Environmental Law & Policy
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
Water law and policy: Gaps, opportunities and law reforms
From the ELC website:
The Water Act was proclaimed into force on October 7th, 1998 and it represented a significant evolution in how the province could plan and manage water for environmental purposes. However, in the 23 and half years since its proclamation, the potential of the Act has yet to be realized. Read More
Gaining Steam: A Regulatory & Policy Framework for Geothermal Energy Development in Alberta
From the ELC website:
Did you know that in late 2021, the Geothermal Resources Development Act became law in Alberta? Read More
Issue Brief: Woodland caribou conservation and recovery in Alberta
Updated: April 22, 2022
On April 8, 2022, the Government of Alberta released sub-regional caribou recovery plans for the Bitscho Lake and Cold Lake sub-regions. Environmental groups are concerned that the plans lack a commitment to aggressive short-term actions that are necessary due to decades of inaction. There has also been criticism of the government's commitment to collaboration with Indigenous communities on Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.
- Media Release Alberta’s new caribou range plans miss the mark on Indigenous-led conservation and fail to effectively protect habitat (CPAWS Northern Alberta)
- Media Release Alberta’s First Caribou Range Plans: A Promising Land-Use System That Needs Stronger ‘Decade 1’ Indigenous Rights and Habitat Actions (Alberta Wilderness Association)
- News Alberta's 1st caribou recovery plans not enough to protect species habitat, conservationists say (CBC News)
- News Alberta releases recovery plans for 2 threatened caribou herds (Global News/Canadian Press)
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