Much of BC is incredibly rich in fresh water. With that wealth comes vibrant natural ecosystems – salmon and wildlife – as well as economic and recreational opportunities such as fishing, kayaking and tourism.
Our rivers, lakes and aquifers are sacred sources of life. We need laws that preserve this legacy and ensure that our water resources are not abused or turned into private commodities.
West Coast Environmental Law has worked hard to ensure that BC and Canadian laws protect the public’s right to clean water, and to support the rights of First Nations in ensuring that our water ecosystems remain healthy.
Canada’s law protecting navigable waters has been one of our most important environmental laws for well over a century. But in 2012, everything changed.…
In 2012, omnibus budget Bill C-45 changed one of Canada’s oldest laws, the Navigable Waters Protection Act, into the Navigation Protection Act, removing key…