On January 30th, media, First Nations groups, activists and one law student intern crowded into a hotel room on the outskirts of Edmonton for a press conference held by the Yinka Dene Alliance. Alberta and Northwest Territories First Nations signed on to the historic “Save the Fraser Declaration” to oppose the export of tar sands oil to tankers on the BC Coast. As a law student intern newly started at West Coast Environmental Law, I was very interested to watch First Nations asserting their decisions under Indigenous law.

The record level of public engagement shown in the recent BC government consultations on cosmetic pesticides (8,700 people) shows that democracy is alive and well in BC. Whether you were one of the thousands of people who made their views known in that consultation or not, why not raise your voice for the environment in one of the other public consultations that the government is carrying out?  Right now you can make your views known on the government's proposed, sweeping "Environmental Mitigation Policy" and/or on a program to fund energy efficiency retro-fits through the energy savings that they generate. 

What began as a smear campaign against West Coast Environmental Law and other environmental groups has crossed a line with oil industry advocates EthicalOil.org and Ezra Levant (author of the book Ethical Oil) taking aim at the thousands of ordinary Canadians who have registered to express their concerns about the proposed Northern Gateway Pipelines - attacking them as "foreigners".  The truth is that somewhere in the neighbourhood of 99% – of the registrants are Canadians – with a large proportion from northern cities and towns of British Columbia – from the very communities most directly affected by the proposed pipelines and tanker traffic.  We hope that the about  4,500 Canadians and (a handful of) non-Canadians will not allow themselves to be intimidated by Ethical Oil’s misinformation campaign.

A recent ad campaign linked to a top oil sands firm questions what drives the work of West Coast Environmental Law.  Back in the ‘70s when a broad citizens’ coalition brought to a halt a proposed oil pipeline to an oil port at Kitimat, BC West Coast lawyers were there to support them. Our belief remains strong today, as then, that our salmon-rich north Pacific coast and rivers should remain free from oil supertankers and the threat of oil spills.  This goal, like the other long-term strategic priorities of West Coast Environmental Law is set by our board and staff, informed by the deep connections we have forged over many decades with communities in every corner of the province. Without the generosity of our supporters, including dedicated individual sand foundations on both sides of the border, the work of our non-profit charity to protect the environment through law would not be possible. But we, not our funders, decide what issues we will focus on.

With French-language CBC reporting that Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent is meeting far more often with the oil and gas industry than with environmental organizations, we have 2 questions.  First, what does that mean for Canada's environmental laws and policies?  Second, where is the English-language media coverage on this issue?

December 1st marked a turning point in the effort to protect the Pacific coast and the watersheds that we all depend on from the threat of oil spills. For the first time, First Nations from the north coast, the south coast, and the Interior gathered together to declare, in solidarity, that tar sands pipeline and tanker projects are banned in their respective territories.  The massive First Nations opposition, combined with the overwhelming opposition from the rest of the population, means that it’s unlikely that Enbridge’s tankers will see the light of day, and that Kinder Morgan faces an uphill battle to expand the oil port in Vancouver.