ELC in the Media

ELC’s experts and reports are often featured in news media on a variety of subjects relating to environmental law. Below is a very small sampling of articles. For information about specific ELC reports, please see Our Work.

Latest News

BC holds only $1 million security for up to $100-million cleanup of Tulsequah Chief mine (2020 Aug 21) Province
Lessons from the plague: An approach to climate change (2020 Aug 7) Times Colonist
Coalition calls for public input on environmental framework for Saanich Peninsula (2020 Jul 28) Victoria News
Common fire retardants killing firefighters, UVic report says (2020 May 15) Vancouver Sun
BC Court dismisses complaint over environmental assessment exemption for fracking dams (2020 May 6) Lawyer’s Daily
BC taxpayers on the hook for $1.2 billion in mine cleanup costs: chief inspector report (2020 Mar 6) Narwhal
UVic’s Environmental Law Centre, 24 years strong (2020 Mar 5) Focus Magazine
BC must act to protect spawning beaches (2020 Feb 23) Times Colonist
Esquimalt’s expenses for ongoing oil-spill cleanup top $50,000 (2020 Feb 1) Times Colonist
The right to roam BC’s back roads to access Crown land (2020 Jan 6) CFAX 1070 interview with Calvin Sandborn
Body cams, more oversight for conservation officers, says group upset over BC bear killings (2020 Jan 3) Tri-City News
British Columbians fight US billionaire for the ‘right to roam’ in the wild (2019 Dec 13) Vancouver Sun
BC must act now on single-use plastics (2019 Dec 1) Times Colonist
The problem with bears in our backyards isn’t a bear problem at all; it’s a human one (2019 Nov 29) Globe and Mail

Click on the headings below to see past news reports relating to the ELC.

Freedom of Information

Parksville environmental group wins fight to get information (2019 Feb 16) Times Colonist
It’s official — the Harper government muzzled scientists. Some say it’s still happening (2018 Mar 22) CBC News
Trudeau government has more to do to combat Harper-era muzzling of scientists: report (2018 Mar 18) Global News
Harper government broke its own rules by muzzling scientists, investigation finds (2018 Mar 15) National Observer
BC seeks public’s input on updating its freedom of information legislation (2018 Mar 6) Lawyer’s Daily
BC must unlock environmental information (2017 Mar 26) Times Colonist
Ottawa to consult on charity rules — but continue audits (2016 Sept 28) Tyee
BC Ministry of Environment ordered to disclose soil-contamination tests (2016 Jun 29) Globe and Mail
BC ministry change gives public online access to mine inspections and dam safety information (2016 Jun 15) Vancouver Sun
BC Hydro should drop SLAPP suits against protesters (2016 May 25) The Province
Province’s secrecy puts people’s health at risk (2016 May 21) Vancouver Sun
Nine years of censorship (2016 May 3) Nature
Law clinic battles province for water pollution report (2016 Feb 3) Times Colonist
BC government withheld aquifer health information, complaint says (2016 Feb 3) Globe and Mail

