AuthorMy name is Anna (she/her), and I am a white settler located on the lands of the Williams Treaty First Nations - the Alderville First Nations, Beausoleil First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island, Chippewas of Rama, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First...
Policy Update
Biomass in Nova Scotia: A Controversial Plan
Author Hi, my name is Holly and I am the author of this post. I want to state that I do not identify as an Indigenous person and I do not intend to speak on behalf of Indigenous communities. I am speaking from a position of privilege and power as a white-settler...
Government of Canada Research and Support of Heavy Oil Ban in the Arctic
AuthorMy name is Anna (she/her), and I am a white settler located on the lands of the Williams Treaty First Nations - the Alderville First Nations, Beausoleil First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island, Chippewas of Rama, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First...
Canada Introduces Measures to Protect the North Atlantic Right Whale
AuthorMy name is Anna (she/her), and I am a white settler located on the lands of the Williams Treaty First Nations - the Alderville First Nations, Beausoleil First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island, Chippewas of Rama, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First...
Government Formation in Canada: An Introduction
AuthorThis piece comes from the perspective of an Albertan and from a person who is not a member of an Indigenous community. I recognize the historical and contemporary adversity that Indigenous peoples face, particularly in regard to the Canadian justice system, and...
Understanding the Supreme Court’s Decision to Turn Down the Trans Mountain Pipeline Appeal
AuthorMy name is Anna (she/her), and I am a white settler located on the lands of the Williams Treaty First Nations - the Alderville First Nations, Beausoleil First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island, Chippewas of Rama, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First...
Wet’suwet’en and the Approval of Coastal GasLink Pipeline: One Year Later
In early 2019, news of Coastal Gaslink’s (CGL) plans to build a pipeline from northeastern British Columbia (B.C.) to the coastal town Kitimat came to light (1). This pipeline would have to travel through the Wet’suwet’en territory. These plans were approved by both...
What You Should Know About the Teck Frontier Oilsands Mine Proposal
AuthorMy name is Rachel Howlett and my pronouns are she/her. I am from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, which is the traditional land of the Mi’kmaq known as Mi’kmaki in the region of Sipekni’katik. I am speaking from a position of privilege as a white settler and I want to...
Separation of Powers in Canada: An Introduction
When we hear about climate policy, we are often presented with information seemingly rooting from a single unified body of government. In almost all countries, especially Canada, this is not the case. Canada is a federation, meaning that official powers are vested in...
Understanding the Goals and Accomplishments of Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Following the recent 2019 Federal election, Prime Minister Trudeau appointed Member of Parliament Jonathan Wilkinson as the new Minister of Environment and Climate Change, replacing the former minister, Catherine McKenna (1, 2). While holding this position, Catherine...
The Power of Young Voters This Election
Author Megan Bureau is an incoming freshman at Queen’s University and will be majoring in Global Development Studies. She is extremely passionate about global issues, particularly the Climate Crisis, and recently founded a youth led organization called Conservation...
Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) came into effect in Canada on September 14th, 1999 (1). Purpose: to respect pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development (1). This...
Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-224)
Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-224) came into effect in Canada on June 15th, 2011 (1). Purpose: to ensure that Canada meets its global climate change obligations as per the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This includes a long-term...
Species at Risk Act (SARA)
Species at Risk Act (SARA) came into effect in Canada on December 12th, 2002 (1). Purpose: to prevent wildlife species in Canada from becoming endangered or disappearing and to assist with the recovery of wildlife species that are endangered, threatened due to human...
Ending Long-Term Drinking Water Advisories for Indigenous Communities
In 1977, the Canadian Federal government promised to provide Indigenous communities with water and sanitation services comparable to the rest of the population (1). With no national water law, Indigenous communities under Federal jurisdiction had no ‘legal protection’...