Part 2: Western Canada Environmental Update

With Canada's environmental landscape rapidly changing, staying up to date on related legislative changes and potential pitfalls is vital for businesses. From emissions regulations to ESG reporting requirements, the more you know and are prepared, the more you can mitigate risks.

Below are some key updates and reminders on environmental law in Western Canada:

1. Remediation Costs. The B.C. Court of Appeal's March 2021 decision in Victory Motors v. Super Save reversed previous case law on the recovery of legal costs related to remediation of contaminated sites under the B.C. Environmental Management Act. As a result, remediation legal costs can now be recovered in full.
2. Environmental Assessment Act. In the 2019 B.C. Environmental Assessment Act (Act), the B.C. government operationalizes its commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The Act provides avenues for Indigenous involvement throughout the EA process as a