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Engage | Empower | Enrich
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Vol 6, 2017 Oct
We often tell ELC students that change resulting from their Clinic projects can take time. So it’s heartening when we receive news that ELC work is making a positive impact. This newsletter includes no less than six significant updates on ELC files. In addition, we feature two stories that provide transferable solutions to current environmental problems, share happy alumni news about the newest generation of potential environmental protectors, and honour the passing of an environmental Elder, whose friends and family have established a new prize to help committed ELC students. Although they take time to manifest, stories and achievements like these inspire us and motivate students to maintain momentum as we all build for positive environmental change in BC.
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Marine Plastic Pollution Solutions
When Meaghan Partridge started to write her ELC report for the T. Buck Suzuki Foundation, she knew marine plastic pollution was a problem. She just didn’t realize at what scale.
“In researching this issue, the thing that surprised me the most was simply the magnitude of the marine plastic pollution,” says Meaghan. “I mean, everyone is aware of the trash gyres but they feel so far away.” Read more...
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James H. C. Walker Memorial Prize
ELC Clinic students who demonstrate an excellence in and a commitment to improving environmental law and policy through their work are now eligible for a special prize. Read more...
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The Need for Fish-Friendly Floodgates
The Fraser River, BC’s longest, is known for its large salmon runs, and the Fraser Valley provides habitat that is critical for salmon to survive. But, over time, old or poorly designed flood management and dike infrastructure has narrowed or closed off channels, making it next to impossible for salmon to make their way to the Fraser River. Some outdated pumps and gates actually grind fish that attempt to pass through. Read more...
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UPDATE: According to Parks Canada and the Government of Canada, there will be a Strategic Environmental Assessment of Wood Buffalo National Park completed by March 2018. This reaction is in response to the UN Reactive Monitoring Mission report warning the federal government that Canada’s largest national park could become a “World Heritage Site in danger” due to threats posed by oil development and upstream hydro dams. The ELC worked with the Mikisew Cree First Nation on the 2014 original petition to the UNESCO. (see: Mikisew Cree First Nation; Parks Canada bulletin;ELC website: UNESCO Calls on Canada to Protect World Heritage Site)
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UPDATE: BC is conducing a formal review to examine the Hullcar Valley drinking water situation and make recommendations for actions to better protect drinking water locally and province-wide. ELC was asked but declined to conduct the review; however, Calvin Sandborn and Deborah Curran are acting as Special Advisers. Jessica Wilson, a former ELC student, was hired by the Reviewer to work on the review. While she was an ELC student, Jessica wrote a submission to government on an Area Based Management Plan for the Hullcar Valley, which called for law reform to regulate agricultural waste and its impact on drinking water. (see ELC website: Planning for Agriculture and Safe Water) (Photo: Calvin Sandborn, Jessica Wilson, Rachel Gutman after meeting with the Ministry of Environment about developing solutions to the Hullcar pollution. (Photo provided - L to R: Calvin Sandborn, former ELC students Jessica Wilson and Rachel Gutman.)
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UPDATE: The ELC’s request for a Judicial Inquiry into Mining and research on government posting information about mining security bonds assisted the Environmental Defenders Office in the Northern Territory, Australia in winning a court order against government to release the amount of security bonds being required for Northern Territory mines. (See: Glencore must reveal security bond for McArthur River mine, NT court rules (2017 July 27) Guardian (Photo from article)
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UPDATE: In August, the Provincial Government announced a review of its policy of Professional Reliance and the practice of applicant-hired professionals to make decisions that were formally made by civil servants. They acknowledged that the review will rely heavily upon the ELC report, Professional Reliance and Environmental Regulation in BC, funded by the Law Foundation of BC and produced by former ELC lawyer Mark Haddock and a number of ELC students. Now with the Forest Practices Board, Mark Haddock has been seconded to work on the review,
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CONGRATULATIONS to former ELC Clinic student and current ELC Board member Jessica Wilson for taking the first place prize in the inaugural Canadian Water Research Society Undergraduate Student Water Essay Contest. Jessica’s essay about improving source water protection planning in BC. Good job, Jessica!
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SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO WELCOME A NEW GENERATION!
Congratulations to all of our alumni who have recently taken on the courageous role as new parents. Because the last year has been so fruitful, we wanted to send a special ELC welcome to the new additions to the family:
- Griffen Huxley Idris Minnion, born July 30, 2017 (Rachel Forbes, 2007-2008 Clinic)
- Riley Cooper, born July 13, 2017 (Erin Gray 2013-14 Clinic)
- Louis, born Oct 12, 2016 (Will McLary Fall 2016 Clinic)
- Dylan Frank, born May 26, 2017 (Joshua Selby, Spring 2007 Clinic)
- Arcadia Autumn, born Oct 8, 2017 (Katrina Schaer (nee Andres) 2011-2012 Clinic)
- Rosalie Margaret McCabe, born Feb 11, 2017 (Michael McCabe) (no photo)
Want to share your news with ELC alumni and friends? Send us the details, and we’ll include them in our next newsletter.
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We welcome your feedback and your updates. For ELC news anytime, we invite you to visit our webpage (www.elc.uvic.ca).
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