Today is July 1st, the first Canada Day since a barrage of economic threats and tariffs from our southern neighbour. A surge of patriotism has people buying Canadian and eschewing US vacations this summer, yet in an Orwellian twist we are also being told that new fossil fuel megaprojects to fast-track the export of our natural resources are a pathway to greater self-determination.

Both federal and provincial governments have rammed through bills aimed at fast-tracking projects: Canada's Bill C-5, Building Canada Act, BC’s Bill 14 (Renewable Energy Projects Act) and Bill 15 (Infrastructure Projects Act), and Ontario’s Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025. All do the same thing – allow the erosion or complete bypassing of environmental laws in the name of getting shovels in the ground, no matter the cost. (You can read our analysis of these developments here, here and here.)

The upheavals and uncertainty Canadians are facing are not just threats to our sovereignty and threats of tariffs, but threats of forest fires, extreme heat this summer, more species than ever at risk of extinction, and water shortages – all exacerbated by climate change. Yet Alberta threatens to secede if it can't ram a new oil pipeline through BC, climate commitments are being cast aside to cater to corporate interests, and promises of reconciliation are drowned out by Indigenous peoples ringing the alarm about legislation designed to fast-track projects through their territories without consent. In these challenging times, we are all called to reflect on the Canada we will choose to be in the 21st century.

This Canada Day we are reflecting on the values that we need most to stand up in this moment and the history we need to learn from. Here is what some of our staff have to say.

West Coast Environmental Law Staff Reflections on Canada Day

“As Canadians, we are defined by more than ‘not’ being our southern neighbour. We are defined by our connection to nature, by our commitment to a social safety net for all, by constitutional protections for Indigenous rights, free speech and equality, and by laws intended to protect our health, safety and environment. We are shaped by our history of colonialism and theft of Indigenous lands, but also by how we reckon with this legacy and work to rebuild ethical relationships grounded in recognition of inherent title and rights.

In this moment, what will we choose? Will Canada succumb to weaponized nationalism, doubling down on the boom-and-bust cycles of resource mega-projects and the shameful legacy of colonialism? Or will we choose to pivot toward a more green, just and resilient future together? I want my grandchildren to know that I stood up for their future.”

Jessica Clogg

“Around the world, Canada is ‘known’ for its kindness. It is a story that Canada loves to push. Yet, many of us know too well that Canada is anything but inclusive. These concepts of economy and wealth being pushed by Canadian governments need to be expanded upon. In Indigenous perspectives, such as my own (Anishinaabe), we see wealth beyond possessions and beyond money. Wealth includes our wellness – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual/cultural – it includes the ability to practice our Indigenous rights on healthy lands and waters (these rights also recognized and affirmed under section 35 of the Canadian Constitution). This is how we thrived here on these lands for millennia. Wealth is the ability to pass on knowledge, to pass on healthy lands and waters to our children, to all of our children. In this time of reconciliation, of enshrining the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into Canadian law, fast-tracking bills to make way for fast-tracking mega projects is on par with Canadian history, but I was hopeful this was changing. On this Canada Day, I reflect on how this work in advocacy for the land, air, water and people continues, and I feel it ramping up.”

Rayanna Seymour-Hourie

“Canada’s own history is rooted in undermining the sovereignty of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. An honest look at the past and present of this country invites possibilities for a different kind of future. A future where Indigenous laws are respected alongside Canadian laws and where Indigenous peoples no longer face barriers to realizing self-determination. Where we get behind infrastructure projects that are supported by the local Nations, that are safe for the people and environment, and from which workers benefit fairly. Where long-term, sustainable jobs in the nature economy are prioritized. Where migrants are celebrated for their contributions to society and climate refugees are welcome with open arms.”

Navjot Jassar

“I grew up believing that Canadians take responsibility, that we put what’s right ahead of what is profitable or convenient. I know that may seem naïve, given what has been done to Indigenous nations and the reputation of Canadian mining companies around the world. Even so, I want to live in a Canada that doesn’t spew pollution into the atmosphere, or sell hazardous products, and then say that someone else needs to deal with the consequences. I hope that we’ve learned from the mistakes of exporting asbestos. And because of that, I can’t stomach this push to build out oil sands at all costs, rolling back climate commitments in the full knowledge that the result will be a fossil fuel-warmed atmosphere that harms both Canadians and people around the world.”