Mining and Energy

BC First Nations should require full clean-up costs up-front for mines: new study (2019 Nov 8) Narwhal
Groups call on BC to fund Indigenous monitoring of mines in traditional territories (2019 Oct 30) Narwhal
‘When are they going to ensure the polluter pays?’: proposed BC mining reforms don’t go far enough (2019 Oct 25) Narwhal
BC municipalities commit to 100% renewable energy (2019 Oct 13) Vancouver Co-op Radio interview with Deborah Curran
Canada’s fossil fuel subsidies amount to $1,650 per Canadian. It’s got to stop. (2019 Oct 3) Narwhal
May is BC Mining Month (2019 May 22) CFAX 1070 interview with Calvin Sandborn
Recovery of BC mining continued in 2018, but faces headwinds, new PwC report says (2019 May 17) Vancouver Sun
BC’s ‘archaic’ mining laws urgently need update: 30 groups (2019 May 15) Narwhal
BC needs to act quickly to prevent future mine-tailings disasters (2019 Mar 4) Province
BC needs a ‘polluter pays’ policy for mines (2019 Jan 9) Province
‘Do my best. Fulfill my obligations’: How Lana Lowe became a land champion for the Fort Nelson First Nation in the midst of a fracking explosion (2018 Sep 10) Tyee
BC needs ‘cops that are not also travelling salesmen’ to regulate mining industry, lawyer says (2018 Aug 28) Star Vancouver
‘It’s an environmental law-free zone’: BC Auditor General asked to investigate unregulated placer mining (2018 Apr 16) DeSmog Canada
BC government withheld information on dangers of unregulated fracking dams (2018 Apr 2) Tyee
BC government suppressed details about potentially dangerous, unregulated fracking dams (2018 Mar 30) DeSmog Canada
Mount Polley disaster escapes BC law because of government policy on private prosecutions (2018 Feb 19) Georgia Straight
No provincial charges for Mount Polley mining disaster, but possibility of federal charges remain (2017 Aug 3) Vancouver Sun
Notley says BC must allow Alberta access to the coast (2017 May 31) Globe and Mail
Amnesty releases report on human rights impact of Mt Polley tailings breach (2017 May 27) My Prince George Now
A dam big problem: fracking companies build dozens of unauthorized dams in BC’s northeast (2017 May 3) DeSmog Canada
What’s changed on the ground since the Mount Polley mine disaster? (2017 Apr 12) Tyee
BC rejects request for inquiry into mining practices (2017 Apr 11) DeSmog Canada
Millions in political donations prompt call for review of BC mining regulations (2017 Apr 7) CBC News
Comparing mine management in BC and Alaska is embarrassing (and explains why Alaskans are so mad) (2017 Apr 5) DeSmog Canada
60 years later, Alaska still calling BC to task on a mine leak through its river (2017 Apr 5) CBC News
Public inquiry formally requested to investigate BC’s shoddy mining rules (2017 Mar 8) DeSmog Canada
Regulatory chaos leaves taxpayers on hook for mining messes (2017 Mar 7) Vancouver Sun
First Nations coalition demands BC inquiry into mining practices (2017 Mar 7) Globe and Mail
Contrary to Clark’s belief, opposition to LNG project is about science (2016 Mar 13) Globe and Mail

Professional Reliance and Environmental Assessment

Cooling the rhetoric on Canada’s environmental assessment efforts (2019 Mar 18) National Post
Industry-hired experts downplay impacts of major projects: UBC study (2018 Dec 21) Narwhal
How post-truth politics is sinking debate on environmental assessment reform (2018 Oct 12) National Post
BC’s big opportunity to fix under-regulated industry is here (and you’ve probably never heard of it) (2018 Jun 23) Narwhal
BC looking to reform environmental assessments for major projects (2018 Jun 19) CBC Radio interview with Calvin Sandborn
New legislation aimed at SLAPP lawsuits met with wide support in BC (2018 May 22) Lawyer’s Daily
Professional reliance – environment compromised for corporate profit (2018 Feb 8) Vancouver Sun
BC environment has suffered from a history of ‘reliance’ (2018 Feb 2) Tyee
How BC outsourced environmental protection (and what you can do about it) (2018 Jan 18) DeSmog Canada
NDP reviews use of hired guns to study environmental risks (2017 Aug 13) Province
BC questions having industry-hired experts assess project risks (2017 Aug 12) Times Colonist
Biologically diverse BC to benefit from pledge for endangered-species law (2017 July 25) Vancouver Sun
Is it time to stop relying on professional reliance? (2017 Mar 4) CBC News
BC Environment Minister cancels waste discharge permit at Shawnigan Lake (2017 Feb 23) CTV News
BC cancels Cobble Hill waste-discharge permit near Shawnigan Lake (2017 Feb 23) Globe and Mail
Another wild west show?: BC’s regulatory experiment with professional reliance (2017 Feb 21) Tyee
Does the turmoil over a contaminated soil dump near Shawnigan Lake point to problems with BC environmental assessments? (2017 Jan 30) CBC News Radio interview with Calvin Sandborn
Shawnigan decision reveals policy flaws: critic (2017 Jan 30) Times Colonist
Shawnigan Lake residents win a round in quarry battle (2017 Jan 24) Times Colonist
Professional reliance experiment a regulatory failure? (2016 Sept) Focus Magazine

