Media Releases

West Coast Environmental Law welcomes A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature, the federal government’s plan to meet its commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. West Coast lawyers recognize this strategy as a positive step in what we hope will be an ambitious agenda to protect and restore the nature that is core to our identity as Canadians and underpins much of our economy.

Diverse civil society leaders are calling on Premier David Eby to hit the brakes on planned legislative amendments to BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and Interpretation Act.

Civil society leaders stand with Indigenous peoples in BC and call on Premier Eby and his government not to amend the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Following today’s announcement by Prime Minister Mark Carney that the federal government will fast-track six additional “national interest” projects, lawyers at West Coast Environmental Law are expressing disappointment at the government’s continued focus on resource development projects, including fossil fuel production and export.

Today, BC and the Gitanyow, Taku River Tlingit, Kaska Dena, Tahltan and Nisga’a peoples announced inclusive planning processes that aim to produce jointly recommended land use plans within one year, that could make a significant contribution to BC’s goal of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030 and safeguard the ecological health of a vast region as the foundation for collective prosperity.

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.

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.

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

Court dismisses defamation lawsuit against Qualicum Beach residents

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

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 - 

VANCOUVER, BC, Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh Territories – West Coast Environmental Law applauds today’s decision by the Supreme Court upholding Canada’s price on carbon pollution, which confirmed the responsibility of all levels of government to take action to address the climate crisi

Urgent need for national strategy and law to address environmental racism

VANCOUVER, BC, Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh Territories – West Coast Environmental Law is deeply disappointed by today’s decision by the BC government to continue construction on the Site C dam.

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

How we’re responding to global efforts to #FlattenTheCurve

These are exceptional times. There is a lot going on in the world and it seems like the news is changing almost by the minute.

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  

West Coast Environmental Law event marks 30 years of environmental legal aid in BC

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.

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 – Lawyers at West Coast Environmental Law issued the following statement in response to the