Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA)

07/07/2026

Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and intense in Canada. Children are especially vulnerable to heat-related health risks. Many children spend the summer months in child care settings, not all of which are equipped with adequate cooling. How do we ensure that child care settings remain safe and healthy when temperatures rise? This 2-minute video from CPCHE and CCCF outlines simple measures to keep indoor spaces cool during extreme heat events. Intended for child care professionals, the video is also useful for families. Check it out here: https://healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/2026/06/26/videos-on-coping-with-extreme-heat-in-child-care-settings/



Canadian Child Care Federation
National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health - NCCEH-CCNSE
Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA)
For Our Kids
Outdoor Play Canada
Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
HEPRU - Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit
Canadian Public Health Association

07/06/2026

CELA’s 2025 Impact Report shares highlights of fighting for environmental justice for Ontario’s most vulnerable communities.

In this year's report, read about:
- Reducing benzene in Aamjiwnaang First Nation
- Protecting tenants and vulnerable residents from the impacts of climate change
- Stopping permits for harmful discharges to water in Grassy Narrows First Nation
- Action on lead contamination in municipal drinking water

Swipe to see what we accomplished together, and read the full report on our website at https://cela.ca/impact-report-2025/

07/02/2026

CELA is thrilled to welcome an amazing group of summer law students to our team!

06/30/2026

What has CELA been up to in June?

This month's newsletter includes...

🌈The long awaited reintroduction of the First Nations Clean Water Act

🌈An action alert on the federal proposal that will cut environmental protection

🌈An alarming proposal to designate Deep Geological Repository as a national interest project

🌈Law reform updates on maximum heat by-laws, mining impacts, and incinerating organic materials

🌈New resources about Canada's
National Pollutant Release Inventory

🌈Opportunities to.... sign up for Grassy Narrows River Run, check out a new presentation on brownfields development, and read our 2025 Impact Report!

Swipe through to learn more, and read the full newsletter at https://cela.ca/e-bulletin/

06/24/2026

CELA staff were delighted to receive these beautiful, hand-made, custom paddles as staff service awards at our recent Annual General Meeting!

06/22/2026

Envie de vous laisser inspirer ? Participez à la deuxième séance de la Série de conférences JMAS 2026 pour entendre un groupe captivant de conférencières et conférenciers qui s’appuieront sur des exemples concrets pour mettre en lumière les motivations, les défis et les bienfaits liés à la création de milieux extérieurs naturels et résilients face au climat, ainsi que d’occasions d’apprentissage par le territoire dans les écoles et les services de garde partout au Canada.

Le 23 juin 2026, à 13 h (HNE)

Bienvenue à toutes et à tous ! Inscrivez-vous dès aujourd’hui : https://healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/jmas/campagne-2026-serie-de-conferences/

06/22/2026

Ready to be inspired? Join the second session in the HELD 2026 Speakers Series to hear from an engaging line-up of speakers who will draw on real-world examples to highlight the motivations, challenges and benefits of creating natural, climate-resilient outdoor settings and opportunities for land-based learning in schools and child care programs across Canada.

June 23, 2026 at 1pm EST

All are welcome! Register today: https://healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/held/2026-campaign-speaker-series

06/17/2026

There's still time to comment! The deadline has been extended to July 22nd.

Last month the government released a discussion paper proposing to significantly cut federal assessment, approval and permitting processes used to protect the environment and allow Canadians to participate in decisions on major and high-risk projects.

CELA has created an Action Alert to help inform your comments. Tell the government that it should develop - not rollback – environmental safeguards so that Canada’s people and ecosystems are strong and healthy in the future.

https://cela.ca/action-alert-federal-proposal-would-cut-environmental-protection/

06/16/2026

CELA welcomes the reintroduction of the An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands.

In response CELA’s Executive Director, Theresa McClenaghan said:

“It is unconscionable that First Nations drinking water in Canada still lacks the statutory protections that apply everywhere else. This legislation is a critical step toward safe drinking water for First Nations. First Nations have fought for this protection for decades, and CELA stands with them in welcoming this long overdue and important legislation. CELA is undertaking a thorough legal analysis and will share our findings in the coming days.”

CELA is available as a resource to journalists and First Nations communities seeking more information about the bill.

CELA Welcomes Reintroduction of First Nations Clean Water Act, will share analysis in coming days.

06/15/2026