Andrew Gage

“A core value I was raised to have and that I saw around me growing up is that everyone pitches in. We all did household chores, we picked up litter on the ground, we volunteered to help with school events. As I got older, I learned that pitching in is both a way to give back and to take ownership. As an environmental lawyer, I see that value reflected all around me, from streamkeeper groups caring for local waterways to the people who write their MP demanding stronger environmental laws. We have the environmental protections we do because Canadians care deeply about nature, about clean air and water, and about taking care of their fellow Canadians. We have work to do to be a more sustainable and fair society, and when we get there it will be because of the collective efforts of Canadians from all corners and walks of life.”

Anna Johnston

“In our work at West Coast, we acknowledge that intersectional social categories such as race, gender, sexuality, disability, immigration status, income, rural location, and age all magnify the ways in which people experience environmental harms. The Access to Justice Program hears from folks across the province who are disproportionally impacted by environmental injustice and climate change because of their identity. Marginalized people and communities are harmed by lack of enforcement of environmental laws and inadequate decision-making processes that silence their voices. Laws that allow for quicker approval of destructive environmental projects with inadequate oversight threaten communities who already face the brunt of environmental injustice. We dream of environmental and climate decision-making processes in Canada that do not push people further to the margins and impact the health of the land, humans, and beings beyond human. We hope for a future where everyone on this land can thrive, have their voices heard, and where abundance is centered around equity.”

Jess Magonet and Shawn Smith

“Central to Canadian identity is pride in the natural beauty of this country. For much of our history, Crown laws and policies have taken this for granted, and only in the past few decades have our most effective environmental laws been enacted – but they still view the natural environment as a siloed policy area, separate from the economy and human health. There have also been regular efforts to weaken or sidestep these laws. Indigenous laws and legal traditions have always reflected the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world – viewing animals and nature as our relatives, and recognizing that we have a duty of reciprocity to them. As I imagine Canada in the future, I envision respect for the caretakers of our land and the wisdom of Indigenous peoples being woven together with Crown law, and Canadian society more generally.”

Erin Gray

“July 1 has always been my Mom’s birthday before anything else. I always thought it was neat that falls on holiday. I’ve only recently come to realize that this was likely not a coincidence, but rather an act of reclamation.

My grandma came to Canada in 1951 with my newborn mom to join my grandpa and his father, who were both among the 80,000+ Chinese head tax payers. In fact, my grandpa was one of the last few head tax payers, because that policy was replaced with a near total ban on Chinese migration to Canada on July 1, 1923 (the Chinese Exclusion Act). As a result, July 1 was known as ‘humiliation day’ in the Chinese community, and ‘Dominion Day’ for the rest of Canada (it would only become Canada Day in 1982).

So when my mom and grandma arrived in 1951, my grandpa would have had to fill out paperwork and ‘translate’ their lunar calendar birthdates to the Gregorian calendar. It cannot be a coincidence that he chose July 1, reframing a day of humiliation to one of celebration.

I recently came across a poem that was translated from Chinese for the 100 year anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act. It talks about the anticipation of July 1, 1923:

Never Forget July 1
The First of July is just ahead,
Our hearts are filled with mortal dread.
Because of a law which lights a fire
That will sever compatriots caught in its ire.

How can we begin to express the pain
Of 43 clauses that leave us slain.
We will remember; and with all we can muster;
Rid ourselves of this white-led disaster.
We will strive to remove the yoke,
To right the wrongs against our folk.”

(Original author unknown, translated by Senator Yuen Pau Woo)

Eugene Kung

Conclusion

The strength of any nation is built on a cohesive fabric of relationships among its citizens, where everyone benefits from the resources of the country rather than simply a select few; where the lands, water and air we rely on for surviving (and thriving) are responsibly cared for; and where youth look forward to a future where they are assured of food and housing security rather than climate catastrophe. It is the ecological, social and economic resilience engendered by these relational webs that will allow us to surmount the challenges we collectively face today, prevent them from recurring tomorrow, and provide the foundation for a healthy future.