| Canadian Environmental Bill Of Rights | 14 November 14 |
They reason that as fundamental as the right to food, shelter or freedom from discrimination is the right of all members of society to live in a safe physical environment in which the continued diversity of non-human life is also ensured. The most recent opinion polls in this country confirm the increasing commitment of Canadians to the well-being of their natural environment. An environmental bill of rights would be a law seeking to remove obstacles that prevent individuals and public interest groups from participating in the environmental decision-making process and litigating issues of environmental degradation. It would also enshrine the right to a healthy environment. Environmental rights legislation has been enacted in a number of North American jurisdictions, most recently the Northwest Territories. The Environmental Rights Act passed by the Territorial Assembly on 6 November 1990 gives individuals the right to clean air, water and soil, and the power to sue polluters if the government fails to act. More than 130 countries across the world already recognize the right to a healthy environment in their constitutions. The NDP have tabled a bill in the House of Commons while the Suzuki Foundation and Ecojustice campaign for this right.
View October 30, 2014 Eco Justice article |
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