The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

, public interest organization established in 1970 to use existing

laws Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vari ...

to protect the environment and to advocate environmental law reforms. It is also a free legal advisory clinic for the public, and will act at hearings and in courts on behalf of citizens or citizens' groups who are otherwise unable to afford legal assistance. Funded by

Legal Aid Ontario Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is a publicly funded and publicly accountable non-profit corporation, responsible for administering the legal aid program in the province of Ontario, Canada. Through a toll-free number and multiple in-person locations su ...

, CELA is one of 79 community legal clinics located across Ontario, 15 of which offer services in specialized areas of the law. CELA also undertakes additional educational and law reform projects funded by

government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government i ...

and private foundations. CELA was established at the same time as its sister organization the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP), which does not offer Legal Aid services but focused on policy related to emerging and neglected environmental issues until 2011. CELA's goals include holding governments and polluters legally accountable in cases of harm to the environment or public health, safeguarding citizens’ environmental rights, improving environmental equity, seeking policies that protect human or

ecosystem health Ecosystem health is a metaphor used to describe the condition of an ecosystem.Rapport, David (1998). "Defining ecosystem health." Pages 18-33 in Rapport, D.J. (ed.) (1998). ''Ecosystem Health.'' Blackwell Scientific. Ecosystem condition can vary ...

, and ensuring the timely cleanup of pollution. CELA represents citizens and groups in tribunals, boards, and commissions and was especially active assisting the Concerned Citizens of Walkerton throughout all phases of the ''Walkerton Inquiry'' into tainted drinking water in 2002. The current executive director of CELA is Theresa McClenaghan.

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Canadian Environmental Law Association
Environmental law in Canada Environmental organizations based in Ontario Legal organizations based in Ontario Environmental organizations established in 1970 {{environmental-org-stub

See also

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External links