M & E Legal Services Inc.
Established in 1996, M & E Legal Services Inc. ('MELSI') is the 'boutique style' (i.e., small and specialized), sole law practice of Peter A. McInroy, LL.B. Computer technology and software provide the back-up support often provided in the form of staff at other law firms. Research by way of caselaw databases provides more complete and faster results for the client than does the traditional use of articled clerks or paralegals. Lower overheads translate to client benefits in the form of lower fees.
MELSI represents certain Nova Scotia municipal units - outside of Metro Halifax- on a regular basis and has represented other municipal units, private sector clients and residents groups in a variety of municipal law or environmental law matters over the past two (2) decades.
Areas of special expertise include:
drafting and enforcement of land use legislation and bylaws; drafting of all local government bylaws - including land subdivision; all regulatory and enforcement aspects of the garbage (solid waste) stream; all regulatory and enforcement aspects of the sewage waste stream, including control at source; institutional audit, review and recommendations for proper monitoring and enforcement; and integrated resource management advice - land use, solid waste, conservation areas.
Unusual challenges are of special interest to MELSI and Peter A. McInroy. International work started with the contracting by C.I.D.A. in 1990 to assist Indonesia - onsite in Jakarta - in the drafting of that country's first Planning Act, with a particular emphasis on environmental sensitivity. That was followed in 1994 by the concept development, securing of funding and completion - in consort with a consulting engineering firm - of a project to study the possible use of Economic Instruments to control the quality (toxins, chemicals) as well as quantity of sewage discharge at source of the former Town of Bedford, N.S. as a pilot community.
MELSI has formed strategic alliances with selected expertise from the consulting engineers, community planners and scientific community in the Halifax area. As well, related legal specialties are available by a simple phone call or fax due to the wide network of legal contacts - both Provincial and National - that Mr. McInroy has built up throughout his career. These connections allow MELSI to respond to a wide variety of legally-related environmental or municipal projects.
Company Details
Company Information
Peter A. Mcinroy
Title:
Manager
Telephone:
(902) 835-9811
Fax:
(902) 835-7660
Email:
Click Here
Products
Environmental Products And Services
The Development And Application Of A Variety Of Land Use Mechanisms.
Management of residential growth is of concern to local governments for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are the costs associated with such growth. These costs are created by the demand for more services - both 'hard' (upgrading of sanitary & storm sewers, expansion of sewage treatment plant) and 'soft' ( more schools, libraries, police, recreation). As well, environmental concerns must always be considered during residential growth.
M.E.L.S.I./Peter A. McInroy has assisted local governments in the development and application of a variety of Land Use mechanisms in managing residential growth, especially costs associated with environmental factors. Examples of these Land Use mechanisms are Comprehensive Development Zones combined with the Development Agreement process, Holding Zones, and other similar cautious land use approaches.
In addition, M.E.L.S.I./Peter A. McInroy has co-authored a study - jointly funded by Environment Canada and the Nova Scotia Dept. of Environment - to evaluate certain Economic Instruments as a method of residential growth management.
Control/Regulation Of The Quantity Of Sewage Entering The System.
Increased community growth seems to, inevitably, lead to the requirement to expand services, such as sewage treatment plants. This creates financial concerns and constraints on local government. However, financial constraints associated with sewage treatment facility expansion can be minimized by controlling the amount of sewage entering the system.
M.E.L.S.I./Peter A. McInroy - in partnership with consulting engineers - has been instrumental in assisting local governments to avoid the costly expansion of their sewage treatment plant by the control/regulation of the quantity of sewage entering the system. These initiatives have the added benefit of achieving goals of water conservation.
Services Of Lawyers Experienced In The Environmental Field.
A Planning Act can be a daunting endeavour for countries at all levels of development, but especially so for developing countries. Foreign entrepreneurs will submit a country's Planning Act to close scrutiny before deciding to invest in that country's industry. Emerging economies, therefore, require the expertise of experienced lawyers from the developed countries in order to draft legislation in order to draft planning legislation that is enforceable while also accomplishing the desired goals of organized and sustainable investment and development. In today's Global Village, environmental concerns should be a large component of any Planning Act.
In 1990, M.E.L.S.I./Peter A. McInroy, acting as a C.I.D.A. advisor, drafted an entire Planning Act for the Country of Indonesia. The client wished the legislation to also have an environmental sensitivity which was an advanced perspective over what had been the practice, to that time, in Canada. Challenges resulted from different cultural as well as institutional traditions and realities but the process was a success in the end.
Development Of Bylaws Using A Consultative Approach Between Industry And Government.
Before a treatment system is put in place, industries, commercial enterprises and institutions often take the most economical route of chemical and waste disposal, which is to dump everything into the sewers. A local government which plans to construct a Sewage Treatment Facility will encounter the challenge of converting these ICI users from polluters to environmentally-conscious corporate citizens.
M.E.L.S.I./Peter A. McInroy has developed sophisticated bylaws to achieve this goal. These bylaws are combined with industry input so as to strike a consultative approach between industry and local government. This helps to ensure achievement of the common goal of reduction of chemicals and toxins in the sewage wastestream.
Services