Title: Urban Stress, Energy Decline, and the Charter: | 1being

Title: Urban Stress, Energy Decline, and the Charter: | 1being

Title: Urban Stress, Energy Decline, and the Charter: How Canada’s Land Policies Threaten Security and Equality Amidst Global Resource Depletion

Summary

Since the global energy peak in 2014, urban areas are increasingly strained, facing rising crime and resource scarcity. With fossil fuels projected to run out by 2040, denying access to agricultural land threatens mass depopulation, violating Canadians' Charter rights.

Net Energy Decline, Fossil Fuel Depletion, and Urban Collapse

Since the world passed its net energy peak in 2014, the pressure on urban centers has dramatically intensified. Urban infrastructure, heavily reliant on fossil fuels, now faces escalating strain as the global depletion of fossil fuels accelerates. Current estimates indicate that we are on pace to effectively run out of most fossil fuels by 2040, which will lead to catastrophic consequences for urban areas. As these energy resources dwindle, key systems like industrial food production, transportation, and heating will become unsustainable.

The imminent depletion of energy resources will lead to a phase change, where food supply chains will collapse. Urban grocery stores, which rely on just-in-time logistics and fossil fuel-driven transportation, will no longer be able to supply food to the majority of urban residents. This impending breakdown could lead to massive depopulation among those who lack access to agricultural land, as urban populations will be left without the means to grow food or secure other basic necessities.

These factors are well known and documented within both government and environmental circles. The failure to take adequate action to address this looming crisis—such as ensuring widespread access to agricultural land and promoting self-sufficiency—could be seen as a form of criminal negligence. By refusing to mitigate these foreseeable and potentially devastating outcomes, governments are neglecting their duty to protect the basic rights and survival of their citizens.

Violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides essential protections, two of which are particularly relevant to the current situation regarding access to land and resource management:

  1. Section 7 – Right to Life, Liberty, and Security of the Person: Section 7 guarantees that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or security of the person except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. Security of the person must be interpreted to include access to basic resources, such as food, water, and land—resources necessary for survival, especially as industrial systems falter. The current structure, where the government controls vast amounts of Crown land and sells it only at "fair market prices" while allowing wealthy elites to hoard what remains, restricts Canadians' access to the means needed for securing their own well-being. This situation could be seen as a violation of individuals' security under Section 7.

  2. Section 15 – Equality Rights: Section 15 guarantees that all individuals are equal before and under the law without discrimination. When access to critical resources such as agricultural land is disproportionately controlled by a small, wealthy elite, the majority of Canadians are left without the means to live sustainably or provide for their families in times of crisis. This creates a deep socio-economic inequality that violates the spirit, and potentially the letter, of Section 15.

Hoarding of Crown Land and Sale at "Fair Market Prices"

Canada’s government controls 89% of the country’s total landmass, with a significant portion classified as Crown land. While much of this land is either environmentally sensitive or sparsely populated, the current policies governing its use and sale limit public access to critical resources, especially in light of the looming food and energy crises.

The primary issue lies in the fact that Crown land is sold at “fair market prices,” which renders it inaccessible to the average Canadian. This system enables wealthy corporations and individuals to acquire large portions of land, leaving the general population without the means to secure agricultural land, firewood, or personal security. In the face of fossil fuel depletion and impending food shortages, denying citizens access to these resources forces them into unsustainable dependence on urban systems that are already showing signs of failure.

Security of Person as a Human Right to Land

Access to land should be viewed as a human right under a broad interpretation of security of the person. Although the Charter does not explicitly guarantee land ownership, it is arguable that the right to life and security inherently includes access to the resources necessary for survival, especially as society approaches a critical energy and resource threshold.

Without access to agricultural land or the ability to produce food and other essentials, urban populations will face increased vulnerability to starvation, exposure, and deprivation as industrial food systems collapse. The continued hoarding of land by the government and elites, especially in a time of growing resource constraints, should be seen as a violation of the right to security of the person.

Arguments for the Right to Land as Security of Person

  1. Land and Food Sovereignty: The concept of food sovereignty speaks to the right of individuals to secure their own food and resources from the land. Government policies that restrict access to agricultural land prevent people from achieving food sovereignty, effectively infringing on their right to life and security under the Charter.

  2. Self-Sufficiency: As we approach peak fossil fuel depletion, it becomes increasingly important for individuals to have the ability to grow their own food, heat their homes, and sustain themselves independently of industrial systems. Without access to land, individuals will be forced into unsustainable dependence on centralized systems that are unlikely to meet the needs of all citizens in a time of resource scarcity. This denial of basic self-sufficiency may amount to a violation of their fundamental rights to life and security.

  3. Monopolization of Resources by the Wealthy: Allowing a small elite to control vast amounts of land prioritizes their financial gain over the survival and well-being of the majority. This unequal distribution of land creates a socio-economic divide that threatens both equality rights and the security of the person under the Charter.

Legal and Constitutional Challenge

If Canadians were to pursue legal challenges, the core argument would be that the government’s policies:

  • Deny citizens access to critical resources, such as agricultural land, food, and firewood, which are essential for survival in the face of energy and food system collapses.
  • Perpetuate socio-economic inequality by allowing a small elite to hoard land while the majority of Canadians are priced out of the market, effectively depriving them of their right to security.
  • Restrict the ability to achieve security of the person, as guaranteed by Section 7, through policies that limit access to land necessary for sustainable living.

Given the known trajectory of resource depletion and urban fragility, the government's refusal to take action to ensure widespread access to agricultural land and other survival resources amounts to more than negligence. It constitutes a breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, leaving Canadians vulnerable to foreseeable crises and violations of their most basic rights.