring documents about the owner- ship of your property, including any agreements of purchaser and sale.


• Is the property leased? Do you have tenants, or are you a tenant? Bring documents about any leases for the property.


• What insurance do you have? Bring a copy of any insurance policies, and current and former policies for the property.


INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRY CLEANING OPERATION • How long have you been operating? Were there previous oper- ators? Bring any documents about the dry cleaning operation.


• Do you own the business? Bring a copy of the corporate minute book.


• What chemicals are used on-site? Who supplies the chemicals? Bring any order forms, receipts and reporting documents for dry cleaning chemicals.


• How old is your machinery? Is it in good working order? Bring any documents about the type of equipment, and any repairs and maintenance completed.


• What is your training program like? Bring documents about your training program and who has received training, either by you or through programs offered by other organizations.


WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER’S OFFICE? • Is there a civil claim or a potential civil claim against you? Bring a copy of any demand letters or statements of claim.


• Have you been ordered by Environment and Climate Change Canada or your provincial Ministry of Environment? Bring a copy of the order and any correspondence with the regulator.


• Have you been charged by Environment and Climate Change Canada or your provincial Ministry of Environment? What is the charge? Do you have any evidence of due diligence? Bring a copy of the charging document and any correspondence with the regulator. Bring any document that demonstrates how you manage your day-to-day operations. Bring any photographs of your operations.


16 FABRICARE CANADA March/April 2018 Rocco Romeo


• Has there been a spill? Bring a copy of any environment- al reports, sampling results and other documentation that shows what happened, including photographs.


• Are you thinking of buy- ing or selling a dry cleaning property or dry cleaning business? Bring any corpo- rate documents, agreements of purchaser and sale and correspondence with the interested party.


Of course, your best pro- tection is to consult with an environmental lawyer before you actually need one. Your environmental lawyer will help you be proactive and ensure that you are in compliance with the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Report- ing Requirements) Regulations pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, including the required annual reporting and handling of waste products. Your envi- ronmental lawyer will also help you investigate your property and your operations to deter-


PEOPLE Congrats


THE HEALTHCARE LAUNDRY ASSO- CIATION COUNCIL has elected ROCCO ROMEO to its board. He served as president in 2012- 2013.


COLMAC INDUSTRIES has promoted JUSTIN SHAMION to the position of President.


mine any potential civil and regulatory liabilities, and pro- vide guidance to prepare for purchase or sale.


Whether you’re preventing a legal issue, or responding to one, your environmental law- yer will help you to put your best foot forward and navigate the steps to a resolution. n


Prepared with the assistance of Joanna Vince, Senior Associate, and Erin Garbett, Student-at-Law, Willms & Shier Environmental Law- yers LLP. For more information or to set up an appointment, please con- tact Jacquie by telephone at 416- 862-4828 or by email at jstevens@ willmsshier.com.


Justin Shamion


If your company has promoted individuals to key positions, let us know. becca@fabricarecanada.com.


Obituary Bill Keenan


Bill Keenan, popular sales representative for LAC-MAC and industry speaker, passed away on January 10 at the age of 74. He is survived by his wife Ruth Ann, two daugh- ters, two sons and eight grandchildren.


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