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From policy research to legal analysis, our work drives meaningful change in environmental law. Explore our comprehensive resources, including reports, publications, and research, that support advocates, lawyers, and policymakers in advancing environmental protection.

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  • Polluter Pays
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
The recommendations made in the Mature “Asset” Strategy are unlikely to uphold the polluter pays principle and we will all pay the price

In April 2025, the Government of Alberta (GOA) issued its Mature Asset Strategy: What We Heard and Recommendations report.  The...

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  • Polluter Pays, Waste Management
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
The Future of Alberta’s Tailings Ponds: Alberta’s Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee Recommendations

In 2024, the government of Alberta established the Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee (the “Committee”) with the mandate to...

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  • EPR Extended Producer Responsibility, Waste Management
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
Garbage Policy: ELC Publishes Brief on Extended Producer Responsibility in Alberta

2020 was a garbage year for the Environmental Law Centre. ELC released two publications that explored the complex regulatory world...

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  • Polluter Pays, Species at Risk, Waste Management, Water management
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
Whose oil sands are they anyway? A Jurisdictional Black (Bitumen) Hole

This is the third blog in our series on the management of oil sands tailings ponds. The first two focused...

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  • Polluter Pays
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
Tailings Pond Liabilities: Alberta’s Looming Oil Sands Challenge (Part 2)

Part 2: A Case Study in Uncertainty by Lexa Ward and Rebecca Kauffman This is the second part of our...

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  • Coal, Conservation, Habitat, Nature and Biodiversity
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
Coal, Habitat, Water and the Need for Coherent Coal Policy in Alberta’s Eastern Slopes 

Coal development brings with it significant environmental concerns around habitat loss (especially for species at risk) and impacts on water...

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  • Agriculture, Forestry & Mining, Coal
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
It has been five years since the Coal Policy was (temporarily) rescinded, now we have the Coal Industry Modernization Initiative

Five years ago, the Government of Alberta began Environment Week by announcing its rescission of the 1976 Coal Development Policy...

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  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Publications
Water Law in Alberta: A Comprehensive Guide (Full Guide)
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  • Environmental Assessment, Sustainable Communities, Waste Management
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
Regulating Pollution and Contaminated Sites in Alberta: Case Study of the Verte Homesteader Community

Cover Photo – “Fencing around the old Domtar site” Photograph. 2021. CTV News Edmonton. https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/precautionary-park-fencing-comes-down-at-former-domtar-site-1.5651392 Imagine that you invested your...

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  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Webinars
Contaminated sites in Alberta: Current challenges and law reforms
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  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Publications
The Regulation of Pollution and Contaminated Sites in Alberta
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  • Constitution, EPR Extended Producer Responsibility, Polluter Pays, Waste Management
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
Maybe not the last (plastic) straw: Federal Court quashes federal order aimed at regulating “Plastic Manufactured Items”

(Photo: Horia Varlan from Bucharest, Romania, CC BY 2.0) ___________________________________________________________________________   Attempts by the federal government to tackle plastic pollution...

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  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Webinars
Battleground Environment: GHGs and Toxic Substances
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  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Publications
Drowning in Plastic: Toxins and the Constitution
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  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Webinars
Extended Producer Responsibility with Allison Boutillier
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  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Webinars
The polluter pays principle in Alberta
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  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Publications
Extended Producer Responsibility
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  • Polluter Pays, Sustainable Communities
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
Polluter pays principle in Alberta: A state of and a foundation for the future?

Polluter pays principle in Alberta: A state of and a foundation for the future?   The ELC ‘s most recent...

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  • EPR Extended Producer Responsibility, Land Use, Polluter Pays, Sustainable Communities
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
Garbage Thoughts

Garbage. Waste.   Garbage. It’s nothing new. In fact, typically, it’s something old, especially if you’re wanting to get rid...

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  • General
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
ELC Regulatory Watch: Upcoming AER appeal will shed light on EPEA approval amendments

ELC Regulatory Watch: Upcoming AER appeal will shed light on EPEA approval amendments   The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) recently...

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  • Cumulative Effects
  • Pollution and Human Health
  • Blogs
Climate Change Blog Series: Pipeline Safety Act comes into force later this Month

Climate Change Blog Series: Pipeline Safety Act comes into force later this Month   This is the eighth post in...

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