Alongside legal representation, CELA aims to stay out of the courtroom by seeking change in policies and practices to make it unnecessary for citizens or communities to have to retain a lawyer to seek environmental justice. In fact, our policy work in shaping progressive environmental laws and regulations often arises from issues brought to us by public inquiries to our office. When we hear of many people affected by the same issue, systemic change is often the most effective and efficient solution.
Our law reform programs address multiple pollution sources and across all of this work our primary focus is on addressing public health and impacts on vulnerable communities.
Air pollution is a major source of harm to human health and the environment.
The Inequitable Impacts of Climate Change
The climate crisis is also a public health and equity crisis.
Get the Lead Out of Drinking Water
Although the health impacts of lead are well documented, not enough is being done to address it.
18% of people in Ontario don’t have sufficient legal protections for their drinking water.
The PFAS problem is not on the public radar in Canada – but it should be.
You have a right to access information about contaminants in the air, soil and water in your community.
Public Oversight of the Nuclear Sector
Bringing public interest and equity perspective to nuclear regulatory oversight reports, a key tool to ensuring compliance in the nuclear sector.
Reforming the Canadian Environmental Protection Act
Tracking amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the cornerstone of Canada’s regulatory system for protecting the environment.
Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights
Monitoring and advocating for reform of Ontario’s key tool for safeguarding the environment and holding government to account for their environmental decisions.
Nuclear Waste Management in Canada
Canada has a vast legacy of nuclear waste, but lacks a comprehensive nuclear waste framework and guidelines for decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
CELA has undertaken detailed research into children’s environmental health issues for over twenty years. This work has included extensive secondary research to summarize the scientific evidence about greater risks to children from environmental exposures as well as research and advocacy in many areas of legal and policy analysis.
This work led to the creation of the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE). CELA has researched, authored, or co-authored many of CPCHE’s publications. This foundational work is gathered here with links provided to many areas of related work.
Child Health and the Environment
Reports, articles, and educational resources on this foundational work at CELA.
A collaborative initiative to address indoor environmental health risks affecting tenants on low-income in Ontario.
The case for better integration of children’s environmental health protection into energy efficiency programs.
Ongoing advocacy seeks to advance updates in radon-protection measures at the provincial level such as Ontario’s Building Code and in child care licensing regulations.
Banning Cosmetic Pesticide Use
CELA was instrumental in urging Ontario to pass strong legislation on the use and sales of pesticides intended for unnecessary or “cosmetic” purposes.
Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act
One of the key recommendations of the Walkerton Inquiry was for legislative protections in the form of a Safe Drinking Water Act.
The recommendations of the Walkerton Inquiry described the protection of drinking water sources as the essential first step in a multi-barrier approach to avoiding drinking contaminated water.
“SLAPP-suits” or “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation” are intended to silence individuals or groups from speaking out on matters of public interest.
Opposition to the new nuclear technology known as small modular reactors (SMR’s). SMR technology provides too little, too late, with too many risks.
Collaborative efforts achieve a comprehensive ban in Canada on the import, sale, use, manufacture, and export of asbestos.
Federal Environmental Assessment Law
Engaging on reforms to federal environmental assessment processes that identify, evaluate and mitigate adverse environmental effects of projects under federal jurisdiction.
