East Coast Environmental Law

East Coast Environmental Law The three pillars of our work are public education, community collaboration, and legal action. Follow us on Twitter:

East Coast Environmental Law is an environmental law charity that supports the development and fair application of innovative and effective environmental laws throughout Atlantic Canada. East Coast Environmental Law is an environmental law charity based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that works throughout Atlantic Canada to support the development and fair application of innovative and effective environ

mental laws throughout this region. We envision a future in which strong environmental laws help to keep all residents of Atlantic Canada safe and living in clean, healthy, resilient, and sustainable environments. Among other things, we work to make legal research resources available to the public; we carry out community workshops and legal clinics that are designed to help communities understand their rights and how to act on them; we collaborate with environmental organizations and community groups throughout Atlantic Canada and provide them with legal research support to enhance their programs and initiatives; and, from our website at www.ecelaw.ca, we operate a free Environmental Law Inquiry Service that members of the public can use to seek general legal information about environmental law issues they are facing. As a charity, we work to assist Atlantic Canadians at no or low cost, and we depend on the support of the generous donors who fund us. If you would like to support our work, please visit our website at www.ecelaw.ca to learn more.

An update on our recent post regarding the federal government's proposed changes to Canada's environmental laws. The Gov...
06/10/2026

An update on our recent post regarding the federal government's proposed changes to Canada's environmental laws. The Government of Canada has announced it is extending the public engagement period on its proposed regulatory reforms to July 22. This follows significant feedback from Indigenous groups, environmental organizations, and members of the public from across the country.

We welcome this decision. If the government is genuinely listening to the concerns being raised and is willing to take additional time to hear from Canadians and consider its approach carefully, that is a positive step.

Our concerns about the scope of the proposed changes remain. Reforms that could reduce the rigour of environmental assessments, limit public participation, or weaken protections for species at risk deserve careful and transparent consideration. We will continue to engage in the process and encourage others to do the same.

The comment period is now open until July 22. To read the Discussion Paper and submit your comments, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/one-canadian-economy/services/simplifying-canada-process/engagement-supporting-timely-decision-making.html

East Coast Environmental Law is one of several organizations that have written to the Minister of Environment, Climate C...
06/05/2026

East Coast Environmental Law is one of several organizations that have written to the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature, urging the federal government to reconsider the proposed Regional Assessment of Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling in the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Area.

Our concerns center on three key issues: the proposed half-year timeline is too short to meaningfully assess cumulative effects across such a large marine area; the process appears designed to fast-track resource development by exempting projects from individual impact assessments, which contradicts a fundamental purpose of regional assessments under the Impact Assessment Act; and, the rushed approach will limit meaningful consultation and engagement with communities, fish harvesters, and the public.

We know from experience that rushed regional assessments produce poor outcomes. The Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Oil and Gas Regional Assessment offers a cautionary example: it resulted in eroded public trust and a court challenge. In contrast, the regional assessments of offshore wind development in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia demonstrated what a credible, well-resourced process could look like, with a nearly two-year timeline, robust public engagement, and high-quality recommendations.

We are calling on the federal government to extend the timeline to 18 to 24 months, ensure meaningful and ongoing engagement with rightsholders and stakeholders, and commit to a process grounded in transparency and evidence-based decision-making.

If you would like to have your say, you can provide comments on the draft terms of reference for the proposed regional assessment. The public comment period runs until June 8, 2026. The terms of reference will guide the conduct of the regional assessment. You can submit your comments here: https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/90228

Read the full letter at ECEL’s Resource Library: https://www.ecelaw.ca/resources-library/joint-letter-re-concerns-about-regional-assessment-of-offshore-oil-and-gas-drilling-ns

Looking to better understand environmental law in Atlantic Canada or take action on an issue you care about? Explore the...
06/03/2026

Looking to better understand environmental law in Atlantic Canada or take action on an issue you care about? Explore the East Coast Environmental Law Resource Library: https://www.ecelaw.ca/resource-library

This free, public library brings together a wide range of practical, plain-language, and in-depth legal resources, including:
-guides and toolkits on topics like environmental rights, impact assessment, and environmental stewardship,
-backgrounders explaining how environmental laws work and how they're enforced,
-research reports and law reform papers on emerging issues, and
-legal submissions, briefing notes, and case summaries shaping policy across the region.

