In this issue:
BC societies shouldn't be dragged into court | Enbridge project: dead or just resting? | Who writes Canada's environmental laws? | Nominations open for the Andrew Thompson Award | New face at West Coast | Brand new video
Dear Paov,
This month we bring you several Environmental Law Alerts to keep you up to... date on recent environmental issues that affect you and your community. We are especially calling on our readers to take action and speak out against a troubling part of the new BC Societies Act which could thwart freedom of speech and the ability of non-profits to do their important public interest work to make the world a better place.
Did you know that West Coast Environmental Law is 40 years old this year? To celebrate, we recently released a brand new animated video which tells the story of who West Coast is and how we make change in the world. To watch this two and a half minute video, click here. It’s a pretty cool video, if we do say so ourselves.
BC societies shouldn't be dragged into court
The BC Government wants to hear your views on a new Societies Act that would allow anyone who believes that a society is acting “to the detriment of the public interest” to file a court petition against that Society. These alarming provisions, which have the potential to allow deep-pocketed interests to drag community groups that oppose them into court and to silence the civil sector.
Is Enbridge's pipelines and tankers project dead, or just resting?
Earlier this month Enbridge announced that a 2018 start date is ‘quickly evaporating’ due to the need to meet with First Nations. Is this project dead, or is it just resting?
Also, West Coast Environmental Law was pleased to take part in the recent totem pole journey from Washington State to Northern Alberta. In an unprecedented cross-border showing of indigenous solidarity, the Lummi people transported a hand-carved totem pole from their territory in Washington State to the Beaver Lake Cree Nation in Northern Alberta. The totem pole is a gift symbolizing the shared responsibility of the Nations in protecting their respective territories, and resistance to projects like the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline which threaten the health of their communities.
Who writes Canada's environmental laws?
Recently released documents show the most recent efforts of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) to rewrite yet more of Canada's and BC’s environmental laws, in the name of "balance." We say that true balance has to include protection for animal species that we've driven to the brink of extinction and should not be written to accommodate one industry.
Nominations open for the Andrew Thompson Award
It is with great pride that we announce that nominations are open for the 2014 Andrew Thompson Award. The award is given to an individual who has demonstrated a significant lifetime contribution to environmental protection and sustainability in British Columbia through the law. This year, the successful recipient’s work will focus on the nexus between Aboriginal and environmental law and/or on Indigenous environmental law.
New face at West Coast and a brand new video!
The West Coast team is excited to welcome Hannah Askew as our new Staff Counsel! Hannah will be working as part of West Coast Environmental Law’s Aboriginal and Natural Resources law team.
Also, we are pleased to share West Coast's brand new video! This two and a half minute animated video tells the story of who West Coast is and how we make change in the world by using the law to protect the environment.