Ecojustice Canada is Canada’s environmental law powerhouse. Rather than relying on regulation or voluntary corporate conscience, Ecojustice employs the law to defend nature, hold corporate polluters accountable, and defend environmental rights. It’s the largest environmental law charity in the nation.
Where It Started & Who’s Behind It
Established in 1990 (initially the Sierra Legal Defence Fund), the organization was constructed by lawyers and activists who felt Canada required more vigorous legal advocacy for the environment.
Founders were individuals such as Stewart Elgie, Greg McDade, Don Lidstone, etc. The combination was legal brains + environmental passion.
It’s based in Vancouver, BC, but its reach is national.
What Ecojustice Actually Does
It uses lawsuits and legal mechanisms to address environmental concerns. Some of their tactics involve:
Challenging government approvals or permits when projects pose a threat to ecosystems (pipelines, oil sands, etc.).
Bringing action or interventions in court to safeguard wildlife, land, and water.
Defending cases of false environmental or climate-related statements.
Engaging in major regulatory and constitutional matters.
Collaborating with allies—other NGOs, researchers, Indigenous communities—to achieve robust legal arguments and advocacy.
Notable Cases & Actions
Some of their high points:
Trans Mountain Pipeline: Ecojustice assisted in the reversal of federal approval for expansion, compelling a redetermination of shipping impacts on the ocean.
Orphan Wells: They assisted in Supreme Court of Canada cases regarding abandoned oil & gas wells and who is liable for cleanup, particularly when companies are bankrupt.
Climate-denial campaigns & deceptive advertising: Ecojustice has opposed groups or campaigns promoting climate disinformation, arguing that false public communications are not innocuous—they erase trust, policy, and environmental conservation.
Kearl Oil Sands Project: They opposed regulatory approvals for large-scale oil sands development, claiming that effects on forests, wetlands, wildlife, and greenhouse gas emissions were not dealt with effectively.
Why It Matters
Ecojustice is not merely reactive — it’s a legal check. It builds precedents: when courts decide in favor of more robust environmental assessment, or stronger disclosure, or liability for harm, those decisions serve as points to which others look. Companies, governments, and regulators take notice.
And having legal recourse makes promises meaningful: if a policy advertises “environment first,” organizations like Ecojustice can challenge whether that promise holds water, and not merely as words.