The library is keyword-searchable, so simply type in a topic or issue you're interested in to find relevant resources quickly. Not sure where to start? Try the Summary Series, designed as an accessible entry point to key environmental law topics. From there, you can explore deeper dives depending on your interests or needs.

Whether you're a community member, student, decision-maker, or advocate, the Resource Library is built to help you understand your rights, navigate processes, and take informed action. Have questions? Email [email protected]

May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity. This year's theme "acting locally for global impact" is a time...
05/22/2026

May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity. This year's theme "acting locally for global impact" is a timely reminder that meaningful change on biodiversity loss begins at the community level.

Many people are feeling the weight of global conflicts and environmental challenges that can seem impossible to address, but local engagement offers a constructive path forward. When practitioners, governments, and communities work together on the issues closest to them, that effort contributes to something much larger.

Our team knows the value of empowering communities. Just this past year, we engaged with practitioners and governments in Fredericton, NB; Corner Brook, NL; Halifax, NS; and Charlottetown, PEI, delivering presentations on coastal protection law and policy, including to organizations and government such as the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, to support local efforts to address coastal challenges through legal and policy reform.

As we look ahead to the 2026 UN Biodiversity Conference, the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework depends on exactly this kind of ground-level engagement. Strong legal frameworks and active local participation are not separate efforts, they reinforce each other.

Today marks Endangered Species Day, an important opportunity to reflect on the progress made through strong environmenta...
05/15/2026

Today marks Endangered Species Day, an important opportunity to reflect on the progress made through strong environmental legislation, and the work that remains. Effective species at risk protection depends on robust legal frameworks, meaningful recovery strategies, and engaged communities working together.

Our team has been active in that work firsthand, most recently contributing to federal endangered Piping Plover recovery strategy efforts. The Piping Plover is a compelling example of why this work matters; a small shorebird that undertakes long migrations and, when threatened at the nest, performs a "broken wing display" to divert predators. After spending time on the recent judicial review of changes to critical habitat identification in Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Piping Plover recovery strategy and learning more about the species, it has been easy to see their value to our coasts and communities.

At East Coast Environmental Law, we are committed to ensuring the law is used to effectively protect Canada's species at risk. Today, we want to know from our audience which species at risk is most significant to you, and why?

Last week, the Government of Canada released a Discussion Paper that outlines proposed changes to several environmental ...
05/15/2026

Last week, the Government of Canada released a Discussion Paper that outlines proposed changes to several environmental laws. The proposed changes are part of a broader effort by the federal government to accelerate approval of major projects.

The proposed changes are significant in scope. The Government is considering amending the federal Impact Assessment Act, Fisheries Act, Species at Risk Act, and other legislation, as part of a broader effort to streamline environmental laws that apply to federally-assessed projects. The Discussion Paper also proposes expanding ministerial powers, including allowing specific Ministers to adjust environmental conditions for projects deemed to be in the national interest, and enabling Cabinet to exempt certain projects from legal protections provided by the Species at Risk Act.

Our staff are reviewing the proposed changes carefully. While we recognize the importance of regulatory efficiency, we have concerns about reforms that could reduce the rigour of impact assessments, limit public participation, or weaken protections for species at risk. We will be following the consultation process closely and engaging further as more details become available.

For more information and to submit comments, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/one-canadian-economy/services/simplifying-canada-process/engagement-supporting-timely-decision-making.html. You can also read more in CBC's coverage, search "Ottawa proposes suite of measures to streamline project approvals" on CBC and in National Observer, by searching "Carney fast track major projects legislation".

New Brunswick has a rare opportunity to become the first province in Canada to enshrine the right to clean water into la...
05/12/2026

New Brunswick has a rare opportunity to become the first province in Canada to enshrine the right to clean water into law and our Staff Lawyer, Richelle Martin, was in Fredericton last week to make that case.

Appearing before the legislative committee reviewing New Brunswick's Clean Water Act, Richelle called on the province to legislate enforceable rights to clean water and establish formal pathways for government cooperation with Indigenous communities on freshwater issues. As she noted: a lot of people are surprised to learn that there is no right to clean water recognized in the law in New Brunswick. This review is a meaningful opportunity to change that.

Enshrining the right to clean water in law would mean more than symbolic recognition. It would create an enforceable standard that governments must uphold. This could strengthen protections for drinking water sources, reduce inequalities in water access and quality across communities, support Indigenous water rights, and give citizens and organizations clearer legal tools to hold decision-makers accountable when water quality or supply is threatened.

