Chris Merrick’s Post

I see that The Sun, our Premier and the talking heads at EnergyNow are saying that Oil and Gas are being muzzled! Here is a summary. There is zero mention of oil and gas companies, so our Premier, The Sun and EnergyNow, simply say that Oil and Gas want the leeway to lie without repercussions. I think the oil and gas companies will be fine with this Bill. https://lnkd.in/gAqMyKgu Excerpt... Representations of a product’s benefits for the environment If someone engages in “reviewable conduct” as defined in the Competition Act, then the Commissioner of Competition can apply to the Competition Tribunal, the Federal Court and/or the superior court of a province, for a binding civil order to address that conduct. The order can include prohibitions on taking certain actions, requirements to take certain actions, or an administrative monetary penalty, depending on the circumstances. The amendments would add, to the existing section dealing with representations to the public, a new form of reviewable conduct: a statement, warranty or guarantee of a product’s benefits for protecting the environment or mitigating the environmental and ecological effect of climate change that is not based on an adequate and proper test. This amendment has the potential to engage the freedom of expression under section 2(b) of the Charter, because it would allow for legally binding orders on persons, as a consequence for making certain kinds of statements to the public about a product. Section 2(b) includes protection for advertising and other expression that is done for commercial purposes. The following considerations support the consistency of this amendment with the Charter. Commercial expression that has the potential to mislead the public has a lower value compared to other forms of protected expression, because it has a weaker link to the core values of the right. The proposed amendment would seek to protect consumers, competitors, and the proper functioning of the market, against the harms of untested representations about a product’s benefits for protecting the environment or mitigating the effects of climate change. Requiring persons to adequately test their environmental claims improves the functioning of the market by improving the reliability of information provided to consumers and preventing persons from relying on untested claims to gain a market advantage. The amendment would not impose a requirement that testing prove the representation with absolute certainty. Instead, it requires “adequate and proper” testing of the claim. Furthermore, the amendment would not establish a criminal offence: if a person is found to have engaged in reviewable conduct for the purpose of this amendment, only civil or administrative proceedings would be available.

ICYMI: Illinois Chamber weighs in on proposed natural gas use tax in City of Decatur, IL. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce joined fellow business associations including the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce, and several member companies in reaching out to Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and the Decatur City Council with a letter objecting to a last-minute energy tax on natural gas that was proposed and attempted to pass without ample business input. The result was that the Decatur City Council voted 5-2 to delay a vote so that they could notify companies of the imposing tax on their gas bills. While the issue has been tabled (for now), it is important for businesses in Decatur to call their city council members and request that they vote "NO". The letter that was sent: https://lnkd.in/gzeq_8iP News Coverage: https://lnkd.in/gPfQt72R. #DecaturIL #NaturalGasTax #ILChamber #Advocacy

The Government's legislation to reform the planning system is scheduled for a final vote by TDs tonight. Key changes include renaming An Bord Pleanála to An Coimisiún Pleanála and introducing a revamped process for judicial reviews. At over 900 pages, the bill is a crucial element of the Government's strategy to address the housing crisis. It also sets out clear requirements for groups, such as residents' associations, to take judicial reviews. These groups must have a formal constitution and conduct a vote before proceeding with a review. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the costs involved in taking a judicial review must be disclosed in advance. A significant shift is that local authorities will now be required to draft ten-year development plans, replacing the current six-year cycle. #planning #planningforthefuture https://lnkd.in/eCbrp9Yj

Under the new proposal, Oyedele explained, the funds allocated to states and local governments would come with a clause stipulating that 60% of their share would be based on the principle of derivation—meaning states that generate more resources would receive a larger portion of the allocation. For example, if ₦100 is available for distribution from FAAC, the Federal Government would receive ₦10, the 36 states would equally share ₦36, and ₦54 would be allocated based on derivation, giving resource-rich states a significant advantage. www.oblongmedia.net #oblongmedia

