Through a candid discussion of the current laws that govern Canada’s environment and natural resources, An Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy in Canada presents the real story behind many of the environmental headlines of the day. The book opens with a review of the Canadian Constitution, the history of Canadian environmental law, and an overview of specific regulatory structures, including air, water, energy, and pesticides. The authors then examine more integrated approaches to environmental law — such as environmental assessment, land management, and corporate incentives — and review environmental rights and the role of the community in the policy-making process. The final section provides readers with different perspectives on the future of Canadian environmental law.

An Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy in Canada is a straightforward examination of the fundamental issues surrounding environmental law at both the federal and provincial levels. This book is an essential text for law and law-related courses in environmental planning and assessment, resource management, and land use. The text will also be useful to anyone interested in environmental law.

“Looking for a comprehensive primer on Canadian environmental law and policy? You've found it.”
— David R. Boyd, Trudeau Scholar, University of British Columbia
Adjunct Professor, Resource and Environmental Management,
Simon Fraser University
Senior Associate, POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, University of Victoria

Part I — How the Legal System Works

• Chapter 1: The Basics of Law
• Chapter 2: Environmental Law: Its Evolution in Canada
• Chapter 3: The Canadian Legal Framework
• Chapter 4: Court, Tribunals, and Dispute Settlement
• Chapter 5: The Relationship Between Canadian and International Law

Part II — The Basics of Environmental Law

• Chapter 6: The Development of Canadian Environmental Law
• Chapter 7: The Basic Structure of Environmental Regimes

Part III — Regulatory Regimes

• Chapter 8: Environmental Protection Regimes: Command and Control
• Chapter 9: Sectoral Regulatory Regimes

Part IV — Integrated Approaches in Environmental Law

• Chapter 10: Environmental Assessment
• Chapter 11: Planning and Management Regimes
• Chapter 12: Corporations and Harnessing Market Forces

Part V — Protecting Environmental Rights Using Courts and Tribunals

• Chapter 13: Using the Courts to Protect the Environment
• Chapter 14: Using Administrative Decision-Making Processes
• Chapter 15: Environmental Bill of Rights and Access to Information

Part VI — Into the Future of Environmental Law

• Chapter 16: The Evolution of Environmental Law and the Challenges Ahead

Index