Publications

Browse our recent publications, including reports, briefs, submissions to government, and other materials.

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Bill C-55 Brief
Establishing Effective Marine Protected Areas: Proposed Amendments to Bill C-55

In June 2017, the federal government tabled Bill C-55, proposing changes to Canada’s Oceans Act. Unfortunately, Bill C-55 does not go far enough in providing effective protection for marine protected areas (MPAs) under the Act.
Author: West Coast Environmental Law Association, CPAWS, Ecology Action Centre, David Suzuki Foundation, WWF-Canada, East Coast Environmental Law, Conservation Council of New Brunswick
Publication Date: October 2017
Pages: 2
An Ocean of Opportunity: Co-governance in Marine Protected Areas in Canada

Indigenous peoples have been governing marine territories using their own legal traditions since time immemorial. For the most part, Indigenous legal orders have not been recognized or upheld in the governance of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Canada.
Author: Georgia Lloyd-Smith
Publication Date: June 2017
Pages: 16
Is Canada’s Oceans Act up to the job on its 20th anniversary?

In June 2017, the federal government announced proposed amendments to the Oceans Act, Canada’s flagship marine protection law.
Author: Linda Nowlan, Maryann Watson, Georgia Lloyd-Smith
Publication Date: June 2017
Pages: 3
Oceans 20 Workshop
Oceans20 - Oceans Act Workshop Materials

Please see below to download materials for the Oceans 20 Interdisciplinary Workshop on Canada's Oceans Act (June 13-15, 2017).

AGENDA + ATTENDEES
Author: Multiple Authors
Publication Date: June 2017
Linking Science and Law
Linking Science and Law: Minimum Protection Standards for Canada's Marine Protected Areas

In 2015, Canada’s federal government made a public commitment to reach Aichi Target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, by protecting 5% of Canada’s marine and coastal areas by 2017, and 10% by 2020.
Author: Linda Nowlan, Maryann Watson
Publication Date: May 2017
Pages: 12
MPA Progress
Marine Protected Area Progress Globally and in Canada

Different countries have different laws governing the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs). This chart shows the main MPA law or policy from each country, and demonstrates the progress being made in marine protection in different parts of the world.
Author: Linda Nowlan
Publication Date: May 2017
Pages: 1
Evolution of MPAs
Evolution of Marine Protected Areas Globally and in Canada

Canada's federal government has made commitments to protect 5% of our ocean space by 2017, and 10% by 2020 – but how much progress is actually being made to meet those goals? And how does marine protection in Canada compare to similar efforts around the world?
Author: Linda Nowlan
Publication Date: May 2017
Pages: 2
Tanker Ban Brief 2017
Will the Pacific North Coast Oil Tanker Ban Hold Water? A Review of Canada’s Proposed New Legislation

In January 2016, West Coast Environmental Law Association released Keeping Our Coast Clean: Frequently Asked Questions About an Oil Tanker Ban on BC’s Pacific North Coast, in response to th
Author: Gavin Smith
Publication Date: January 2017
Pages: 14

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