Media Releases

 

Environmental lawyers available to comment on Canada’s long-awaited cap on oil and gas sector emissions

Topics: Climate and Energy, Climate Solutions

Lawyers with the West Coast Environmental Law Association expressed shock yesterday after an announcement suggesting that the BC NDP would end its consumer carbon price if the federal government drops its requirement for the law.

Topics: Climate and Energy, Climate Solutions

Jasper is the latest in a growing number of towns, cities and First Nations communities in Canada that have been destroyed by wildfires in recent years

Topics: Climate and Energy, Climate Solutions

Unceded, traditional, and ancestral Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories / Vancouver, BC – BC is joining other coastal regions in North America with the release of its first and much-needed

Topics: Marine Protection, BC Coastal Strategy

The biodiversity crisis demands immediate action, environmental advocates say

Topics: Strong Environmental Laws, Canada's Environmental Reviews

Legal analysis highlights current shortcomings and recommendations for strengthening national policy

Topics: Strong Environmental Laws, Marine Protection

Port Moody, BC – Port Moody City Council released a public statement yesterday announcing its commitment to work with other BC local governments to

Topics: Climate and Energy, Sue Big Oil

Burnaby, BC / Unceded Coast Salish Territories – Yesterday evening, Burnaby City Council voted 8-1 to support a class action lawsuit brought by BC local governments against the world’s largest fossil fuel companies.

Topics: Climate and Energy, Sue Big Oil

Canada urgently needs a national strategy and accountability mechanisms to assess, prevent and address environmental racism and advance environmental justice, as proposed by Bill C-226. We call on the Senate to prioritize and expedite the final vote on Bill C-226 as soon as possible. Canada must confront the impacts of environmental racism and advance environmental justice.

Topics: Strong Environmental Laws

Environmental and public interest groups are expressing frustration over proposed amendments to the Impact Assessment Act introduced in the Budget Implementation Act.

Topics: Strong Environmental Laws, Environmental Assessment, Climate and Energy

The Lower Fraser Floodplains Coalition congratulates BC on the release of the BC Flood Strategy. The unique “sharing the pen” approach with eight Nations from major watersheds, including the Lower Fraser, was a good step towards reconciliation in action. While there is a lot to be encouraged by in the language and intentions of the Strategy, the Coalition is left with unanswered questions about dedicated funding and an Implementation Plan.

Topics: Green Communities, Coastal Communities, Green Infrastructure

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER

Today, lawyers at West Coast Environmental Law are celebrating Canada’s signing of the High Seas Treaty on the one-year anniversary of the agreement.

Topics: Healthy Waters, Marine Protection

Slocan, BC – On Monday evening, Slocan Council voted 5-0 to work with other local governments towards a class action lawsuit against global fossil fuel companies for a share of the costs of climate change, and to pledge $1 per resident for that purpose once other local governments come on board.

Topics: Climate and Energy, Sue Big Oil

Saanich, BC (Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ Territories) – In response to last night’s unanimous vote by Saanich Council to direct staff to explore collaboration with other local governments to bring a class action lawsuit against global fossil fuel companies, Andrew Gage, Staff Lawyer, stated:

Topics: Climate and Energy, Sue Big Oil

Qualicum Beach, BC – The Township of Qualicum Beach Council voted yesterday, 4-1, to commit to work with other local governments to bring a class action lawsuit against global fossil fuel companies to recover a fair share of the township’s climate costs.

Topics: Sue Big Oil

Lawyers highlight need for urgency & increased ambition in forthcoming regulations

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER 

Topics: Strong Environmental Laws, Climate and Energy

Environmental groups call on the BC government to deliver on its long-delayed promise to establish a public participation funding program for environmental assessments

Topics: Strong Environmental Laws, Environmental Assessment

Biodiversity & ecosystem health to be legally established as ‘overarching priorities’ for all sectors 

Topics: Strong Environmental Laws, Lands & Forests, Fish & Wildlife, Healthy Waters

Squamish, BC, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw – The District of Squamish will be the third BC local government to support a class action lawsuit against fossil fuel companies after Council, sitting as Committee of the Whole, voted 5-2 to set aside funds in the 2025 budget for this purpose. 

Topics: Climate and Energy, Sue Big Oil

Majority of Canadians want oil companies to pay for the project; only 18% say the government is heading in the right direction

Topics: Climate and Energy, Tar Sands, Pipelines & Tankers

OTTAWA | TRADITIONAL, UNCEDED TERRITORY OF THE ALGONQUIN ANISHNAABEG PEOPLE – With six weeks to go until the UN Climate Change Conference COP28, a coalition of leaders of

Topics: Strong Environmental Laws

“This is not the win Alberta was hoping for,” say environmental lawyers

Topics: Strong Environmental Laws, Environmental Assessment

Decision expected this Friday in Supreme Court of Canada reference case

Topics: Strong Environmental Laws, Environmental Assessment

Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh Territories/VANCOUVER – A new study released today by World Weather Attribution (WWA) confir

Topics: Climate and Energy, Sue Big Oil

Mandatory measures are welcome, but more action needed to close loopholes and address scrubber washwater

Topics: Marine Protection, Great Bear Sea