The previous government hit the jackpot: Labour was the first party in the MMP era to have enough votes to run an FPP style single-party regime. They failed to optimise the opportunity of governing without the constraints and complications of coalition relations. The current government have awarded themselves the jackpot: they have declared that their coalition agreement trumps all other constitutional and democratic constraints. So far, though, their work is focused on undoing rather than doing. It's a strange politic of anguish and despair. By which I mean, if every government from now on comes in, declares their coalition to be supra-constitutional in nature, and focuses on undoing and pulling apart previous government positions and policies, or more generally, historic and properly made law and embedded practice, what kind of backwards, fearful, divided, and not to mention wasteful, nation will we be. Likewise, when a party is voted in on such a wave that no coalition is needed, then all campaign promises must be delivered and more - we must expect more of a party in this position. In fact we must expect more of parties in both positions. I don't no for sure, but deep in my constitutional imaginary I can find an idea that once a upon a time, the policy agenda of parties vying for election was about their own convictions and ideas. It seems today the key conviction is to keep the other from power, and to undo what they have done. It's a deeply self interested state of mind that discards that old idea of government governing for the benefit of the nation. https://lnkd.in/gs5CdBd9

After Chevron: Political Economy and the Future of the Administrative State LPE Project 2024-07-23 https://buff.ly/3Ya7OE9 The Supreme Court’s recent administrative law decisions represent a fundamental shift in both political and economic power. In response, we must not settle for simply restoring the status quo ante. Instead, the task for an LPE approach to the administrative state requires answering a more foundational question: what would effective, equitable, and democratic governance look like?

Immediate ban on new drilling in North Sea! This is so important to see. Thanks for posting Dale Vince. It's critical we shift to a clean energy economy as fast as possible. Each delay is putting lives at risk through global warming. Not sure how you can help? Check out our Climate Champion course designed for busy people to have maximum positive impact: https://lnkd.in/dzmBrKzK

The TaxProf: Taxation, Citizenship And Democracy In The 21st Century: Yvette Lind (BI Norwegian Business School; Google Scholar) & Reuven S. Avi-Yonah (Michigan; Google Scholar), Taxation, Citizenship and Democracy in the 21st Century (Edward Elgar Publishing 2024): Proposing innovative ideas on the links between taxation, citizenship and democracy, this multidisciplinary book contributes to ongoing research and scholarship by emphasizing the... http://dlvr.it/TBgpqD @SoCalTaxProf #Tax #Policy #Law

Attention Self-Employed Professionals! Important Tax Update: Basis Period Reform Staying compliant with tax regulations is crucial for any business owner or freelancer. A recent change called "basis period reform" could impact how you report your income. In this informative video, Nick Park, Partner at Green & Co, explains everything you need to know about basis period reform and its implications. Watch now to ensure your business is prepared for the upcoming tax season! #BasisPeriodReform #GreenAndCo #TaxPlanning https://lnkd.in/e_nZsZ_s

The Supreme Court, in an 8:1 majority decision, ruled that states have the authority to levy taxes on mineral rights, independent of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud authored the majority opinion, while Justice BV Nagarathna dissented. Key points of the judgment are: - Royalties: Classified as contractual payments, not taxes. - States' Taxing Power: States can levy taxes on mineral rights without limitations from the MMDR Act. - Regulatory vs. Taxing Entries: Entry 54 of List I is regulatory, not a taxing provision. - Land Definition: "Land" in Entry 49 of List II includes mineral-bearing lands, allowing states to tax them. - Dissenting Opinion: Justice Nagarathna viewed royalties as taxes, warned against double taxation, and emphasized the need for national uniformity. The Court will decide next week if the judgment will apply prospectively. The decision clarifies states' taxing powers under constitutional entries and distinguishes between regulatory and taxing authorities. #SupremeCourt #MineralRights #Taxation #MMDRAct #IndianLaw #LegalJudgment #ChiefJusticeChandrachud #JusticeNagarathna #TaxLaw #RegulatoryLaw #StateTaxation #LegalUpdate