The Environmental Coalition of P.E.I. (ECOPEI) is holding its annual general meeting online today, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
There will be a short business meeting followed by presentations and discussion about creating an environmental bill of rights (EBR) for P.E.I.
Those interested in attending must register at https://tinyurl.com/44ww84pv. For more information, see the ECOPEI Facebook page or call 902-651-2575.
An EBR is rooted in the idea that all citizens have a right to a healthy environment – to clean air, water and soil for healthy food.
Procedural rights to participate in environmental decision making are also a key feature of an EBR, including guidelines for meaningful consultation, access to information and the right to challenge decisions and policies that may be environmentally harmful.
A national campaign for environmental rights was launched by the David Suzuki Foundation’s Blue Dot initiative in 2014.
On P.E.I., the municipalities of Charlottetown, Stratford and Summerside have all endorsed the Blue Dot principles declaring the right to a healthy environment for their residents.
This is a timely opportunity to become well informed about environmental rights, since MLA Lynne Lund plans to introduce a proposal for an environmental bill of rights in the legislature this coming session.
This evening’s session will feature two presentations. Kostantina (Tina) Northrup, a staff lawyer with East Coast Environmental Law (ECELAW, will discuss the value of enshrining environmental rights in legislation.
Nino Antadze, an assistant professor of environmental studies at UPEI, will talk about an environmental justice perspective of the EBR legislation.
The virtual event will provide an opportunity for questions and discussion.
