Lexpert Special Editions

Special Edition on Infrastructure -Sept 2015

The Lexpert Special Editions profiles selected Lexpert-ranked lawyers whose focus is in Corporate, Infrastructure, Energy and Litigation law and relevant practices. It also includes feature articles on legal aspects of Canadian business issues.

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McIver, Colin J. Dentons Canada LLP (604) 443-7128 colin.mciver@dentons.com Mr. McIver advises on structuring P3s and infra- structure projects, and on related real property and project development processes. He counsels both authorities and proponents. His P3 mandates include transport, accommoda- tion and energy projects. McLellan, Bradley N. WeirFoulds LLP (416) 947-5017 bmclellan@weirfoulds.com Mr. McLellan acts for clients in the planning and de- velopment of various infra- structure projects. He has provided project structuring and property acquisition advice to York Region in its award-winning VIVA rapid transit project since 2002. Merrick, Jeffrey Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (604) 631-3386 jeff.merrick@blakes.com Mr. Merrick's real estate, business law and project fi- nancing practice emphasizes investment real estate and financing, and developing P3s and AFP infrastructure projects. His clients include developers, pension funds and private-equity funds. McKenzie, Maria K. Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP (604) 661-9319 mmckenzie@farris.com Ms. McKenzie advises the public and private sectors on P3s and other infrastructure and construction projects. She also advises on financing for lenders and borrowers, commercial property trans- actions and reorganizations. Ménard, Yves J. Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (613) 787-3518 ymenard@blg.com Mr. Ménard is the Business Law Leader in the firm's Ottawa office. He focuses on real estate, construction and procurement law, with emphasis on real estate financing, construction contracts, procurement and business acquisition. Messinger, Stephen J. Minden Gross LLP (416) 369-4147 smessinger@mindengross.com Mr. Messinger focuses on commercial development and leasing. He acts for develop- ers, property managers, trust companies, pension funds and retail chains. A frequent lecturer, he is recognized as a most frequently recom- mended leasing lawyer. ENERGY REGULATION | 25 ously established in common law and now made explicit in the ESSA and PSA. Smith says the enunciation of a non-use value is "new, for sure" and "something to watch" for its impacts on infrastructure projects. But it's only actionable by fed- eral and provincial governments, thereby excluding suits by municipalities, environ- mental groups and Aboriginal organiza- tions who have been the prime movers of legal actions against pipeline projects. "It's going to be kind of a policy issue for the government that [first] triggers it," he says. "It's not clear what the government would seek as a result." He concedes the new provision could be used to seek puni- tive damages, in addition to cleanup costs, but he adds, "I would hope that it would be more constructive than that." Rather than seeking massive payments for long-term now personally accountable for the accu- racy of financial statements. Bill C-46, the Pipeline Safety Act (PSA), which received Royal Assent June 18, increases absolute li- ability for spills from major pipelines from $30 million to at least $1 billion, and em- powers the NEB to specify higher amounts where it sees fit. e bill also requires com- panies to maintain financial instruments sufficient to meet such charges. It makes explicit the established common-law prin- ciple of polluter-pay, by formally declaring there is no limit on liability where a compa- ny is at fault for leaks or spills. It recognizes the non-use value of land and water for the first time in Canadian law, and enables Ab- original governments to bill for all reason- ably incurred expenses of spill cleanups on their land and waters. e Energy Safety and Security Act (which received royal as- sent in Feb. 20, 2015) includes the same provisions of absolute liability, unlimited liability and non-use value of land in the cases of nuclear facilities, offshore pipelines and oil platforms. While the $1-billion absolute-liability provision has attracted the most media coverage, experts say the recognition of the non-use value of land is far more important for infrastructure developers and owners because it greatly extends the range of dam- ages covered by the polluter-pay rule previ-

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