Our Reports
Two Steps Back: How BC’s fossil fuel subsidies lock in carbon emissions
British Columbians may be surprised to learn that in 2018, their government handed out $830 million to the fossil fuel industry – and that’s just ... Read More
Strong Towns and Cities
As our population grows, where and how we build housing will affect our economy, jobs, traffic and municipal debt. For too long, urban sprawl and ... Read More
Failure To Launch
The Ontario government says it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions without putting a price on carbon pollution. This report examines if this promise holds up ... Read More
The Biggest Barrier to Climate Action in Canada: The Oil and Gas Lobby
This report documents the ways in which Canada's oil and gas lobby has undermined federal efforts to address climate change. Emissions from the oil and ... Read More
2019 Annual Report
From helping Canadians send over 190,000 letters to government and industry to securing 11 key environmental protection wins, 2018/2019 was a big year for Environmental ... Read More
Doubling Down With Taxpayer Dollars
In the last three fiscal years, the government of Alberta has provided $4.8 billion in subsidies to the oil, gas and coal industries through a ... Read More
The Hidden Cost of Receipts
Every day, Canadians are exposed to BPA, a toxic chemical linked to prostate and breast cancer, simply by touching receipts. Even when steps are taken ... Read More
Our Guides
Mid Term Report Card – Proposed amendments to Ontario’s Greenbelt and Growth Plans
Environmental Defence evaluated Ontario's proposed amendments to the Greenbelt and Growth Plans and issued the report card below. Check out the report card that highlights ... Read More
Action Checklist – Recommendations to fix Ontario’s Greenbelt and Growth Plans
Ontario’s Greenbelt and Growth Plans need some major fixes if the provincial government is serious about protecting the Greenbelt and enabling smarter growth in the ... Read More
10 ways You Can Help Keep Our Waters Clean
Simply by going about your daily routines, you might be unknowingly contributing to the pollution of our waterways. Here’s a tip sheet that you can ... Read More
The Problem With Bottled Water
Bottled water is a big business in Canada. But its cost on the environment and your wallet is even bigger. Here's the real price of ... Read More
The BPA Pocket Guide
BPA can be found not just in food cans, but also in many other consumer goods. Learn how you and your loved ones can lower ... Read More
The Toxic Ten Pocket Guide
Canadians are exposed to toxic chemicals every day, but you can reduce your exposure if you know where they lurk. Cancer-causing, hormone-disrupting, and allergy-inducing substances ... Read More
Our Submissions
Provincial Policy Statement Review Submission Made by the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance
Provincial Policy Statement Review Submission Made by the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance Download the submission (English)(Adobe Reader is required to read this pdf report. Please ensure ... Read More
Comments on the Government of Canada’s Draft Strategic Assessment of Climate Change
Environment and Climate Change Canada has undertaken the development of a Strategic Assessment of Climate Change (SACC), which is intended to provide guidance on how ... Read More
Draft 2020 Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (ERO Number: 019-0198)
In a time of climate and biodiversity crisis among other serious stresses on the Great Lakes ecosystem, we look to instruments such as the Canada-Ontario ... Read More
Draft Carbon Pollution Pricing: Options for a Federal GHG Offset System
We welcome the federal government’s decision to develop a federal offsets program. A federal program has potential to ensure national consistency and national fungibility. In ... Read More
Comments on Canada’s approach on non-tax inefficient fossil fuel subsidies
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) consulted Canadians to gather feedback on their approach to eliminating non-tax inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, as part of Canada's ... Read More
Comments on the proposed equivalency agreement with BC on methane regulations
We appreciate the ongoing effort to engage with stakeholders regarding the regulations and equivalency agreement and ECCC’s modelling efforts. However, there are still critical assumptions ... Read More
Open letter on fulfilling commitments to restore lost environmental protections and credibility to environmental assessment processes
In this open letter to the Prime Minister, eight leading environmental organizations address shortfalls in regulations related to the new federal impact assessment regime. We ... Read More
Comments on proposed re-evaluation decision for chlorpryifos
These are the comments of the David Suzuki Foundation, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Canadian Environmental Law Association, Équiterre and Environmental Defence ... Read More
Notice of Application: Volkswagen legal case
This is an application for judicial review in respect of the failure of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to properly report progress on ... Read More
Comments on Canada’s approach on non-tax inefficient fossil fuel subsidies
Environment and Climate Change Canada (Eccc) consulted Canadians to gather feedback on their approach to eliminating non-tax inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, as part of Canada's ... Read More
Letter to retailers on the need to phase out receipts containing bisphenols
This letter was sent to 13 retail giants in Canada asking them to stop using receipts coated with hormone disrupting bisphenols (like BPA and BPS) ... Read More
Comments on the repeal of the Green Energy Act
In repealing the Green Energy Act, 2009, Ontario should make sure to distinguish between perceptions of the Act itself and clean, renewable energy more generally, ... Read More
Submission on a Made-In-Ontario Climate Plan
We are concerned that this new made-in-Ontario climate plan signals a clear weakening of ambition at a critical time for environmental action. In particular, dialing ... Read More
Joint Submission on Granting BC Methane regulations equivalency
The attached document was submitted in response to the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) draft Agreement on the Equivalency of Federal and British Columbia ... Read More
Comments on the Government of Canada’s Discussion Paper on the proposed Project List: A Proposed Impact Assessment System
In June 2018, EDC submitted comments on the Government of Canada’s Consultation Paper on Approach to Revising the Project List: A Proposed Impact Assessment System ... Read More
Open Letter to Environment and Climate Change Canada on Bill C-69
When Bill C-69 was first announced, we, alongside many organizations, supported the bill as an important step in the right direction towards strengthening Canada’s broken ... Read More
Joint Submission on the Ontario Government’s review of Endangered Species Act
Our joint submission with 95 other organizations to the Environmental Registry of Ontario's postings condemning proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act. Download the submission ... Read More
Joint Submission on the Conservation Authorities Modernization (Operations and Permitting) sections of Bill 108
Our joint submission with the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) to the Environmental Registry of Ontario postings about proposed changes to Conservation Authorities in Ontario ... Read More
Submission to the Senate Committee on Making Bill C-69 Climate Safe
Bill C-69 makes some real improvements over the 2012 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012) on climate change, namely the requirement that impact assessments consider ... Read More
Comments on Ontario’s review of the Endangered Species Act
Environmental Defence's joint submission to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks noting with deep concern that their review of the Endangered Species ... Read More
Bill 66 Submission to Standing Committee on General Government
Bill 66 Submission to Standing Committee on General Government Read the submission (English)(Adobe Reader is required to read this pdf report. Please ensure you have ... Read More
