Media Releases

Pushback is an attempt to bypass crucial environmental oversight

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – The federal government’s “first step” to proceed with the Trans Mountain pipeline and tanker project fails to address the critical issue of Indigenous consultation, says West Coast Environmental Law.

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Today, lawyers at the West Coast Environmental Law Research Foundation released two resources aimed at promoting discussion in BC’s local government elections about the climate costs – wildfires, flooding, drought – being experienced by BC communities, an

Union of BC Municipalities to vote on sending letter to Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil 

Ruling confirms that Canada acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally in approving controversial project

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Lawyers at West Coast Environmental Law issued the following statement in response to the

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – More than 50 BC environmental, Indigenous, human rights and faith organizations sent a letter to Premier John Horgan today asking that the province enact a Liability for Climate-Related Harm Act, clarifying the legal responsibility of fossil fuel c

BC communities say new owner must honour NEB pipeline process Prime Minister Trudeau put in place

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories — West Coast Environmental Law Association is astounded at the Canadian government’s decision to nationalize the Trans Mountain pipeline and tanker project – despite substantial financial risk, strong community opposition and ongoing court challenges that could overturn the project’s approval.

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Environmental lawyers expressed concern over this morning’s announcement about the federal government’s plans to provide financial support for the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline and tanker project.

OTTAWA – A report released today by the leaders of Canada’s top environmental organizations reviews the progress of the federal government in meeting its platform and mandate commitments on environmental issues across the country.

Estok-Na Territory/Houston, Texas – Indigenous leadership from Canada made an emergency trip to the Kinder Morgan AGM in Houston this morning to present an overview of Indigenous opposition to the proposed Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion.

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Environmental lawyers are celebrating the news that Bill C-48, the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, has passed the House of Commons.

VICTORIA – On Saturday, April 14, 2018, the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) voted to send a climate accountability letter to Chevron, Exxon and 20 fossil fuel companies.

Local government association to vote on climate accountability

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories - Lawyers from the West Coast Environmental Law Association applaud the Liability for Climate Harm Act, 2018, introduced today in the Ontario Legislature today by Peter Tabuns, MPP, the Environment and Climate Change Critic for the Ontario NDP.

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories - Today, the BC government announced that it is initiating a reference case to confirm the scope of provincial authority to protect BC from the risks of a diluted bitumen spill.

Amendments needed to fulfill government’s promise to restore public trust in environmental decisions

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Six years after the habitat provisions of the federal Fisheries Act were gutted, West Coast Environmental Law Association is pleased to see full habitat protection finally restored for all fish across Canada.

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – West Coast Environmental Law applauds a new provincial plan announced today to restrict the transportation of diluted bitumen in BC unless the science shows that spills can safely be cleaned up.

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Today’s announcement that New York City is suing fossil fuel companies for local climate impacts is a “game changer” for climate accountability, says West Coast Environmental Law.

VANCOUVER — BC’s Oil and Gas Commission withheld a report from the public for four years showing that 900 gas wells could be leaking methane - a finding that highlights why a public inquiry into oil and gas industry fracking operations is needed. 

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Lawyers with Vancouver-based West Coast Environmental Law congratulated Peruvian farmer, Saul Luciano Lliuya, for yesterday’s court win against German coal giant, RWE.