Publications

Browse our recent publications, including reports, briefs, submissions to government, and other materials.

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Open Letter in Support of the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act

In May 2017, Canada's federal government introduced Bill C-48, the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act.
Author: Multiple authors
Publication Date: October 2017
Pages: 2
Bill C-55 Brief
Establishing Effective Marine Protected Areas: Proposed Amendments to Bill C-55

In June 2017, the federal government tabled Bill C-55, proposing changes to Canada’s Oceans Act. Unfortunately, Bill C-55 does not go far enough in providing effective protection for marine protected areas (MPAs) under the Act.
Author: West Coast Environmental Law Association, CPAWS, Ecology Action Centre, David Suzuki Foundation, WWF-Canada, East Coast Environmental Law, Conservation Council of New Brunswick
Publication Date: October 2017
Pages: 2
Between Law and Action
Between Law and Action: Assessing the State of Knowledge on Indigenous Law, UNDRIP and Free, Prior and Informed Consent with Reference to Fresh Water Resources

The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted in 2007, and was endorsed by the Government of Canada in 2016. More recently, the federal government released its Principles res
Author: Hannah Askew, Corey Snelgrove, Kelsey R Wrightson, Don Couturier, Alisa Koebel, Linda Nowlan, Karen Bakker
Publication Date: September 2017
Pages: 54
EA Summit II Outcomes
Outcomes of Federal Environmental Assessment Reform Summit II

In June 2017, environmental assessment (EA) experts from across Canada gathered in Ottawa to discuss how to implement next-generation EA principles in Canadian legislation.
Author: Anna Johnston
Publication Date: August 2017
Pages: 40
2017-08 NEB Submission
WCELA Submissions on Modernizing the National Energy Board

This submission outlines key recommendations from West Coast Environmental Law Association in response to the federal government's

Author: Anna Johnston, Jessica Clogg
Publication Date: August 2017
Pages: 4
2017-08 Fisheries Act Submission
Top 10 Recommendations for a Renewed Fisheries Act

This submission to the federal review of the Fisheries Act sets out West Coast Environmental Law Association’s top ten recommendations to strengthen and modernize this important law.
Author: Linda Nowlan
Publication Date: August 2017
Pages: 12
2017-08 WCEL EA Submission
WCELA Submissions on the Environmental Assessment Aspects of the Environmental and Regulatory Reviews Discussion Paper

This submission outlines key recommendations from West Coast Environmental Law Association in response to the federal government's

Author: Anna Johnston, Jessica Clogg
Publication Date: August 2017
Pages: 19
Thumbnail of August 2017 letter re: Federal EA Review
Letter on Reforming Federal Environmental Assessment Law

In June 2017, the federal government released its Environmental and Regulatory

Author: West Coast Environmental Law Association, Nature Canada, MiningWatch Canada, Centre Québécois du Droit de L’Environnement, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Anna Johnston, Jessica Clogg
Publication Date: August 2017
Pages: 4
Making the Grade: A Report Card on Canada’s Proposal for Strengthening Environmental Laws and Processes

Following the release of the federal government’s discussion paper outlining proposals to strengthen environmental laws and p
Author: Jessica Clogg, Anna Johnston, Linda Nowlan, Eugene Kung, Andrew Gage
Publication Date: July 2017
Pages: 8
A Legal Toolbox to Defend BC from the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline & Tankers Project

The historic NDP/Green alliance in British Columbia has committed to "Immediately employ every tool available to the new government to stop the expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline, the seven-fold increase in tanker traffic on our coast, and the transportation of raw bitumen through our provin
Author: Jessica Clogg, Eugene Kung, Gavin Smith, Andrew Gage
Publication Date: June 2017
Pages: 8

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