Empowering communities, protecting ecosystems
Empowering communities, protecting ecosystems
Summary: Building Community and Advancing Justice In February, the ELC and the Environmental Law Club co-hosted the BC Public Interest Environmental Law Conference: Law Rooted in Land and Relationships in the new Indigenous Laws Wing at the UVic Faculty of…
BC is sitting on a hidden opportunity: millions of tonnes of mine waste that could help supply the minerals needed for a low‑carbon economy. But without strong rules, remining these sites could also repeat the environmental and social harms of…
If mining companies don’t pay the full cost of cleanup, the public may be stuck with the liability. BC has made progress on mine reclamation – but serious risks remain. Our report, Next Steps for Responsible Mining: Improving Bonding and…
Breaking down the law of injunctions in land defence to help Indigenous communities, land defenders, and advocates better understand how injunctions operate and their impacts. A series of legal briefs ELC Clinic students prepared over three semesters on the law…
After several years of shifting locations, the ELC has securely landed in our new offices, and it feels like home. We have always appreciated the Faculty of Law’s support and spaces allocated to us throughout the Fraser Building, but we…
When we learned that the Province was seeking public input on Heritage Conservation Act Transformation Project, we revisited a 2023 tool the ELC developed in partnership with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and other Nations. Protecting Indigenous Cultural Heritage Resources on…
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center In September, the ELC formally questioned the federal government’s lack of meaningful support and decision to reduce funding for programs that help protect BC from the devastating spread of invasive zebra…
It’s heartening to see a group of students digging into an issue at 8am, especially when they are immersed in a mellow morning vibe with Fleetwood Mac tunes, bubbling river videos, a table full of study snacks, and the aroma…
The ELC recently partnered with Coastal Stewardship Network (CSN) to update a tool that Indigenous Guardians use in the field as they monitor and protect their territories. Environmental Laws: A Field Guide for BC’s North and Central Coast and Haida…
Prepared on behalf of Watershed Watch Salmon Society (WWSS), a new ELC guide empowers citizens interested in protecting and defending the environment. A Citizen’s and Lawyer’s Guide to Private Prosecutions in British Columbia explains how individuals can use private prosecutions as a…
In early November, ELC staff Deborah Curran and current articling student Chad Wilkinson travelled to Sechelt to present to elected officials, planning staff, and citizens in several local governments of the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD). The workshop focused on…
The ELC recently supported the launch of two new environmental law clinics in Bhutan and Thailand, which are the first in their Asian countries. As part of the ELC’s long-term relationship with these Clinics ELC Executive Director Deborah Curran travelled…
