Natural Resources
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February 05, 2026
Carney at Davos: Why Canada needs the capacity to ‘stop pretending’
Recently in Davos, Switzerland, Prime Minister Mark Carney made a speech that captured everyone’s attention — opinions were varied. Here is mine.
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February 04, 2026
Alberta seeking greater role in judicial appointments, threatens to withhold funding for judges
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is asking the federal government for a greater say in judicial appointments and has threatened to withdraw funding to support any new judicial appointments in the province unless a more collaborative process is set up. In an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Smith also said Ottawa needs to relax bilingualism requirements for judicial appointments “that do not reflect Canada’s broader linguistic diversity in Western Canada and alienates Albertans and western Canadians alike.”
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February 03, 2026
Appeal Court upholds ministerial decision to refuse aquaculture licences in B.C.
The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld as reasonable a 2023 decision by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to refuse to re-issue aquaculture licences to salmon farms in B.C.’s Discovery Islands, despite deviating from the department’s recommendation.
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February 03, 2026
Estée Lauder Cosmetics fined for violating Environmental Protection Act
Estée Lauder Cosmetics Ltd. has been fined $750,000 after pleading guilty to two counts of violating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The company’s violation of the Act was discovered by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers during a routine inspection.
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February 03, 2026
When compassion replaces accountability in Ontario’s animal welfare system
The recent decision of Ontario’s Animal Care Review Board (ACRB) to reduce a $108,928 cost recovery order — subsequently conceded by the respondent, the chief animal inspector, to be $101,771.64 — to $10,000 following the seizure of 64 dogs (55 miniature poodles; one Maltese; one shih tzu; one German shepherd; four poodle/Maltese puppies; and two miniature poodle puppies) from a Hamilton residence raises troubling questions not only about accountability in cases of large-scale animal neglect but also about the structural limits of Ontario’s animal welfare regime.
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January 30, 2026
Ontario court orders new law licence review for man who admitted to sexually abusing children
Ontario’s top court has ordered a new law licence assessment for a man who admitted to the sexual abuse of children, saying a fresh look is required to determine whether he is of the “good character” required of a lawyer.
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January 29, 2026
Yukon announces regulatory reforms, transparency tools for mining sector at AME event
The Government of Yukon announced plans to develop new service standards to improve the timeliness and processes for regulatory decisions in the mining sector at an industry event on Jan. 26.
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January 29, 2026
Feds reinforce energy and mining partnerships with India
In an effort to diversify trade, the federal government is working on relationships with Asian markets, “seeking long-term, reliable collaboration in energy and critical minerals.”
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January 29, 2026
B.C., Tahltan approve Eskay Creek mine reopening under Declaration Act framework
British Columbia and the Tahltan Nation have jointly agreed to the reopening of the Eskay Creek gold-silver mine near Stewart, B.C., in a move that is expected to eventually create approximately 1,000 construction jobs and more than 770 operational jobs, according to a B.C. government release.
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January 28, 2026
Appeal court finds confidential disclosure to judge, not appellant, appropriate in Charter case
In a case referencing opposition to the Northern Gateway pipeline project, the Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) relating to confidential information being disclosed to only the judge in its application brought against the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).