CELA

CELA is a non-profit specialty legal aid clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario

We work to protect human health and our environment by seeking justice for those harmed by pollution and by working to change policies to prevent such problems in the first place. We provide free legal services to people and groups across Ontario.

CELA Foundation

CELA Foundation

The CELA Foundation supports CELA’s research and educational work on environmental law and justice issues through extensive resources available to the public and in support of the environmental law and policy community. The Foundation also helps CELA mentor and train the next generation of environmental lawyers.

CELA FOUNDATION

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CELA counsel

CELA counsel represent Ontario residents and community groups who qualify for legal aid

Representation occurs in the courts and before tribunals on matters of environmental law. CELA’s lawyers have achieved some of the most important environmental law victories and precedent-setting cases in Canada.

CASEWORK PROFILES

2022 Annual Report

2022 Annual Report

This year, we’re excited to showcase CELA’s accomplishments in a new way. In our 2022 Annual Report, you’ll see a series of stories highlighting the critical litigation, law reform, and legal education work CELA does to protect human health and the environment on behalf of vulnerable and low-income communities.

Our Legal Services

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Public Legal Education

Learn about the law

Advancing Environmental Law

Action on Environmental justice

CELA's Latest Activities

Discover staff blog posts, publications, reports, alerts, and media releases.

Protecting Drinking Water from PFAS: What You Need to Know

Infographic presenting information about PFAS in drinking water.

April 26, 2023

Blog: More Environmental Assessment Rollbacks in Ontario

CELA lawyer Richard Lindgren examines the latest proposed rollbacks in Ontario’s environmental assessment program.

April 25, 2023

Pollution, Climate Justice and Poverty Law: Overview of Key Legal Tools

A presentation given on April 19th, by CELA Counsel Rick Lindgren at the Eastern Region Legal Clinic Spring Conference.

April 20, 2023

Climate Change and Vulnerable Communities

A presentation given on April 19th by CELA Counsel, Jacqueline Wilson at the Eastern Region Legal Clinic Spring Conference.

April 20, 2023

Concerns Respecting Reprocessing of Nuclear Fuel Waste in Canada

CELA was invited to appear to speak to the Committee on the issue of our call for an explicit Canadian

April 19, 2023

2024-2025 Articling Student Position

Are you interested in an articling opportunity in environmental, administrative law, and social justice? CELA is hiring now for a

April 18, 2023

Casework: Judicial Review of Bill 197 - COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020

On behalf of several environmental organizations and individuals, CELA sought a judicial review in Divisional Court of the statutory decision by two Ontario Cabinet Ministers that denied our clients and other members of the public their legal right to be notified and consulted on environmentally significant legislative amendments contained in Bill 197 (COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020) before they were enacted by the Ontario Legislature on July 21, 2020. These amendments include changes to the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA), the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) and the Planning Act.

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Canadian Environmental Law Association
1500-55 University Avenue,
Toronto, Ontario
M5J 2H7

1-416-960-2284
1-844-755-1420

This site contains general legal information for Ontario, Canada. It is not intended to be used as legal advice for a specific legal problem.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.