S Y M P O S I U M

Formalizing the right to a healthy environment in Canada

February 15, 2018 Alex Trebek Alumni Hall

University of Ottawa https://environmental-rights-ottawa.eventbrite.ca

Symposium Program Updated February 6, 2018. Subject to change

9:00-9:30 Registration Light breakfast sponsored by the University of Ottawa Human Rights Research and Education Centre 9:30-10:00 Opening Welcoming remarks – Prof. Heather McLeod-Kilmurray, co-director, University of Ottawa Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability Video greeting – Prof. John Knox, UN special rapporteur on human rights and the environment Morning moderator: Dr. Peter Wood, national campaign manager, environmental rights, David Suzuki Foundation 10:00-11:00 Panel 1: Setting the stage: Current proposals for environmental rights

● MP William Amos (Pontiac), Government member of the House of Commons

Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development – “The Standing Committee’s consideration of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act”

● MP Linda Duncan (Edmonton-Strathcona), NDP critic for international development, deputy critic for environment and climate change and vice chair of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development – “Thrice tabled Bill C202: Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights”

● Ms. Florence Ferrari, deputy head of mission, French Embassy in Ottawa – “The French proposal for a Global Pact for the Environment”

11:00 - 12:00 Panel 2: The need for legal recognition of environmental rights in Canada

● Ms. Kaitlyn Mitchell, staff lawyer and environmental rights chair, Ecojustice – “Environmental rights as a pillar of environmental justice”

● Mr. Mike De Souza, managing editor, National Observer – “Reflections on The Price of Oil series”

● Ms. Vanessa Gray, Anishinaabe'kwe from Aamjiwnaang, land defender, founder of ASAP – “Environmental racism in Canada: The front-line reality”

12:00 - 12:45 Lunch (provided) Afternoon moderator: Mr. Joshua Ginsberg, director, Ecojustice Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Ottawa 12:45 - 13:15 Keynote address Prof. Dinah Shelton, Manatt/Ahn professor of international law emeritus, George Washington University Law School – “The benefits of a rights-based approach to environmental protection” The keynote address is sponsored by the Environmental Justice in Canada Project. 13:15 - 14:15 Panel 3: The promise of environmental rights: theory and practice

● Dr. David Boyd, associate professor, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia (via videoconference) – “The global environmental rights revolution”

● Ms. Karine Peloffy, director, Quebec Environmental Law Centre / Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement – “The Quebec experience with environmental rights"

● Prof. Nathalie Chalifour, associate professor, Faculty of Law and co-director of the Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability, University of Ottawa - “Earth v Emissions – Litigating the right to a stable climate”

14:15 - 14:30 Break Refreshments sponsored by the Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability 14:30 - 15:30 Panel 4: Towards environmental rights in Canada

● Prof. Lynda Collins, professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa – “The CEPA opportunity”

● Mr. Eric Bertram, deputy director, Human Rights and Indigenous Affairs, Global Affairs Canada – “Voices at Risk: Supporting human rights defenders”

● Dr. Peter Wood, national campaign manager, environmental rights, David Suzuki Foundation – “The Blue Dot Movement for environmental rights in Canada”

15:30 - 16:00 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

A reception will follow the formal program.