Connie Vitello

The Ontario government recently scrapped Toronto’s mandatory green roof bylaw—as part of Bill 60 Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025—citing reduced red tape for developers, but sparking significant backlash from environmentalists, city officials, and industry stakeholders who see it as a setback against climate change. There is widespread concern about job losses in the green sector and increased urban heat and flooding risks in a city that is already a tipping point.

Managing excess soil presents both challenges and opportunities. The main challenge is ensuring safe and beneficial reuse while minimizing negative environmental and social impacts, such as contamination, dust, and traffic congestion. Opportunities exist to reduce landfill use, promote resource recovery, and potentially save costs by finding appropriate reuse locations for the soil.Environment Journal‘s annual Excess Soils Symposium explores these issues and more.

The 2025 Brownie Awards is calling for nominations and the submission portal closes on Friday, September 5th! Dedicated to the rehabilitation and revitalization of sites that were once contaminated, under-utilized, and undeveloped, the Brownie Awards provide annual recognition of brownfield work in Canada. Renewed residential, commercial and park projects are proven to contribute to the growth and resilience of healthy cities and communities.