Environmental Disputes and Enforcement Environmental Disputes and Enforcement

Blueberry River First Nations files claim against B.C. for the Gundy Plan

On July 8, 2024, Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN) filed a Notice of Civil Claim^[1] (the Claim) against the province of British...

B.C.’s forever litigation: first tobacco, then opioids, now ‘forever chemicals’

On June 21, 2024, the B.C. government filed a proposed national class action in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against manufacturers of...

Regulation of ‘forever chemicals’ (PFAS) in Canada

The federal government recently announced its intention to designate PFAS as a class of toxic substances under CEPA.

B.C. government enforces ‘polluter pays’ principle with Environmental Management Act

Who is considered an owner and what types of facilities are subject to amendments under British Columbia’s Environmental Management Act and...

The ‘polluter pays’ principle: Proposed amendments to the Environmental Management Act may usher in a new era for B.C. industrial companies

The B.C. government is proposing amendments to its Environmental Management Act that will require industrial companies to pay for a significant scale...

Increased scrutiny, novel measures, and higher penalties: Trends in environmental investigations, enforcement, and prosecutions

Environmental enforcement actions can result in orders or minor administrative penalties or fines. However, there is a growing trend, both federally...