Environmental Assessment

Issue Brief: Alberta Court of Appeal finds Impact Assessment Act unconstitutional

On May 10, 2022, in a 4-1 decision, the Alberta Court of Appeal issued its opinion that the federal Impact Assessment Act is unconstitutional. The constitutional challenge was launched by the Province of Alberta after the Act became law in 2019. In response, the federal government swiftly announced its intention to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.  Decisions issued in constitutional references such as this, are considered non-binding, so the Impact Assessment Act remains in force.

A number of legal experts have expressed the opinion that the constitutionality of the Impact Assessment Act would be upheld by the Supreme Court. Read More

The New Federal Impact Assessment Act and Alberta Energy Projects

Nov 6 2021 - 10:00am to 12:00pm

To comply with the Alberta health requirements for social distancing to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus we are offering our presentations online via the Zoom platform. The Canadian Institute of Resources Law in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary invites you to the following free, online workshop:

The New Federal Impact Assessment Act and Alberta Energy Projects

Implementation of the new Impact Assessment Act is now underway, changing the process for federal assessment of energy projects. While the reformed regime resembles its predecessor in many ways, it also includes many changes, including new requirements with respect to climate change, the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples, sustainability, and economic considerations. Despite much criticism of the Impact Assessment Act in public and political realms, including during the law reform process that led to Bill C-69, implications for energy projects remain not well understood. It has been unclear, for example, the extent to which the changed federal process will actually affect whether a project is approved or not. This session will provide an overview of the new federal regime and what it may mean in practical terms for energy projects, with an emphasis on the Alberta context.

This workshop will conclude with a Q and A session for registered participants.

Register Read More

Location

Room 3360
Murray Fraser Hall (MFH), Faculty of Law University of Calgary
Calgary , AB

Grassy Mountain Coal Project Decision May Sound the Death Knell for Montem and Atrum Coal

Yesterday’s Grassy Mountain Coal Project Joint Review Panel categorical rejection of Benga Mining’s applications for the Grassy Mountain mine may very well sound the death knell for Montem Resources and Atrum Coal. Today, both companies requested that trading in their shares on the Australian Securities Exchange be stopped.

Before Montem’s request was accepted its stock lost 20 percent of its value. Its last trade was at 7 cents a share; Atrum’s last trade was at 4.7 cents a share. Read More

Alberta Organizations Call for Regional Assessment of Metallurgical Coal Mining

Groups are asking the Federal Government to assess metallurgical coal mining’s impacts on water, species at risk, and Treaty and Aboriginal rights

CALGARY/TERRITORIES OF THE BLACKFOOT AND PEOPLES OF TREATIES 6 AND 7, HOME TO MÉTIS NATION OF ALBERTA, REGION III Read More

Ecojustice in court to fight Coalspur Mines’ attempt to expand Vista thermal coal mine without federal impact assessment

CALGARY/TERRITORIES OF THE BLACKFOOT AND PEOPLES OF TREATIES 6 AND 7, HOME TO MÉTIS NATION OF ALBERTA, REGION III – Ecojustice is in court today and tomorrow on behalf of Keepers of the Water, Keepers of the Athabasca, and the West Athabasca Watershed Bioregional Society to fight against Coalspur Mines (Operations) Ltd’s attempt to overturn the designation of the Vista thermal coal mine expansion project for a federal impact assessment. Read More

Tent Mountain coal mine: Niitsitapi Water Protectors, landowners group, environmental orgs urge Canada to designate project for assessment

April 6, 2021 - A number of Alberta-based organizations, including a conservation organization, an Indigenous collective and a landowner organization, are calling for a federal review of the Tent Mountain Coal Mine Project in Southern Alberta.

On behalf of CPAWS Southern Alberta Chapter, Niitsitapi Water Protectors and the Livingstone Landowners Group, Ecojustice submitted a designation request to the Impact Assessment Agency on April 4. Read More

AWA Calls For Federal Impact Assessment of the Tent Mountain Coal Mine Project

Alberta Wilderness Association has requested that Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson conduct a federal impact assessment of the Tent Mountain Mine Project. Under section 9 of Canada’s Impact Assessment Act, the Minister has the power to designate a project for an assessment if: Read More

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