Natural Resources
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December 19, 2025
Duty to consult may be triggered by unproven cross-border Indigenous claims: Federal Court
The Federal Court has found that Canada’s duty to consult under s. 35 of the Constitution Act may be triggered for an Indigenous group located outside Canada based on an unproven claim that the group are Aboriginal people of Canada.
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December 19, 2025
Prime minister announces Quebec Court of Appeal judge to be next deputy attorney general of Canada
In an unusual and surprising move, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that a federal puisne judge, Justice Marie-Josée Hogue of the Quebec Court of Appeal, will become deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general of Canada “early in the new year.”
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December 18, 2025
Feds announce development of made-in-Canada sustainable investment guidelines
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has announced that the Canadian Climate Institute has been selected to lead the development of the made-in-Canada sustainable investment guidelines, also known as a taxonomy, for issuing bonds.
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December 18, 2025
Ottawa, Ontario reach agreement on streamlining environmental approvals
Ottawa and Ontario have signed a new co-operation agreement for natural resource projects aimed at streamlining environmental approvals and unlocking the mineral-rich “Ring of Fire” region.
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December 18, 2025
Canada introduces tougher methane standards for energy sector and landfills
The federal government has unveiled new regulations to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector and landfills, measures projected to create an estimated 34,000 clean-tech jobs, according to a release issued Dec. 16.
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December 17, 2025
New regulation on special economic zones in Ontario comes into effect Jan. 1
A new regulation in Ontario, which sets out “criteria to designate special economic zones, trusted proponents and projects,” will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. According to a government release, the regulation “supports the advancement of job-creating investments and projects that are of strategic and critical importance to Ontario’s economic security.”
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December 17, 2025
Experts warn reading of UNDRIP into B.C. law could cause major legal uncertainty
Legal experts are warning that a landmark B.C. Court of Appeal ruling requiring all provincial laws to be interpreted in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) has introduced an unprecedented level of legal uncertainty in the province.
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December 16, 2025
Feds announce Buy Canadian policy now in effect
Canada has announced that core elements of the Buy Canadian policy have been implemented and are now in effect. It said the policy supports workers, strengthens domestic industries and creates a more diversified economy.
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December 15, 2025
B.C. court dismisses appeal; treaty-rights defence over severalty land can proceed
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal of a regional district and the province, upholding the finding that it may be arguable that lands that were transferred in fee simple under a treaty agreement may still have some characteristics of treaty land for purposes of s. 35 of the Constitution Act.
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December 12, 2025
CBA warns against undermining courts after B.C. premier’s remarks on ‘toxic’ impact of rulings
Canadian Bar Association president Bianca Kratt has issued a statement calling on governments to avoid statements that damage the legitimacy of courts following B.C. Premier David Eby’s recent comments describing court decisions concerning Indigenous rights as creating “toxic” uncertainty.