Environmental decisions are too important to leave to industry professionals
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- Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00
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DONATE Dear Paov,Right now, you’ve got a chance to have your say on a controversial practice that puts important environmental decisions in the hands of industry-hired professionals. Read about it below – and don’t miss our latest updates on the Kinder Morgan pipeline, climate litigation, and Canada’s environmental law reviews.Professional reliance or regulatory outsourcing?
Over the last 15 years, BC’s environmental and public health laws have increasingly turned a variety of decisions over to professionals instead of government staff. The government argues that this is just “professional reliance,” but it's really “regulatory outsourcing.”See why this pervasive practice is not working for the environment or public health. And let the government know what you think about professional reliance – submit your comments by this Friday, January 19th! Whose (pipe)line is it anyway? Adventures in jurisdictional wonderland
The federal government insists that the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline will go ahead, but the BC government – as well as many Indigenous and local governments – remain steadfastly opposed. Recent disputes over construction raise questions about who has legal authority and what they have the power to do.Learn about the jurisdictional issues at play in this new post from Staff Lawyer Eugene Kung. Climate change culture shift: what if we fought climate change with the passion of the “war on drugs”?
New York City’s climate lawsuit launched last week against fossil fuel companies is huge news. Our latest two-part series examines how lawsuits like this – and the letters that BC communities are sending to fossil fuel companies – are all part of the culture shift that’s needed for meaningful action on climate change.Read about why the “war on climate change” must hold corporations accountable, not just individuals. Then see how letters and conversations at kitchen tables can help win climate lawsuits against fossil fuel companies. Status update: Canada’s environmental law reviews
It's been over two years since the federal government committed to review, modernize and strengthen four important environmental laws. The aim was to undo the serious rollbacks made to those laws in 2012 and introduce new, modern safeguards for nature and communities. West Coast has been deeply involved in these reviews since the beginning – here's an update from Staff Lawyer Anna Johnston about the process and what comes next. BC exemption for mines drainage may not protect threatened aquifers
Recent changes to BC's Water Sustainability Regulation include an exemption for mines to dispose of drainage water without a licence, in certain circumstances. But what does this exemption mean for the environment and other water users?Staff Lawyer Andrew Gage explains.What's new at West Coast
Meet our new law studentsThis month, we are excited to introduce our new visiting law students Claire MacLeod from the University of Ottawa and Dan Cheater from Allard Law at UBC, as well as two students from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia: Shannon Peters and Jefferson Boyd. Work with us
West Coast is currently hiring for three part-time positions in our Vancouver office: Visit our website for details and application deadlines. Please share help us spread the word!
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