Ecojustice

About Ecojustice:

Founded in 1991, Ecojustice Society of Canada (Ecojustice) was started after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in the Prince William Sound outside of Alaska in 1989. Originally called the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, the charity uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for a healthy environment. It is the only charity in Canada that addresses environmental issues solely in the courtroom. Among Ecojustice’s staff are lawyers that speak out against corporate projects that threaten public health and the environment, support projects that protect wilderness and wildlife, and shed light on the negative effects industrial energy corporations have on the Canadian and global climate. The charity’s main office is in Vancouver.

According to Ecojustice’s 2018 Victories Report, it spent 40% of its program costs in F2017 combatting climate change and accelerating the transition to a clean energy future. The charity currently has two climate change cases in progress. It launched a Federal Court case on behalf of local residents to stop the construction of a new coal transfer facility on the Fraser River. If the construction is approved, this project could release nearly seven million tonnes of CO² emissions into the atmosphere each year. Ecojustice’s second climate change case is challenging Kinder Morgan’s proposal to twin its existing Trans Mountain Pipeline.

Ecojustice reports to have spent 35% of its F2017 program costs empowering communities and protecting them from toxic chemicals and pollution. It currently has eight healthy community cases in progress. These cases include ensuring Volkswagen pays for its environmental crime, protecting bees from neonicotinoids, monitoring and protecting Canada’s drinking water, and banning the use of harmful pesticides in Canada.

The charity spent 25% of program costs giving a voice to nature and standing up for species and ecosystems that are under threat. Ecojustice reports to currently have six nature cases in progress. These cases include protecting the Gulf of St. Lawrence from oil drilling, protecting wild salmon from piscine reovirus, better implementation of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in Canada, and protecting the sage-grouse.

Results and Impact: Since founding, Ecojustice reports to have won 48 cases: 6 climate change, 15 healthy communities, and 27 nature cases. As a result of the charity’s case against TransCanada, the company announced in October 2017 that it has cancelled its Energy East pipeline project. Ecojustice reports that this victory will keep more than 4,686 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions out of the atmosphere, limit tar sands expansion, and protect the drinking water of more than five million Canadians. In 2017, the charity forced the Ontario government to investigate a flaring incident that happened at Imperial Oil’s refinery in Chemical Valley. As a result, members of the Aamjiwnaang and neighbouring communities will get clarity around what happened at the refinery and how the government intends to address the incident. Ecojustice reports that it partnered with environmental organizations, Indigenous communities, and scientists to give voice to more than 4,842 animal and plant species in 2017.

Financial Review:

Ecojustice is a Large charity with donations of $6.2m in F2017, a 23% increase compared to F2015. Reconciling the charity’s T3010 filings with its audited financial statements, Ci calculated administrative costs are 14% of total revenues and fundraising costs are 20% of donations. Per dollar donated to the charity, $0.66 goes towards its programs, which falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Ecojustice has funding reserves of $4.2m, which can cover 1.3 years of annual program costs.

Ecojustice uses external fundraisers as part of its fundraising activities. In F2017, Ecojustice reported paying $31k to external fundraisers. The charity has not reported the revenue raised by the external fundraisers on behalf of the charity in any of its past 5 years of T3010 CRA filings.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Ecojustice for review. Comments and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 22, 2018 by Derek Houlberg.