Public Access

‘Landmark’ victory for public access, but impact for Island is murky (2018 Dec 11) Times Colonist
Encroaching on public land near Gorge ‘not acceptable’, Esquimalt warns property owners (2018 May 3) Times Colonist
Unblock access to public waterway, groups tell local council (2018 Mar 6) CBC News
Report finds neighbours encroaching on public land (2018 Feb 20) CTV News Vancouver Island
Private landowners encroaching on public land (2018 Feb 20) CFAX 1070 interview with Calvin Sandborn
Private landowners sprawling onto public land, Saanich council told (2018 Feb 20) Times Colonist
Environmentalists call on Saanich to protect public waterfront (2018 Feb 20) Saanich News
Unlock access to wilderness (2017 Mar 6) Times Colonist
A David and Goliath fight over back country (2017 Jan 24) Times Colonist
Don’t fence off beautiful British Columbia (2016 Jun 29) Times Colonist
Gates block ventures in the wild: Landowners cutting off paths to public land (2016 Jun 26) Times Colonist

Species and Habitat

‘Indicative of a truly corrupt system’: government investigation reveals BC Timber Sales violating old-growth logging rules (2019 Oct 7) Narwhal
BC’s human-wildlife conflict response needs reform (2019 Sep 20) Georgia Straight
Thousands of BC’s endangered whitebark pine logged on private land (2019 Sep 5) Narwhal
The old-growth logging shutdown (2019 Sep 1) Times Colonist
A chance to save BC’s last ancient forests (2019 Jul 18) Times Colonist
The government agency at the centre of BC’s old-growth logging showdown (2019 Jul 15) Narwhal
Old-growth forest should be returned to 30% of original level, researchers say (2019 Jul 13) CBC News
Environmental law students push for 30 per cent forest protection in BC (2019 Jul 10) CBC Radio
Ottawa introduces sweeping measures to protect remaining 74 southern resident killer whales (2018 Oct 31) CHEK News
Province gives fish farm four years to get First Nations and DFO consent to operate (2018 Jun 20) CHEK News
Federal government takes a crucial step towards enforcing the Species at Risk Act to save BC’s Mountain Caribou (2018 May 7) Pacific Wild
BC’s Selkirk Mountains’ Gray Ghost caribou herd ‘functionally extinct’ (2018 Apr 17) Vancouver Sun
We ‘salmon people’ want our fish protected for future generations (2018 Mar 25) Times Colonist
Respect science and protect our steelhead and salmon (2018 Mar 9) Vancouver Sun
We must act now to protect birds in Canada (2018 Feb 22) Ottawa Citizen
Governments must act now to protect migratory birds (2018 Feb 21) Vancouver Sun
How Canada is driving Santa’s reindeer toward extinction (2017 Dec 22) DeSmog Canada
Sweeping Emergency Order sought to save mountain caribou (2017 Dec 21) North Thompson Star
Environmentalists petition Ottawa to protect mountain caribou from extinction (2017 Dec 14) Vancouver Sun
Activists urge Ottawa to protect caribou in BC (2017 Dec 14) Globe and Mail
‘No water, no birds’: Wood Buffalo National Park among most threatened, warn international scientists (2017 Nov 16) CBC News
BC bungled grizzly bear management: Auditor General (2017 Oct 24) DeSmog Canada
Future of BC’s grizzly trophy hunt uncertain as fall hunt approaches (2017 Jul 25) CBC News
Unmonitored mining pollutes Fraser River, threatens salmon runs: report (2017 Apr 26) DeSmog Canada
Garry oak ecosystems — Saanich on right track (2016 Feb 16) Times Colonist

