Healthy Communities Victories

SUPREME COURT VICTORY
Lawyers from the University of Ottawa–Ecojustice Environmental Law Clinic scored their first big victory this winter in a Supreme Court of Canada decision that upheld the right of Quebec residents to launch class action lawsuits for environmental harm. The ruling established a “nofault” regime where individuals do not have to prove they have been harmed before launching a lawsuit, thus putting the onus on polluters to clean up their act.

DEFENDING CITIZENS’ RIGHTS AT SHARBOT LAKE
University of Ottawa–Ecojustice Environmental Law Clinic lawyers successfully defended residents demonstrating against a controversial uranium mine at Sharbot Lake in eastern Ontario. The individuals were facing contempt of court charges, but the charges were dismissed when the company backed down just prior to the hearing.

PUSHING FOR MORE ACTION ON PESTICIDES
Over the past decade, Ecojustice has been busy defending the right of communities to ban toxic pesticides; following up our Supreme Court victory in the landmark  Hudson” case by halting the pesticide industry’s challenge of Toronto’s pesticide bylaw. These cases not only affirmed the right of municipalities to defend the health of their communities, they spurred more than 125 communities to pass pesticide restriction bylaws. This spring, Ecojustice teamed up with health and environment organizations successfully demanding that Ontario take the next step by enacting provincial legislation banning the use and sale of cosmetic pesticides.

Brenda McLuhan
It’s been 17 years since Brenda McLuhan was welcomed into the Ecojustice fold as a law student by then-executive Director Greg McDade. Now an accomplished employment lawyer, she continues to shape the organization as chair of the board of directors. Brenda lives on Bowen Island, where a commitment to recycling has grown into a colourful hobby of collecting beach glass and hunting through garage sales for mid-century modern furniture and housewares.