Overview

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

TopContent Summary

• The Basics of Law
• Environmental Law: Its Evolution in Canada
• The Canadian Legal Framework
• Court, Tribunals, and Dispute Settlement
• The Relationship Between Canadian and International Law

• The Development of Canadian Environmental Law
• The Basic Structure of Environmental Regimes

• Environmental Protection Regimes: Command and Control
• Sectoral Regulatory Regimes

• Environmental Assessment
• Planning and Management Regimes
• Corporations and Harnessing Market Forces

• Using Courts and Tribunals to Protect the Environment
• Using Administrative Decision-making Processes
• Environmental Bill of Rights and Access to Information

Part VI — Into the Future of Environmental Law

• The Evolution of Environmental Law and the Challenges Ahead