Well tweeps, the time has come. Gonna take a break from here. The junk and bots and uptick in vids is just too much. See you over on bsky (or ideally in person!).

New Post: Locating the Constitutional Guardrails on Federal Environmental Decision Making after Reference re: Impact Assessment Act

ablawg.ca/2024/01/30/loc…

That’s a wrap on the 2024 ⁦UCalgary Law⁩ Negotiations class. The students crushed it(!) but in the most collaborative & respectful way of course. By the numbers: 3 weeks, 140+ students, 2 campuses, countless simulations, more than 50 practitioners and guests. Thanks all! 🙏

Just a friendly reminder (grid supply)

#abpoli

Canada's 'Impact Assessment Act' must be both Constitutional and ensure a sustainable future theconversation.com/canadas-impact… via The Conversation Canada #cdnpoli

Week 1 of ⁦UCalgary Law⁩ 2L negations course complete! Off to an excellent start w a wonderful group of students. And what a special way to end this week’s curriculum - a special presentation on mindfulness and the legal profession by esteemed guest ⁦Thomas Telfer⁩

We ABlawg are pleased to share our year in review. We published 81 posts in 2023, with a total of 838,001 visits from 222,372 visitors. Read on for details about our thematic focus areas and the impact of our work. Happy 2024 to our readers! UCalgary Law Ian Holloway

BFD! Esp on justiciability. Paras 23 - 52 thoughtfully navigate & neutralize long-standing barriers to Charter climate litigation. Reasoning suggests govts can no longer stonewall w arguments of ‘don’t touch my complex policy area!’ and ‘the remedy is beyond court competence!’

Pairs nicely with evening chores and headphones.

New Post: Transmission Policy in Alberta

ablawg.ca/2023/11/21/tra…

But tell me again how the fed govt doesn’t have constitutional basis to take impacts of ghgs into account in impact assessment? These sad realities lay bare the need for legal clarity, and legal arguments will be persuasive. But Environment Canada needs to bring the noise.
#cdnpoli

Update on the plastics decision (having read it more closely): folks who think plastic bags & straws are back in biz are in for a disappointment: everything in the table that has a check ✅ under 'environmentally problematic' (1st col) is likely on-side the CEPA regime: #cdnpoli

Great piece by Dave Sawyer. And what many don’t realize is that the ‘carbon price as flagship policy’ approach was the first time Canada had to ‘go it alone’ and not just follow the US. Had to during Trump years. Now that’s changed. Back to our usual follow the leader jam.

More limits of federal environmental criminal law power tea leaves emerge. I haven’t followed this one closely but an appeal (as suggested by Minister today) could get interesting.
#cdnpoli

My latest on climate aspcects of the SCC IAA unconstitutionality ruling. TLDR: Door remains open for GHG impacts in federal IA but it’s an uncertain path. Some legal clarity, not total. But it’s now or never. Will the amendments max out fed legislative lane or be timid?
#cdnpoli

The inaugural Meinhard Doelle Legacy Lecture, honouring the late SchulichSchoolofLaw Professor and former Director of the Marine & Environmental Law Institute, is taking place Nov. 23, 7:15pm at the Weldon Law Bldg. Details are available online: bit.ly/3SB2YwR MELAW Institute