This submission contains West Coast Environmental Law's joint submission (under SeaBlue Canada) to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources Regarding Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Canada—Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act, and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
This week, we were at the Court of Appeal for Ontario in support of seven youth who are suing the Ontario government over its weak climate target and plan. The youth are being represented by lawyers from Ecojustice and Stockwoods. Environmental Defence and West Coast Environmental Law, represented by West Coast lawyers Anna Johnson and Andrew Gage, are one of 11 groups of intervenors.
I’ve always been a sucker for lists of three (not sure why), so a recent American article on three climate cases to watch in the coming year got me thinking: what climate litigation can we expect in Canada in 2024, and what might they mean?
I’ve cheated a bit: this post includes more than three cases, and some of them haven’t been filed yet. However, here are three types of cases which we should look for in the year ahead (i.e., before December 31, 2024):
The Premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan are certainly not fans of Canadian’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas pollution (to say the least).
On December 7, during the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, Canada’s federal government released its proposed Regulatory Framework for an Oil and Gas Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap.
Lawyers highlight need for urgency & increased ambition in forthcoming regulations
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER
As interest in offshore oil and gas exploration is thankfully floundering in Canada, marine renewable energy is on the rise. These new sources of power include tidal, wave, and most prominently, offshore wind, which promises the ability to provide vast quantities of clean energy and will be an important part of Canada’s climate future.
Squamish, BC, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw – The District of Squamish will be the third BC local government to support a class action lawsuit against fossil fuel companies after Council, sitting as Committee of the Whole, voted 5-2 to set aside funds in the 2025 budget for this purpose.
West Coast Environmental Law, My Sea to Sky and other members of the Sue Big Oil campaign applauded Squamish’s climate leadership and its efforts to recover some of the tens of millions of dollars of harm that the fossil fuel industry is causing the community.
Majority of Canadians want oil companies to pay for the project; only 18% say the government is heading in the right direction
