20 years of wins for BC Eco-Legal Aid Fund

Vancouver - For the past 20 years the West Coast Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund (EDRF) has provided legal support to British Columbians seeking to protect their environment. During this period this environmental legal aid fund has granted more than $4 million to more than 500 different causes, as well as achieving some major victories.

To celebrate the EDRF’s 20 year history, West Coast Environmental Law, a Vancouver-based organization that administers the EDRF, has released a report, On the Ground, highlighting many of the EDRF’s victories through its history. Among other impressive wins, the EDRF was instrumental in:

  • Helping noted Marine biologist, Alexandra Morton, convince the BC Supreme Court to strike down the province’s fish farm laws as unconstitutional.
  • Convincing MetroVancouver to abandon plans for a new landfill and instead adopt a goal of zero waste; and
  • Blocking Alcan’s plans to build the Kemano II power project on the Nechako river.

In addition to releasing On the Ground, West Coast is hosting 20th Anniversary Celebrations for the Fund in the Lower Mainland (April 10th), Victoria (February 6th), Courtenay (January 23rd), and Nelson (TBA). A first event was held in Smithers on December 2nd.

For the past 20 years the EDRF has been made possibly by grants from the Law Foundation of British Columbia.

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For more information contact:

Jessica Clogg, Executive Director & Senior Counsel (ext 201)
Andrew Gage, Staff Counsel (ext 206),
at 604-684-7378 or 1 800 330-WCEL toll-free.

On the Ground is available on-line by clicking here.