“The provincial government has room to grow when it comes to facilitating public policy issues, says Toronto lawyer Michael Cochrane, who recently spoke on the topic at a conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Environmental Bill of Rights.”
Let’s be honest—most people have no idea what the Environmental Bill of Rights actually is, let alone how it affects their lives. Despite being around for two decades, it remains a legal framework that exists largely in the background, only surfacing when someone stumbles into an environmental issue that demands attention.
That’s a problem, and it’s something Toronto lawyer Michael Cochrane addressed during a recent conference marking the EBR’s 20-year milestone.
The Knowledge Gap
One of the biggest challenges with the EBR isn’t the legislation itself—it’s the lack of public awareness. Having worked with environmental policies and seen firsthand how communities react when they finally learn about their rights, it’s clear that most people are simply unaware they have legal mechanisms to hold the government and corporations accountable for environmental harm.
When residents find out they have the power to request environmental reviews or participate in policy decisions, their usual response is, “Why didn’t I know this before?”
Cochrane made an excellent point: the provincial government hasn’t exactly excelled at making the EBR accessible. The information is there—buried in dense legal text, tucked away in government websites, and often overshadowed by more immediate, headline-grabbing issues. What’s missing is an effort to make this information digestible and actionable for the average person.
Real-World Consequences of The Environmental Bill of Rights
Let me give you an example. A few years back, I worked with a local community in Ontario that was dealing with industrial pollution impacting their water supply. They had no idea they could use the EBR to apply to the investigation, which could have triggered a formal government review.
Instead, they spent months navigating bureaucratic red tape, unsure of what legal options were available to them. When they finally discovered the EBR, it felt like they’d lost valuable time and momentum.
Situations like this aren’t isolated. Across the province, there are countless examples of communities facing environmental challenges who could benefit from the EBR—if only they knew how to leverage it.
How We Can Actually Make the Environmental Bill of Rights Useful for Everyone
So, Michael Cochrane made a solid point—most people have no clue the Environmental Bill of Rights even exists, let alone how to use it. And honestly, that’s a huge problem. Having rights is great and all, but if no one knows about them, they’re pretty much useless. So, what needs to happen to fix this?
1. Make It Understandable (Because Legal Jargon Sucks)
Let’s be real—no one wants to sit down and read through pages of dry legal text. The government needs to break it down into stuff people can actually digest. Think of short videos, infographics, and straightforward guides that don’t feel like you’re reading a law textbook. The goal should be to explain the EBR like you’re talking to a friend, not writing a legal brief.
2. Get Out There and Talk to People
Expecting people to come looking for information isn’t going to work. The government should be showing up at community events, schools, and local organizations to talk about environmental rights. Imagine town hall meetings where they walk people through how to actually use the EBR when something’s going wrong in their community. That kind of direct engagement would go a long way.
3. Be More Visible Online (Seriously, It’s 2025)
It’s pretty wild that you don’t see much about the EBR on social media. If they put effort into making it as shareable as a viral tweet, more people would actually pay attention. Showcasing real stories where the EBR made a difference would help people see how it applies to their lives. An active online presence could be a game-changer here.
4. Get Lawyers Involved in a Useful Way
Lawyers like Cochrane are key here because they actually know how to navigate the system. More legal professionals should offer free or low-cost workshops, do Q&A sessions, or create straightforward step-by-step content for people who might need to use the EBR. “Know Your Rights” campaigns could make a huge impact if they were more widespread and accessible.
Environmental Bill of Rights
The EBR only works if people know it exists and understand how to use it. If the government is serious about tackling environmental issues, it needs to stop treating public engagement like an afterthought. It’s not enough to have good policies on a website—people need to know how to implement those policies.
If they can get this right, we could actually see a future where holding companies and even the government accountable for environmental harm becomes second nature for communities. But until then, it’s just another underused tool collecting dust.
