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Legislation Introduced to Ban Oil Tanker Traffic from the Great Bear Rainforest’s Coastal Waters West Coast applauds legislation recently introduced in Parliament that will protect the province’s North Central Coast from the threats associated with crude oil tanker traffic.
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How to better Fund the Innovative Clean Energy Fund. ee our op/ed about BC’s “Innovative Clean Energy Fund”, which is designed to support new technologies in BC and is a key plank in the government’s global warming mitigation platform. The op/ed discusses how we could look to the hugely profitable oil and gas industry to better finance the fund and ensure its long-term viability.
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West Coast funds constitutional challenge of fish farms. A coalition of farm activists, fishermen and tourism operators file a constitutional challenge of B.C.'S fish farming practices, the first challenge of its kind. Read more [more] |
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The BC Government's new global warming legislation, which is aimed at
vehicle fuel content and fuel efficiency, will be undermined by its
decision to push ahead with the twinning of the Port Mann bridge,
cautions West Coast Environmental Law. [more] |
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West Coast has been working for a legislated oil tanker moratorium on BC’s central and north coast for several years. Recently, Canadian icon, Robert Bateman, spoke out on this issue in a powerful video. [Watch the video] |
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West Coast supports the proposed B.C. carbon tax. West Coast, along with several other environmental
organizations, support the B.C. Government's proposed introduction of a carbon
tax. [more] |
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Youth conference in Northwest B.C. helps to educate youth
about global warming and the environmental impact of tar sands and oil
tanker traffic. [more] |
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Budget 2008 Meets Key Tests on Climate
Commitments. Major BC environmental
groups today welcomed the 2008 budget that will put BC firmly on the path to
achieve bold commitments set out in the 2007 Throne Speech. Of the key areas in
which environmentalists were looking for clear action, three were
given strong grades. The remaining climate-related area – cross-budget
consistency – remains a concern, with ongoing subsidies to the carbon-emitting
oil and gas sector and massive capital investments in new highways. Also of
concern is the lack of new funds for biodiversity preservation and management.
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West Coast Environmental Law is the grateful recipient of a $25,000 grant from the Vancouver Foundation, to support
West Coast's efforts to provide timely and strategic information to coastal communities which stand to be impacted by proposed oil tanker traffic off BC's north coast.
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West Coast Environmental Law works with Squamish to implement Smart Growth on the Ground. Squamish approves use of new Smart Growth Evaluation Framework in its development application process.
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West Coast Environmental Law is in the news. See
our
Vancouver Sun editorial where we urge British Columbians to have a frank discussion about how to cut our greenhouse gases.
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The impending privatization of BCE means that
shareholders will be forced to sell their BCE stock, and those
sales will be subject to capital gains tax. You may wish to consider donating those
shares to West Coast Environmental Law, and realize a
considerable capital gains tax savings and a charitable tax
receipt...
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A new report by West Coast Environmental Law reveals the drastic decline in enforcement of BC’s environmental laws.
No Response, a review of the BC Ministry of Environment’s enforcement actions, demonstrates that between 1995 and 2005, enforcement actions taken by the Conservation Officer Service (COS) plummeted by more than half. The report is based on data from the COS as well as interviews with Ministry staff.
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Unprecedented Health Act order blocks logging on Sunshine Coast. In a historic move for local
governments, the Sunshine Coast Regional District has become the first local government in BC to restrict logging under a
Health Act provision. We are delighted to have been able to help the people of the Sunshine Coast achieve this major victory.
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West Coast Environmental Law questions plans
to build an LNG terminal on Texada Island. Westpac LNG
Corporation's proposal, announced today, would require LNG
tankers to navigate through heavily used waters and past
populated areas. .
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BC Wildlife Act review puts teenage hunters ahead of Wildlife Protection.
The BC government is currently considering the first major overhaul to the BC Wildlife Act in twenty-five years. The review of the Wildlife Act, which regulates both the hunting and protection of wildlife, which the public was able to comment on until June 30th, is remarkable in that it makes no specific recommendations about protecting wildlife habitat, and endangered species, but makes four recommendations aimed at making it easier for teenagers to take up hunting for the first time.
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Pesticides and the Law: New Tool Available to the Public.
Triggered by increasing public concern over the hazards of pesticides and recent changes in the laws controlling their use, West Coast Environmental Law has just released
A Citizen's Guide to Pesticide Use and the Law in BC.
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Local governments leading the way to "green design" in BC.
Municipal and regional governments are leading the change toward environmentally-friendly community planning and design, according to a new report by West Coast Environmental Law.
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Canada risks
further international embarrassment on global warming.
West Coast Environmental Law is calling on Canada to meet, at a
minimum, the European Union's recent standards with clear
targets backed by strong legislation.
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Lawyers say
BC emissions targets need force of law.
In a letter to the Premier sent today, a trio of BC
environmental law organizations urge the provincial government
to give its emissions reductions targets the force of law.
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West Coast Environmental Law is the recipient of a $20,000 Capacity Grant from Vancity. Vancity's
support will enable us to undertake some needed capacity
building to diversify West Coast's revenue, helping to ensure
long-term financial stability for our critical work.
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West Coast wants to reach out to
local governments to help them make decisions that will result
in more green buildings in communities around BC. To
this end, West Coast has published the
Green Buildings Guide
(PDF 990 Kb), which provides a central resource to the suite of regulatory and
policy tools currently available to BC local governments to support
and promote green building design and practices.
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West Coast provides municipalities
with tools to deal with air pollution. The
Clean Air Bylaws
Guide [PDF 3Mb] illustrates the extent of local bylaw powers, and
demonstrates how bylaws can supplement the provincial
legislation, promoting best practices and model clean air
bylaws. |
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West Coast helps
local governments take a proactive approach to address the risks
of coal bed methane projects in their communities.
Coal Bed Methane: A Local
Government Guide [PDF 900 Kb] looks at the negative
impacts of coal bed methane in the US and Alberta and advises
regional districts and municipalities on the legal tools that
are available to them to minimize the adverse consequences of
coal bed methane development in their areas.
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Despite 34-year
Old Tanker Moratorium, Tankers Dock in Kitimat after Passing
Through BC's Inside Passage. Oil tankers are being allowed
to secretly enter BC's fragile inside waters despite widespread
public opposition and a 34-year old federal moratorium on
offshore oil and gas activities, which includes oil tanker
traffic.
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