This report updates East Coast Environmental Law’s Protecting the Coast: A Multi-Jurisdictional Legislative Review, which was created in 2018 to inform the development of Nova Scotia’s Coastal Protection Act – the first dedicated coastal protection and management law in Canada. The purpose of the original report was to learn what a coastal law could look like and how it could work by understanding how other jurisdictions protect and manage the coast.

East Coast Environmental Law participated in the Regional Assessment as one of many public stakeholder groups. While participating in the assessment, we also contributed to federal and provincial law reform initiatives that were establishing new regulatory regimes for offshore wind development in Atlantic Canada.

East Coast Environmental Law participated in the Regional Assessment as one of many public stakeholder groups. While participating in the assessment, we also contributed to federal and provincial law reform initiatives that were establishing new regulatory regimes for offshore wind development in Atlantic Canada.

In January 2025, the Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Nova Scotia (“Regional Assessment”) concluded. This backgrounder offers an overview of the Regional Assessment, explaining its origins and purpose as well as the role it is expected to play in the future regulation of offshore wind developments in Nova Scotia.

Submission to the Canada-Nova Scotia Energy Regulator on the Petroleum-related Call for Bids NS25-1P.

As we near the end of yet another summer of heatwaves, drought and wildfires that have ravaged our forests and led to the evacuations of thousands of people, we urgently need to build projects that will help decarbonize our economy. At the same time, designating and prioritizing projects in the national interest should not put our communities or nature at risk.

Brief to the Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship in New Brunswick re: Modernizing the Clean Air Act: Protecting the Right to Clean Air.

The development of the MPA Network Plan has involved more than a decade of extensive investment from many stakeholders and rightsholders, as well as public consultation from communities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Given this level of engagement and the support it reflects, it is both timely and appropriate for the federal government to move forward with its release as soon as possible.

Joint Letter to Minister re: Fisheries Act Implementation

Letter to the Minister of Natural Resources on the State of Biodiversity Report in Nova Scotia

East Coast Environmental Law’s submission on the proposed Wind Energy Areas (“WEAs”) that the Government of Canada and Government of Nova Scotia have presented as prospective locales for offshore wind development.

SeaBlue Canada Submission: Engagement on Offshore Wind Energy Areas for Nova Scotia

IAA 101: A Guide to Public Participation in Impact Assessment Act Processes has been prepared by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Caucus of the Canadian Environmental Network. It is designed to help the public navigate assessment and determination processes carried out under Canada’s Impact Assessment Act (“the Act”).

East Coast Environmental Law’s Submission to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada on the Draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment of the St. Lawrence River Area.

Le présent Guide du droit de l’environnement au Nouveau-Brunswick est basé sur une publication similaire publiée par le Conservation Council of New Brunswick en 2000, intitulée Handbook on Environmental Law for New Brunswick.

Cette version révisée et mise à jour a été préparée par le personnel de East Coast Environmental Law, et sa première édition a été publiée en juin 2023. Cette deuxième édition a été publiée en mars 2025. Un examen et des commentaires sur la première édition (2023) ont été fournis par de nombreux étudiants, académiques et professionnels du droit, à qui nous sommes reconnaissants.

This Guide to Environmental Law in New Brunswick is based on a similar publication: Handbook on Environmental Law for New Brunswick that was published by the Conservation Council of New Brunswick in 2000.

This revised and updated version was prepared by the staff lawyers of East Coast Environmental Law, and its first edition was published in June 2023. This second edition was published March 2025. Input and content review on the first edition (2023) were provided by a number of students, scholars, and legal professionals, to whom we are very grateful.

Submission regarding Consultation on Coastal Classification Criteria for Nova Scotia

Joint Letter to Minister LePage on Shoreline Habitats

Written Submission to the Public Bills Committee on Bill 6: An Act Respecting Agriculture, Energy and Natural Resources.

Written Submission on Bill No. 1, An Act Respecting Government Organization and Administration