Event Description
This panel will provide an introduction to recent legislative developments in Canada concerning major project approvals, specifically looking at the changes made through federal Bill C-5 and British Columbia’s Bill 15.
A recent wave of Canadian legislation has sought to “streamline” environmental assessments and consultation processes for major projects. While framed as efficiency measures, these developments raise serious concerns. Many Indigenous communities have pointed to the lack of meaningful consultation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leadership, warning that such processes violate Canada’s commitments under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), including the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Others have raised alarms about the broader environmental implications of this approach.
This panel invites legal practitioners and academics to provide an introduction to the legislation for Allard students, and to outline what forthcoming legal challenges may look like.
Speakers
Dr. Jocelyn Stacey (Allard Law)
Jocelyn Stacey is Associate Professor at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia. She researches environmental crises and the visible and invisible ways in which law creates, regulates and prevents these events. Her work focuses on environmental assessment law, disaster law, climate change, emergency powers and the rule of law. See Jocelyn’s full bio here: https://allard.ubc.ca/about-us/our-people/jocelyn-stacey
Matthew Nefstead (West Coast Environmental Law)
Matthew Nefstead is a staff lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law. He works primarily on environmental law reform in British Columbia, including advocating for the development of legislation to promote and protect biodiversity and ecosystem health. See Matthew’s full bio here: https://www.wcel.org/team/staff/matthew-nefstead
Sara Mainville (JFK Toronto, virtually)
Sara Mainville is a managing partner at JFK Law LLP in Toronto. Sara works with First Nations and Inuit clients and is one of the few practicing lawyers that works as much within Indigenous legal orders as within the Canadian constitutional order (“Aboriginal law”). See Sara’s full bio here: https://jfklaw.ca/team/sara-mainville/
Aria Laskin (JFK Vancouver)
Aria Laskin is a partner at JFK Law LLP in Vancouver. Her practice focuses on Aboriginal, administrative, and constitutional law, and on advancing Indigenous jurisdiction. She specializes in public law issues concerning the rights and powers of Indigenous clients and has expertise on the implementation of the UNDRIP and Indigenous self-determination. See Aria’s full bio here: https://jfklaw.ca/team/aria-laskin/
Dr. Jeffrey Warnock (Western Law, virtually)
Jeffrey Warnock is an Assistant Professor at Western Law. Jeff's research focuses on aboriginal law, constitutional law, Indigenous legal traditions, and public international law (specifically as it pertains to Indigenous peoples). See Jeff's full bio here: https://law.uwo.ca/about_us/faculty/jeffrey_warnock.html
Schedule for Event:
12:30-12:40pm - Our moderators from Allard Law’s Indigenous Law Students Association and Environmental Law Group will open the panel with short speaker introductions. Jocelyn Stacey will then open the panel by providing attendees with a brief overview of the federal and provincial legislation (what it is, how it works, what has changed).
12:40-1:10pm - Panelists will be introduced one at a time to provide a quick overview about how their work relates to this legislation, their impressions of the legislation, and key critiques or important facets of the legislation.
1:10-1:30pm - Moderated Q & A.
1:30-1:45pm - Additional student questions.
- Centre for Law and the Environment
- Student Organization
- All Students
- Faculty
- Graduate Students
- JD
- Student Events