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Earth Day Canada is pleased to recognize David Donnelly with the 2008 Hometown Heroes Award. David serves as Legal Counsel to Canada’s leading non-profit and charitable organizations. Clients of Donnelly Barrister and Solicitor include Environmental Defence, the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance, and the Green Gravel Coalition.
Canada’s Hometown Hero has led the fight to stop urban sprawl surrounding Lake Simcoe, which threatens the health of the watershed. Representing a number of citizen groups from the surrounding areas, David recognized the importance of having legislation in place to protect the entire Lake Simcoe watershed. The Lake Simcoe Protection Act, submitted in June of 2006, has now reached near consensus and has given the surrounding communities of Lake Simcoe a voice in protecting their watershed.
David has represented public interest groups in some of Ontario's key environmental cases, including:
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- Oak Ridges Moraine OMB hearing in Richmond Hill
- Big Bay Point OMB mega-marina hearing
- Walkerton Commission of Inquiry
- 1.8 million acre Greenbelt Plan for Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe
In the spring of 2007 David represented the Innisfil District Association. The campaign opposes the development of a proposed 2,000 unit resort, championship golf course and 1,000 slip marina. As a counter measure, David has been targeted for an unprecedented $3.6 million adverse costs award and is the cornerstone of a new campaign to end Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation in Ontario.
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David has been an advisor to government on law and planning reform, including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights, and is a frequent media commentator. He goes to court regularly to protect green space, aboriginal cultural heritage, and to prosecute environmental offences.
Article URL: http://www.earthday.ca/hometown/finalists/2008/david_donnelly.php