Introduction to the basic legal framework that regulates the natural environment in Canada. The course provides students with an understanding of the foundational legal institutions in Canada and their respective roles in environmental regulation. The course includes both public and private law approaches to environmental regulation, and covers the principal regulatory tools used to protect the environment.
Well-crafted environmental regulations, smart regulations, can not only protect the environment but also enhance business competitiveness. This course will discuss issues with regard to smart regulations from the viewpoint of various stakeholders: for example, governments, businesses, and customers.
In this course the scientific foundations and fundamentals for sustainability management will be introduced. Basic theoretical, ethical, scientific, and technical foundations of sustainable development will be taught in addition to technical knowledge like statistical literacy and basic environmental knowledge.
The course examines the historical development of the constitutional relationship between the Crown (the Canadian and provincial governments) and Aboriginal peoples, and its current impact on the development of resources in Canada. Particular focus will be paid to the judicial development of Aboriginal rights and Aboriginal title, the duty to consult and accommodate Aboriginal peoples in the context of resource development and the future trajectory of the relationship between the Crown, Aboriginal peoples, and resource developers.