Water and Watershed Management

Two Victoria teenagers pitch their plan for reducing single-use plastics to BC’s environment minister (2019 Oct 9) CBC Radio
Groups urge BC to ban single-use plastics (2019 Oct 8) CTV News Vancouver Island
New report on rainwater and pollutants in the CRD showing negatives on our water bodies (2019 Jul 25) CFAX 1070 interview with Erin Gray
City to look at options after BC Court of Appeal sides with plastic bag industry (2019 Jul 11) Victoria News
Mayor Lisa Helps vows to phase out single-use items after BC’s highest court quashes Victoria’s ban on plastic bags (2019 Jul 11) Georgia Straight
‘Heads need to roll’: Five years after Mount Polley mine disaster, prospect of charges stirs hope for justice (2019 Jul 4) Star Vancouve
US senators press Horgan to clean up BC mine water (2019 Jun 18) Kimberley Bulletin
PM’s push for plastic-bag ban rooted at UVic (2019 Jun 13) Times Colonist
Trudeau promises crackdown on plastic wastes — months after NDP MP won unanimous support for action (2019 Jun 10) Georgia Straight
BC’s Maritime Museum highlights shame of Great Pacific Garbage Patch (2019 Apr 13) CBC News
Canadian company applies for permit for exploratory mining in headwaters of Skagit River (2019 Mar 21) Seattle Times
MPs’ motion important step toward eliminating plastic pollution (2018 Dec 22) Times Colonist
BC MP celebrates ‘tremendous’ victory as plastics pollution motion passes House (2018 Dec 6) CBC News
Parliament voting this week on Island MP’s private members bill on plastics (2018 Dec 1) CHEK News
First Nations in Okanagan seek to protect environment heritage (2018 Oct 30) Vernon Morning Star
Experts gather to discuss Okanagan water needs (2018 Oct 16) Salmon Arm Observer
Gold seekers are flooding into the Yukon and wreaking havoc on its rivers (2018 Sep 11) Narwhal
Teck Coal Ltd fined $78 000 for repeated water pollution (2018 Jun 29) Star Vancouver
World Oceans Day 2018 (2018 Jun 20) Shaw TV
Vancouver Island MP leading push for national strategy to phase out plastic (2018 Jun 7) Global News
G7 summit preview- environment (2018 Jun 6) CPAC interview with Calvin Sandborn
At the galleries: Celebrate World Oceans Day with art (2018 Jun 6) Monday Magazine
How a BC community’s water shortage threatens a provincial park (2018 May 31) Narwhal
Island NDP MP Gord Johns declares war on plastic pollution (2018 May 5) Times Colonist
Can Canada reinvent the plastic economy? by Margaret Atwood and Calvin Sandborn (2018 May 3) Globe and Mail
Plastic pollution pileup on Canada’s beaches exposes environmental policy gaps (2018 Apr 3) Discourse
Defending our oceans (2018 Apr 2) Victoria News
Group tackles contentious issues in Cadboro Bay (2018 Mar 2) Saanich News
Review of tainted north Okanagan aquifer includes proposals to protect water (2017 Nov 30) National Post
Courtenay-Alberni MP demands national strategy for plastic pollution (2017 Nov 2) Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News
SFU research demonstrates how floodgates can undermine Fraser River salmon (2017 Oct 4) Georgia Straight
Fraser River salmon impacted by floodgates, according to new SFU study (2017 Oct 4) CBC News
We must change throw-away economy (2017 Aug 19) Times Colonist
If you love the ocean, change the throwaway economy (2017 Aug 18) Vancouver Sun
BC environmental group urges stop to Ajax Mine project over water-safety concerns (2017 Aug 14) Globe and Mail
Kamloops group wants more study on Ajax mine drinking water impact (2017 Aug 14) iNFO News
NDP orders new Hullcar aquifer review (2017 Aug 2) Vernon Morning Star
Review announced for tainted Okanagan water source (2017 Aug 2) CBC News
Kamloops Council, First Nations ask BC government to suspend controversial Ajax Mine proposal (2017 Jul 19) DeSmog Canada
The rebirth of BC’s Jordan River is a victory for biological activism (2016 Oct 17) Globe and Mail
Provincial failures on mining pollution leaving taxpayers on the hook (2016 Oct 16) Vancouver Sun
Oak Bay sewage plan slow but steady (2016 Oct 14) Times Colonist
Victoria issues new utility bill for stormwater runoff (2016 Oct 12) CBC News
Province should clean up mine sites (2016 Oct 11) Times Colonist
Ministry doesn’t know why contaminated site was deemed clean (2016 Oct 8) Times Colonist
Jordan River salmon wiped out by copper tailings (2016 Oct 4) Vancouver Sun
Old copper mine still fouling Jordan River (2016 Oct 4) Times Colonist
Cowichan part of new look at the future of our waters (2016 Jun 18) Times Colonist

Other

Neighbours aim to oust gun club from Cowichan park (2018 May 29) Cowichan Valley Citizen
EDPA goes under the microscope (2016 Apr 19) Saanich News
Push for provincial land-acquisition fund gathers steam (2016 Jan 22) Times Colonist