Lawyer Profile
Michael J. Fortier
Toronto, Ontario
Overview
Recognized for developing and implementing creative and pragmatic solutions, Michael advises and negotiates for clients on their most significant environmental law and Indigenous matters—from projects and transactions to regulatory matters to resolving disputes and other important impasses.
Michael often crafts a practical, successful resolution to disputes whether acting as counsel, mediator or facilitator. His dispute resolution practice includes approval hearings, civil litigation (especially with respect to contamination), mediation, negotiation and regulatory prosecutions and other proceedings, including with respect to the Environmental Protection Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, Pesticides Act, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, Fisheries Act and Nuclear Safety and Control Act.
As part of Michael’s active transactional practice, he regularly assists buyers, sellers, lenders, borrowers, underwriters and investors through all the environmental and Indigenous aspects of transactions, from the design and coordination of deal-specific liability assessments, through the negotiation of agreements and in handling closing and post-closing details.
For existing operations in a wide range of sectors, Michael provides regulatory advice on a broad range of environmental, health and safety issues, including with respect to environmental assessments and other vital permits, including for electricity generation and transmission, water, wastewater, transportation, waste, mine and remediation/closure projects inspections; investigations; liability assessments; climate change; contaminated sites; air, renewable energy, sewage and other approvals. He also advises on the transportation, import and export of dangerous goods, nuclear substances, hazardous products and wastes.
Torys is acting as counsel to Ontario Power Generation on all aspects of its project to develop, construct and operate the G7’s first on-grid small modular reactor (“SMR”) technology at the site of its Darlington New Nuclear Project, part of a pan-Canadian national approach to facilitate the development of SMR nuclear projects in Canada
RBC Capital Markets, CIBC Capital Markets, TD Securities, BMO Capital Markets, Scotia Capital and the syndicate of agents in RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust’s C$300 million private placement of 6.488% Series AI senior unsecured debentures—the first ever “3NC1” bond issued by a Canadian REIT
TD Securities, BMO Capital Markets, CIBC Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets, Scotia Capital and the syndicate of agents in RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust’s C$300 million private placement of 5.962% Series AH senior unsecured debentures
TD Securities, Scotia Capital, RBC Dominion Securities, CIBC and the syndicate of agents in Dream Industrial REIT’s C$200 million private placement of 3.968% senior unsecured debentures, Series E
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 2002 (ON)