Overview
CRJS 420 will provide an overview of issues and laws related to environmental protection and enforcement in Canada. Students will examine issues that have lead to governmental regulatory responses and gain an understanding of the many sources and types of law relevant to environmental protection.
This course examines the evolution of Environmental Law in Canada; provincial environmental protection and enhancement Acts will be both examined and critiqued.
Part of this understanding comes from the consideration, by the students, of their personal perception of what our environment is. How do we react within a legal, political and economic context? Also, the constitutional and legal means (including administrative tribunals, court proceedings, and other measures) will be considered in the context of resolving environmental issues.
As well, environmental issues related to Aboriginal people, environmental assessment as a guide to government decision-making, pollution prevention, enforcement, and international law will be examined.
Outline
CRJS 420 comprises eleven units as follows:
- Unit 1: Canadian Environmental Issues
- Unit 2: Sources of Environmental Law
- Unit 3: Environmental Protection through Common Law in Canada
- Unit 4: The Regulatory Approach
- Unit 5: Statutory Authorization
- Unit 6: Environmental Assessment
- Unit 7: Prevention and Remediation
- Unit 8: Enforcement
- Unit 9: International Law
- Unit 10: Aboriginal Issues
- Unit 11: Future Trends
Evaluation
To receive credit for CRJS 420, you must achieve an average mark of 50 percent on the course assignments, a mark of at least 50 per cent on the final examination, and obtain a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Quiz 1 | 10% |
| Quiz 2 | 10% |
| Assignment 1 | 10% |
| Assignment 2 | 15% |
| Assignment 3 | 10% |
| Assignment 4 | 10% |
| Final Exam | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
The course materials include a study guide, a student manual, a reading file, and some government documents.