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Environmental Rights Jamie Simpson East Coast Environmental Law Associa9on St. John’s, NL April 25 th , 2015 www.ecelaw.ca
Environmental Rights
Jamie Simpson East Coast Environmental Law Associa9on
St. John’s, NL April 25th, 2015
www.ecelaw.ca
More than 90% of UN members recognize their ci9zens’ right to a healthy environment
www.ecelaw.ca
1,838
Drinking Water Advisories in Canada
January 2015
www.ecelaw.ca
ER: Substance and Process
Part 1: Substan9ve Right Part 2: Procedural Rights – Access to informa9on – Access to decision-‐making – Access to jus9ce
www.ecelaw.ca
Why Environmental Rights?
• Sets the stage for stronger environmental laws, polies
• BeWer enforcement • More ci9zen par9cipa9on in decision making • Accountability
www.ecelaw.ca
Antonio Oposa, Philippines
Photo: L. Welton
Ecojus9ce, the Charter and Sarnia
Ada Lockridge + Ron Plain Aamjiwnaang First Na9on • Chemical Valley Charter Challenge
• Started, 2010, hearing in 2014? 2015?
www.ecelaw.ca
Municipal Declara9on
• Right to live in a healthy environment • Responsibility to respect, protect, fulfill and promote these rights
• Apply precau9onary principle • Apply full cost accoun9ng • Iden9fy ac9ons to fulfill residents’ rights to ER • Review and evaluate progress • Consult residents as part of this process
Who’s Next? (ahem, St. John’s?) • City of Richmond, BC -‐ Oct 14, 2014 • Town of The Pas, MB -‐ Oct 15, 2014 • City of Vancouver, BC -‐ Oct 29, 2014 • City of Montreal, QC -‐ Nov 23, 2014 • Mun. of Aus9n, QC -‐ Dec 1, 2014 • Rural Mun. of Whitemouth, MB -‐ Dec 4,
2014 • City of Yellowknife, NWT -‐ Dec 8, 2014 • Village of Keremeos, BC -‐ Dec 15, 2014 • Village of DunnoWar, MB -‐ Dec 17, 2014 • City of Victoria, BC -‐ Dec 18, 2014 • City of Duncan, BC -‐ Jan 19, 2015 • Town of Ladysmith, BC -‐ Jan 19, 2015 • District of Saanich, BC -‐ Jan 26, 2015 • City of Boucherville, QC -‐ Jan 29, 2015 • City of Port Moody, BC -‐ Feb 10, 2015 • Village of LyWon, BC -‐ Feb 10, 2015 • Town of Richmond Hill, ON – Mar, 2015 • Town of Comox, BC – April, 2015 • City of Port Coquitlam, BC – April, 2015
• City of Burnaby, BC -‐ Feb 16, 2015 • District of Highlands, BC -‐ Feb 16, 2015 • Dist. of Central Saanich, BC -‐ Feb 16,
2015 • Town of View Royal, BC -‐ Feb 17, 2015 • District of Sqwamish, BC – Feb 17, 2015 • District of Sooke, BC – Feb 23, 2015 • City of Hamilton, ON – Feb 25, 2015 • District of North Saanich, BC – Mar 2,
2015 • Ville de Westmount, QC – Mar 2, 2015 • Saint-‐Basile-‐le-‐Grand, QC – Mar 2, 2015 • Resort Mun. of Whistler, BC – Mar 3,
2015 • Village of Cumberland, BC – Mar 9, 2015 • Islands Trust BC, BC – Mar 11, 2015 • City of Kawartha Lakes, ON – Mar, 2015 • City of Courtenay, BC – April, 2015 • City of Hudson, QC -‐ April, 2015 • Town of Ucluelet, BC -‐ April, 2015 • City of Whitehorse, Yt – April, 2015
Thank you to our workshop par9cipants and to our funder.
