Environmental justice considerations in Canada

In this commentary, we first review the context for environmental justice in the United States, globally and in Canada, and then examine substantive (human safety and survival, access to and use of natural resources and the environment) rights. We do not address procedural (access to information, fair hearings and meaningful participation) rights. We conclude by considering the implications to achieve environmental justice in Canada. Our intent is to extend the ideas of Bouchard (this issue) about the incidence of spatial and intergenerational benefits and costs associated with environmental change, as well as the views of Blomley and Pratt (this issue) regarding the "geography of rights", of Norcliffe (this issue) related to the consequences of globalization for resource use and environmental degradation, and of Harris (this issue) concerning access and rights to land and other natural resources.