The “tension” of energy needs and climate concerns was recently on display. A June 10, 2022, press release from the Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding Canadian Environment Week read, “As the celebrations for Canadian Environment Week end, we are reminded that we have only one Earth. From the Torngat Mountains on the Labrador Peninsula to Haida Gwaii on the Pacific Ocean, from Point Pelee in Lake Erie to Grasslands National Park in...
Read MoreExpenditures on Environmental Protection in Canada
Environmental protection has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. Likewise, Canadian citizens seem more attuned to environmental protection. Brief History of Canadian Environmental Protection Awareness and concern about the environment dates back to the 1800s and the work of ecologist, John Muir. The Water Survey of Canada was established in 1908 and the Canadian Wildlife Service was founded in 1947. However, the modern environmental protection efforts...
Read MoreImpact Assessment Act Headed for the Supreme Court of Canada?
Is the Supreme Court the next stop for Bill C-69 (Impact Assessment Act – IAA)? That seems to be the consensus following the Alberta Court of Appeal ruling that the federal government’s environmental impact law is unconstitutional. The IAA deals with how energy projects are reviewed (mines, dams, electrical lines, pipelines, etc…). It considers the impact of energy projects on the climate and social factors and increases public participation. It was introduced in 2019 to...
Read MoreEnvironmental Violations in Nunavut and Saskatchewan
While the population of Canada is, for the most part, concentrated within 200 kilometers of the US border, many citizens live in remote areas including the three Territories (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon). The challenges of life in these remote areas include a colder climate, higher cost of living, and difficulty in getting supplies to the citizens. Being in remote areas also means that you may not have access to natural gas or electricity for heating your...
Read MoreEnvironmental Enforcement Across Canada
Has or will environmental enforcement increase now that we are presumably past the COVID-19 pandemic? Based on discussions and casual observations, it appears some provinces may be increasing their enforcement efforts. The enforcement actions below, however, are all on the federal level and include enforcement in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island. While it is not possible to avoid every mishap, the more proactive a company can be in self-assessing its...
Read More