Media Releases

Organizations hopeful that amendments will help new legislation improve its score

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – The BC government’s newly-announced review of environmental assessment (EA) processes is an important opportunity to transform decision-making in the province, say lawyers at West Coast Environmental Law Association.

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Today, 45 leading organizations and public interest advocates from a broad range of sectors published an open letter welcoming the BC Attorney General’s commitment to enact legislation to protect British Columbians from strategic lawsuits against pub

Toronto, Ont – Civil society organizations working in a variety of sectors, such as health, the environment, anti-poverty and international development, are encouraged following the Government of Canada’s budget commitment to address their commitment to protect Canadian charities from political h

Toronto, Ont — 17 civil society organizations working in a variety of sectors, such as health, the environment, anti-poverty and international development, are asking Finance Minister Bill Morneau to make necessary and promised changes to the laws that govern charities as part of the federal gove

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories - Today, the BC government announced that it is initiating a reference case to confirm the scope of provincial authority to protect BC from the risks of a diluted bitumen spill.

Recently announced federal legislation must go further

Key problems highlighted as BC government prepares to launch review of EA processes

Amendments needed to fulfill government’s promise to restore public trust in environmental decisions

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Six years after the habitat provisions of the federal Fisheries Act were gutted, West Coast Environmental Law Association is pleased to see full habitat protection finally restored for all fish across Canada.

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – West Coast Environmental Law applauds a new provincial plan announced today to restrict the transportation of diluted bitumen in BC unless the science shows that spills can safely be cleaned up.

Commitment to sustainability, public participation and reconciliation essential in next-generation assessment law

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – West Coast Environmental Law Association is pleased to see today’s announcement that the BC government has refused to grant an environmental assessment certificate for the proposed KGHM Ajax open-pit gold and copper mine.

VANCOUVER — BC’s Oil and Gas Commission withheld a report from the public for four years showing that 900 gas wells could be leaking methane - a finding that highlights why a public inquiry into oil and gas industry fracking operations is needed. 

VANCOUVER – A promised “review” of natural gas industry fracking operations should be broadened to a full Public Inquiry that examines all aspects of the dangerous gas extraction technique, says a coalition of community, First Nation and environmental organizations.

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Lawyers at West Coast Environmental Law are pleased to see the progress the federal government has made in marine conservation over the past two years, which was highlighted today during an

OTTAWA – A coalition of environmental groups will host a reception and panel discussion next week to discuss vital reforms needed to strengthen environmental assessment in Canada.

OTTAWA - Leading environmental organizations, Indigenous nations and prominent people in Canada are calling on Prime Minister Trudeau and the federal government to restore protection for 99% of all lakes and rivers in Canada.

Time is running out to fend off extinction

Vancouver, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Today environmental leaders from across Canada will converge at ground zero for the Kinder Morgan pipeline and tankers project, on the water in Burrard Inlet.

Unceded Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver BC - British Columbians deserve the same federal climate review for the Kinder Morgan pipeline project as was promised for Energy East, says a diverse group of BC First Nations, local groups and citizens.

SMITHERS, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Today a broad range of groups including northerners, Indigenous organizations, local governments, labour unions and environmental groups, are sending a strong message of support for Bill C-48, the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act.

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Canada’s plan to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) will require substantial changes in how we make decisions affecting water, according to a

Fifty years ago, on the centennial of confederation, Chief Dan George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation said:

"Oh Canada, how can I celebrate with you this centenary, this hundred years?"

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Following the release of the federal government’s discussion paper