Media Releases

West Coast is excited to recognize 16 inspiring young individuals who have made important contributions to environmental justice in BC, through the Andrew Thompson Award (ATA) Youth Changemakers for Environmental Justice initiative.

Canada’s leading environmental organizations have today released responses from federal parties on their environmental and climate plans. This initiative aims to provide voters with insights into how parties will tackle issues like fossil fuel pollution, biodiversity loss, Indigenous-led conservation and a clean electricity grid, if elected.

The Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities has passed a resolution calling on the Province to legislate the BC Coastal Marine Strategy. This resolution was championed by the District of Saanich and the City of Langford.

The District of Saanich and City of Langford Councils voted unanimously in favour of BC municipalities pushing the BC government to enshrine its recently-released Coastal Marine Strategy into law.

West Coast Environmental Law is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Andrew Thompson Award, which recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution to environmental protection and sustainability through law in BC.

Unceded, traditional, and ancestral Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories / Vancouver, BC – BC is joining other coastal regions in North America with the release of its first and much-needed

Legal analysis highlights current shortcomings and recommendations for strengthening national policy

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER

Today, lawyers at West Coast Environmental Law are celebrating Canada’s signing of the High Seas Treaty on the one-year anniversary of the agreement.

Mandatory measures are welcome, but more action needed to close loopholes and address scrubber washwater

Lower Fraser Floodplains Forum brings together decision-makers and experts to chart a path forward for flood resilience

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER

Lawyers at West Coast Environmental Law Association welcome commitments for environmental and climate action in today’s federal Speech from the Throne, and say Canadians will be looking to the federal government for tangible steps to deliver on these and other key promises in the coming months.

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER – West Coast Environmental Law congratulates the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai'xais, Nuxalk and Wuikinuxv Nations, Parks Canada and the BC provincial government for collaborating on an important step

Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories / Vancouver, BC - 

Canada has some of the weakest protections against cruise ship pollution along North American West Coast, says new report 

Environmental lawyers look for government to deliver on commitments to aggressive climate vision and plan

Please be advised that effective 1 August 2020, West Coast Environmental Law's office address will be changed. 

Telephone and fax numbers remain the same.

“The federal government investigating itself is clearly not an option,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC

VANCOUVER, BC, Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh Territories – Lawyers at West Coast Environmental Law are calling on the BC Liberal Caucus to correct misinformation aimed at undermining environmental organizations and lawful resistance to the Coastal GasLink pipeline in Wet’suwet’en territ

Narrow Federal Court of Appeal decision is a blow for reconciliation and sustainability, lawyers say  

VICTORIA, BC, Lekwungen Territories – West Coast Environmental Law Association is celebrating today’s introduction of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which will bring the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (“UN Declaration”) into provincial law.

OTTAWA — The Canadian government has surpassed its commitment to protect at least 10 per cent of its oceans before 2020.

VANCOUVER, BC, Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh Territories – Environmental lawyers welcome the news that Bill C-48, the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, has passed a final vote in the Senate and will become law.