Controversial spin-off industries expose gaps in regulation Click Here for some media coverage about a dispute over the storage of fracking sand in Penhold, Alberta. Here is some more coverage of the same debate. The sand contains crystalline silica, which is known to cause deadly lung ailments...
Late last year, the National Energy Board (NEB) released its decision on the Northern Gateway Project and recommended approval of the project subject to 209 conditions (see here for our summary of that decision). While the NEB conducted the public hearing and issued a decision,...
While the recently issued Environmental Protection Order that mandates the reclamation of an abandoned wellsite is a good step for the site (and the landowner) it also stands as an illustration of how things need to change. As reported in the Calgary Herald the well at issue...
Section 91 (12) of Canada’s Constitution clearly states that “Sea Coast and Inland Fisheries” are the jurisdiction of the federal government. It appears, though, that the federal government might no longer want this authority, as a recent proposed regulation is set on deferring management of...
Reflecting on 2013 one is struck with some noteworthy developments in environmental law and policy. Here are some highlights (or in most cases low lights) Federal law the federal Fisheries Act amendments to the "HADD" (Harmful, alteration, disruption and destruction) prohibitions (s.35) came into force. An unfortunate...
The first emergency protection order under the federal Species at Risk Act was issued last week and it applies a list of prohibitions to federal and provincial Crown lands for habitat of the Greater Sage Grouse. As existing facilities and activities remain largely untouched by...
The Draft South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (Draft SSRP) is a work in progress that must do more if it is to advance the Alberta Land Use Framework (LUF). This is the acid test. The South Saskatchewan is the most economically, socially and environmentally diverse region in...
“There’s no God-given right to mud-boggers” (Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Nanton News, May 13, 2013) May long weekend is here: begin the bush parties, litter, trucks in the river. . . I wish I could find last year’s Sustainable Resource Development blog post about the...
This blog was triggered by a recent media report that a mining company in BC was planning to sue the BC government over the refusal to issue an environmental assessment certificate for a project. It was a reminder of the divergent perceptions of why we...
A recent story of a road being built in the Little Smokey Caribou range reflects the provincial government’s narrative of the demise of a species. It reflects a disconnect between policy and action, both federally and provincially, and indicates an inability on the part of...
Last year we had "Twas an Alberta night before Christmas" - this year is a much shorter environmental round up - sung to "Let it Snow" Oh the omni-bus bills were frightful But the PR is so delightful And since the fish have no place to go We’ve been...
The Environmental Law Centre promotes the polluter pays principle as central to effective environmental law. Inherent in the polluter pays principle is the assumption that, if you can’t afford to clean up a mess, you shouldn’t be in business to begin with. Of course nothing...
