Ecojustice canada
Encyclopedia
Ecojustice Canada is a Canadian non-profit environmental law
firm that uses litigation to defend and protect the environment.
Ecojustice aims to set legal precedents that will ensure a strong and thriving environment for humans and wildlife alike, both for present generations and generations to come. The organization takes on cases at any level, from lower courts to the Supreme Court of Canada
.
While Ecojustice fights battles at municipal and grassroots
levels, the organization also plays a role in the strategic development of new environmental laws, often in cooperation with other environmental or conservation groups. Ecojustice works hard at seeing that laws are always an accurate reflection of how the world has developed and changed, and it sees to it that those laws are enshrined and respected within the Canadian legal system.
two set out as environmental pioneers. As Greg said at the time, Sierra Legal Defence Fund was
about “hacking out trails where Canadian law has not often gone.” The pair offered free legal services
to the environmental community. Within a month of opening, the organization was taking logging
giants to court in a quest to protect ancient forests and threatened species such as the marbled murrelet. Groups like the Wilderness Committee and Sierra Club were soon lining up for the organization's services.
A joint Sierra Legal–University of Ottawa
environmental law clinic was established in Ottawa
, Ontario in January 2007, where Stewart Elgie is currently a Law Professor and associate director of the University of Ottawa
’s Institute of the Environment.
Sierra Legal officially changed the name of the organization to Ecojustice Canada in September 2007.
Ecojustice expanded into Alberta with a legal team of two lawyers in 2008.
Environmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
firm that uses litigation to defend and protect the environment.
Mission
Ecojustice believes all Canadians have a fundamental right to enjoy air, land and water that is clean, healthy and safe. Ecojustice represents environmental groups and concerned citizens who feel these rights have been infringed upon by government decisions at any level, or by industries or corporations.Ecojustice aims to set legal precedents that will ensure a strong and thriving environment for humans and wildlife alike, both for present generations and generations to come. The organization takes on cases at any level, from lower courts to the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
.
While Ecojustice fights battles at municipal and grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
levels, the organization also plays a role in the strategic development of new environmental laws, often in cooperation with other environmental or conservation groups. Ecojustice works hard at seeing that laws are always an accurate reflection of how the world has developed and changed, and it sees to it that those laws are enshrined and respected within the Canadian legal system.
History
In 1990, Ecojustice founder Stewart Elgie recruited a number of like-minded lawyers to form the board of what was then called the Sierra Legal Defence Fund. Lawyer Greg McDade was soon hired as Ecojustice's first executive director. Setting up a modest office in Vancouver’s downtown eastside, Greg hired Mark Haddock and thetwo set out as environmental pioneers. As Greg said at the time, Sierra Legal Defence Fund was
about “hacking out trails where Canadian law has not often gone.” The pair offered free legal services
to the environmental community. Within a month of opening, the organization was taking logging
giants to court in a quest to protect ancient forests and threatened species such as the marbled murrelet. Groups like the Wilderness Committee and Sierra Club were soon lining up for the organization's services.
A joint Sierra Legal–University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
environmental law clinic was established in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario in January 2007, where Stewart Elgie is currently a Law Professor and associate director of the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
’s Institute of the Environment.
Sierra Legal officially changed the name of the organization to Ecojustice Canada in September 2007.
Ecojustice expanded into Alberta with a legal team of two lawyers in 2008.
Partnerships
Ecojustice has acted as legal representation for environmental advocacy groups such as:- The David Suzuki FoundationDavid Suzuki FoundationThe David Suzuki Foundation is an environmental organization based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada It is a non-profit organization that is incorporated in both Canada and the United States, and is funded by over 40,000 donors...
- GreenpeaceGreenpeaceGreenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
Canada - The World Wildlife Fund of Canada
- Friends of the EarthFriends of the EarthFriends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
Canada - The Pembina InstitutePembina InstituteThe Pembina Institute is a Canadian not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions. Founded in 1985, the Institute has offices in Calgary, Drayton Valley, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Yellowknife....
- The Sierra Club of CanadaSierra Club of CanadaSierra Club Canada is a Canadian, volunteer-based environmental organization. It is part of the environmental movement.The roots of Sierra Club Canada go back to 1963, when environmentalists in British Columbia affiliated themselves with the Sierra Club of the United States...
- Pollution Probe
See also
- Climate ethicsClimate ethicsClimate Ethics is a new and growing area of research that focuses on the ethical dimensions of climate change, and concepts such as climate justice....
- West Coast Environmental LawWest Coast Environmental LawWest Coast Environmental Law is an environmental law and public advocacy organization based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It believes in a just and sustainable society where citizens are empowered to protect the environment and environmental protection is enshrined in law. It fulfills...
- Environmental Dispute Resolution FundEnvironmental Dispute Resolution FundThe Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund is a legal aid program based in British Columbia, Canada that provides grants to individuals, community groups and environmental organizations who need to hire legal representation to assist them in resolving an environmental problem or dispute...