Ghost Gear: An Ocean of Plastic Trouble
To date, the majority of policy in Canada is designed to reduce plastic pollution in the marine environment has been targeted at single-use materials. But we find that the volume of single-use plastics pales in comparison to the amount of >
Gas Control: Closing Gaps in How We Manage Common Appliances with GHG Gases
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are synthetic gases that are primarily used for refrigerants, air conditioning, and heat pumps. They’re also found in foams, aerosols, fire protection and solvents. Originally developed as a substitute for other gases that were depleting the ozone, HFCs >
Protecting Indigenous Cultural Heritage
Indigenous cultural heritage resources are not adequately protected in BC, but a recently released report prepared in partnership with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and in consultation with other BC Nations aims to change that. Protecting Indigenous Cultural Heritage Resources on >
Indigenous Co-Governance in Protecting the Athabasca River from Tar Sands Effluent
At the end of August, the ELC appeared before a United Nations Reactive Monitoring Mission hearing on behalf of the Mikisew Cree First Nation to present findings from a recently released ELC report on how to regulate any proposed release >
Unlocking the Nature of Public Access
With the goal of empowering citizen groups to defend access to the wild spaces they care about, the ELC and the Outdoor Recreation Council released Wild Places and Green Spaces: A Citizen’s Guide to Proving Public Access this August. Three >
Competition Bureau Investigation into Coffee Pods Recyclability Claims
We’ve said many times before that some ELC files need time to brew. Such was the case with our 2019 submission with Ecojustice to Canada’s Competition Bureau asking for an investigation into Keurig Canada’s claims about the recyclability of their >
Public Participation in Proposed Prince George Industrial Projects
Media: Westcoast Olefins pulls out of Polyethylene Project, still going ahead with Pineview plant (2021 Oct 20) CKPGToday.ca Proposed $5.6 billion petrochemical plant criticized by Prince George residents (2021 Sep 22) CBC News West Coast Olefins opposition reaches PG City >
Protecting the Heart of the Fraser
Over the past year, the ELC analyzed a variety legal options for urgently protecting the prime salmon and sturgeon habitat between Hope and Mission (the “Heart of the Fraser”). This habitat is essential in order to support salmon runs, some >
Canada’s Failure to Control Elk Valley Coal Mine Pollution
This summer, the ELC asked the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development and the Auditor General of Canada for an inquiry Into Canada’s failure to control Elk Valley’s coal mine pollution. The comprehensive submission, prepared on behalf of Wildsight, >
Recognizing Indigenous Laws and Jurisdictions: Examples and Opportunities
The ELC’s work primarily serves British Columbia, but it often has much wider usefulness and impact. Such was the case that led to our recent collaborative work with the Justice and Corporate Accountability Project (JCAP) on an Amicus Curiae brief >