We were glad to contribute to this important conversation. Read more about the hearing in CBC and Global News coverage. Search: "Conflicting views about water protection heard as MLAs review Clean Water Act" (CBC) and "New Brunswick should enshrine into law the right to clean water, says lawyer" (Global News).

Last week, ECEL’s Staff Lawyer, Richelle Martin, spoke with CBC's Information Morning in Moncton about the endangered Pi...
05/08/2026

Last week, ECEL’s Staff Lawyer, Richelle Martin, spoke with CBC's Information Morning in Moncton about the endangered Piping Plover’s new recovery strategy and how it helps protect the species’ critical habitat in Canada.

In 2022, after ECEL's initial concerns about changes to how critical habitat was identified in the Piping Plover’s recovery strategy were not addressed through public consultation, ECEL and Nature Nova Scotia, represented by Ecojustice, launched a judicial review. After years of hard work, we are pleased to report that the final amended recovery strategy, published April 2, 2026, adopted our key recommendations and now clearly identifies the Piping Plover's critical habitat. We will be watching closely for the federal government to take the next steps mandated in the Species at Risk Act to ensure these areas receive legal protection, and we hope this outcome sets a strong precedent for other species at risk.

Thank you to Ecojustice for their hard work on this important issue and to Nature Nova Scotia for their collaboration.

Meta does not allow us to share article links directly, but you can find the two CBC articles by searching: "CBC Environmental lawyer applauds greater protection of endangered piping plover habitat." The Halifax Examiner also covered the story, search "Ecojustice, Nature Nova Scotia laud 'major win' for protection of piping plovers' critical habitat" to find it. Please note that the Examiner article is behind a paywall.

Last week, ECEL’s Staff Lawyer, Richelle Martin, spoke with CBC's Information Morning in Moncton about the endangered Pi...
05/07/2026

Last week, ECEL’s Staff Lawyer, Richelle Martin, spoke with CBC's Information Morning in Moncton about the endangered Piping Plover’s new recovery strategy and how it helps protect the species’ critical habitat in Canada.

In 2022, after ECEL's initial concerns about changes to how critical habitat was identified in the Piping Plover’s recovery strategy were not addressed through public consultation, ECEL and Nature Nova Scotia, represented by Ecojustice, launched a judicial review. After years of hard work, we are pleased to report that the final amended recovery strategy, published April 2, 2026, adopted our key recommendations and now clearly identifies the Piping Plover's critical habitat. We will be watching closely for the federal government to take the next steps mandated in the Species at Risk Act to ensure these areas receive legal protection, and we hope this outcome sets a strong precedent for other species at risk.

Thank you to Ecojustice for their hard work on this important issue and to Nature Nova Scotia for their collaboration. Listen to the interview here: http://bit.ly/49eEhhd, read CBC’s article here: https://bit.ly/4f0r67f, and the Halifax Examiner article here (behind a paywall): https://bit.ly/3QZIKhu

Last week, ECEL’s Staff Lawyer, Richelle Martin, spoke with CBC's Information Morning in Moncton about the endangered Pi...
05/07/2026

Last week, ECEL’s Staff Lawyer, Richelle Martin, spoke with CBC's Information Morning in Moncton about the endangered Piping Plover’s new recovery strategy and how it helps protect the species’ critical habitat in Canada.

In 2022, after ECEL's initial concerns about changes to how critical habitat was identified in the Piping Plover’s recovery strategy were not addressed through public consultation, ECEL and Nature Nova Scotia, represented by Ecojustice, launched a judicial review. After years of hard work, we are pleased to report that the final amended recovery strategy, published April 2, 2026, adopted our key recommendations and now clearly identifies the Piping Plover's critical habitat. We will be watching closely for the federal government to take the next steps mandated in the Species at Risk Act to ensure these areas receive legal protection, and we hope this outcome sets a strong precedent for other species at risk.

Thank you to Ecojustice for their hard work on this important issue and to Nature Nova Scotia for their collaboration. Listen to the interview here: http://bit.ly/49eEhhd, read CBC’s article here: https://bit.ly/4f0r67f, and the Halifax Examiner article here (behind a paywall): https://bit.ly/3QZIKhu

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6061 University Avenue, PO Box 15000
Halifax, NS
B3H4R2

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