News

On Monday, March 10, 2025, three members of the Schulich School of Law participated in Dalhousie University’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Expo showcasing the research posters they created.

The Expo focused on the United Nations (UN) SDGs, 17 universal goals adopted in 2015 by all UN member states, aiming to address global challenges like poverty, hunger, inequality, and climate change, to achieve a better and more sustainable future by 2030.

Graduate Studies and Research Fellow Marie-Louise Aren, JD student Ashoke Mohanraj, and PhD candidate Devdatta Mukherjee took part in the Expo which featured 68 research posters and 34 booths that showcased sustainability initiatives.

The event, which took place in the Dalhousie Student Union Building and was sponsored by the President’s Office, the Office of the Vice President of Research and Innovation, and the Faculty of Science, allowed Dalhousie students to network with over 100 professionals working toward the United Nations SDGs. It also provided the opportunity to learn more about academic programs, leadership opportunities, and community-based volunteer programs in the sustainability sphere.

A special congratulations to Mohanraj who was awarded the People’s Choice Award for Best Poster, as voted by the Expo attendees.

Marie-Louise Aren
Graduate Studies and Research Fellow, Marine & Environmental Law Institute

Transforming Arctic Shipping Impact Assessments: Integrating Rightsholders’ Contexts

Abstract: As climate change opens new Arctic shipping routes, resource extraction has intensified, yet Canada lacks a comprehensive shipping impact assessment that fully integrates rightsholders’ perspectives. This research examines legal gaps in key frameworks governing these assessments, including weak consultation mechanisms, the exclusion of Inuit Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and the prioritisation of industry interests over environmental sustainability. By analysing Canadian laws like the Impact Assessment Act and Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act, alongside global frameworks such as UNCLOS and UNDRIP, this study proposes transformative legal solutions for inclusive, sustainable Arctic shipping impact assessments that advances Indigenous rights, strengthens environmental protection, and aligns with global sustainability goals like SDGs 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Ashoke Mohanraj (on behalf of Food Secure Canada)
JD Student, specializing in Marine and Environmental Law

Shelf-Serving: Who’s Really Benefitting from Subsidies?

Abstract: This research examines the legal implications of grocery retailers in Northern Canada violating contribution agreements with the Government of Canada, specifically, the requirement for a "full subsidy passthrough." The challenge lies in the absence of a clear definition for this requirement, allowing retailers to circumvent it through accounting practices and other measures. This research explores the legal recourse available to both the intended beneficiaries of the subsidy program and the Government of Canada. Central to the work are three key legal questions: Can the government sue retailers for breaching their contribution agreements? Can individuals take legal action against retailers for unjust enrichment? And can individuals sue the government for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, or violations of sections 7 and 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? In addition to examining these legal avenues, the research considers policy reforms to strengthen the program, such as enhancing audit oversight and rethinking how funds are distributed to ensure subsidies reach those who need them most.

Devdatta Mukherjee
PhD student, Graduate Research and Writing Assistant, Marine & Environmental Law Institute

Ocean Sustainability, the World Trade Organization, and Fisheries Subsidies: Mulling Over Some Possibilities in the Meanwhile

Abstract: This research features the negotiation history and state of play of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and enlisted some possible avenues to curb harmful fisheries subsidies while the WTO Appellate Body remains defunct. The Agreement, adopted in 2022, is the first WTO Agreement to place an environmental objective at its core, and the first broadly focused binding multilateral agreement on ocean sustainability. AFS, posited to catalyse fisheries reform, is congruent to the United Nations SDG 14. AFS is yet interim in nature, with an obligation to adopt comprehensive disciplines.