The ground-breaking decision of Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia, released on November 21, 2007, offers the Province and Canada some incentive to recognize and affirm First Nations title and rights.
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This document contains West Coast Environmental Law's comments on the Ground Water Protection Regulation – Phase 2.
With the recent controversy on logging in the Chapman Creek community watershed, and the resulting order by the Sunshine Coast Regional District halting the logging because of concerns that it posed a health hazard, staff at West Coast Environmental Law are increasingly being asked about the powe
The Supreme Court of Canada's affirmation of the existence of public environmental rights in Canadian Forest Products v. B. C. is the latest in a long line of authority·recognizing the existence of public rights in respect of the natural environment.
The nature of the forest industry in British Columbia is closely linked to the forest tenure system through which rights and responsibilities for forest management are allocated.
Developing strategic land use plans can be a powerful way for a First Nation to exercise its Aboriginal Title, and to translate its laws and the wisdom of its Elders into maps and written rules that communicate its choices about land and water use to the Crown and third parties.
Since 2001, virtually every environmental and natural resource law in British Columbia has been amended or repealed. In particular, shifts in the scope and nature of statutory decision-making under new “results-based” regulation have had profound implications for First Nations.
The BC Ministry of Environment is currently conducting a review of the Wildlife Act, with the intention of introducing a series of amendments to modernize the Act. West Coast Environmental Law has reviewed the Discussion Paper prepared by Ministry staff as part of this Review.
West Coast Environmental Law receives many pesticide-related queries each year. Members of the public are concerned about the risks of commercial and home pesticide use in our communities and they want to know what avenues are available to them to counter the threats posed by these toxins.