Natural Resources
-
October 17, 2024
Ottawa seeks feedback on ‘potential’ new tools for ‘robust enforcement’ of forced labour import ban
The federal government has launched public consultations on substantial new “tools” to boost enforcement of Canada’s import prohibition on goods made with forced labour, which came into force in July 2020.
-
October 17, 2024
Ontario Court of Appeal orders new hearing for youth-driven climate constitutional challenge
A landmark challenge of Ontario’s climate change legislation has been given new life by the province’s top court.
-
October 16, 2024
More transparency needed around Alberta mine financial security program, law prof says
A University of Calgary law professor is raising alarm bells about the Alberta program that was set up to obtain financial security for the closure of oil sands and coal mines in the province, saying the information being provided about the program’s liabilities is inadequate and calls for more transparency.
-
October 16, 2024
Lightening the land: Restoring balance and the case for Indigenous fire management
Canada faces an escalating wildfire crisis. Year after year, uncontrolled flames consume vast landscapes and jeopardize the livelihoods of countless people and their communities. In 2023, 2.84 million hectares of forest and land burned in British Columbia alone — the worst in the province’s recorded history. This growing threat stands in stark contrast to the period before colonial disruption when Indigenous peoples expertly managed the land through cultural burning. These deliberate, small-scale fires effectively cleared underbrush, nurtured biodiversity and ultimately fortified ecosystems against larger, more destructive wildfires.
-
October 15, 2024
Barrick Gold facing court battle over alleged human rights abuses at Tanzanian mine
Hearings commenced on Oct. 15 in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice relating to alleged claims that Toronto-headquartered mining company Barrick Gold Corp. (Barrick) committed human rights abuses in Tanzania. The claim was brought on behalf of 32 plaintiffs who live near company’s North Mara mine.
-
October 11, 2024
Federal nuclear regulator OKs continued operation of OPG’s Pickering plant for two more years
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has given Ontario-government-owned Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG) another two years to operate a portion of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, one of the oldest nuclear facilities in the world.
-
October 11, 2024
Motion to set aside FCA judgment relating to Impact Assessment Act dismissed
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed a motion to set aside an order from the same court due to the deemed unconstitutionality of the Impact Assessment Act.
-
October 11, 2024
Ottawa introduces legislation to create commissioner for modern treaty implementation
The federal government has announced the introduction of legislation aimed at creating a new commissioner for modern treaty implementation to oversee self-government agreements between Ottawa and First Nations.
-
October 11, 2024
Prioritizing mental health in the workplace
On World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, we were reminded of the vital role that mental health plays not just in individual lives but also within our communities and workplaces. The global conversation surrounding mental health has grown significantly over the years, yet we still face considerable barriers that impede progress.
-
October 10, 2024
Ottawa takes step toward removing barriers to Indigenous Peoples’ mobility across Canada-U.S. border
Stating that it “continues to work toward long-term solutions to address Indigenous border mobility challenges” across the Canada-U.S. border, the federal government has announced “temporary measures” to waive certain requirements for eligible American Indigenous people with families in Canada who want to work or study here and to enable eligible Indigenous people from the U.S. who are already in Canada to extend their stay for up to three years.