This summer, I had the invaluable opportunity to work as a Summer Legal Intern with East Coast Environmental Law (ECEL), funded by the Schulich Academic Excellence Internship Award. With a strong passion for environmental and human rights law, I entered law school eager to develop practical skills for navigating the legal system, implementing policy goals, and advocating for individuals whose rights may be threatened.

Today we released an evaluation of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s performance under its provincial species at risk law, the Endangeed Species Act.

On December 7, 2023, Bill No. 19: An Act Respecting the Right to a Healthy Environment was introduced to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. Tabled as a Private Member Public Bill by David Coon of the provincial Green Party, the Bill proposes to recognize a substantive human right, shared by all persons living in New Brunswick, to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment.

Five years ago, on April 11, 2019, the Coastal Protection Act was passed with all-party support. Now, the Government of Nova Scotia has abandoned the Act in favour of a “plan” that preserves the status quo and fails to implement best practices for coastal management.

Co-authors Mike Kofahl (ECEL) and Karen McKendry (EAC) explore the challenges of assessing and regulating impacts of spaceports.

On Monday, February 26th, the Government of Nova Scotia publicly announced that it was abandoning work to implement the Coastal Protection Act, which would have been Canada’s first legislation dedicated to coastal protection if it had been brought into force. Instead, the province opted to create another plan that maintains the status quo and fails to provide rules or protect coastal communities.

On October 13, 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) released its opinion in a reference case that examined the constitutionality of the federal Impact Assessment Act (“IAA”) and Physical Activities Regulations. The opinion of the majority—shared by five of the seven Supreme Court Justices who considered the case—is that the impact assessment process established by the IAA and Physical Activities Regulations is unconstitutional in part.

This summer, I had the incredible privilege of interning at East Coast Environmental Law, an organization dedicated to environmental advocacy and policy in Atlantic Canada. As a Mi’kmaw person, this unique opportunity allowed me to immerse myself in the intricacies of environmental law and policy specific to Mi'kma'ki. Throughout my internship, I engaged in a wide range of activities, from conducting legal research on environmental laws in New Zealand to supporting projects focused on Indigenous law revitalization, all while gaining invaluable practical skills and knowledge.