John Olynyk
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
John is a member of the firm’s Indigenous, Environmental, and Project Development practice groups. His practice includes advising private sector and government clients throughout Canada on Indigenous, environmental, regulatory and natural resources matters. John advises oil sands developers, conventional oil and gas companies, railways, mining companies, utilities and other resource developers on environmental regulatory matters and on Indigenous law matters, including Indigenous consultation issues and negotiation of cooperation protocols and impact benefit agreements related to natural resource project development.
John previously acted as Lawson Lundell’s General Counsel and was a member of the firm’s management team.
Overview
- English
- Northwest Territories, 2013
- Alberta, 2001
- B.C. Continuing Legal Education B.C. Real Property Assessment Manual, aboriginal property taxation chapter - Editor
- Project Law Blog - Contributor
- English
- Northwest Territories, 2013
- Alberta, 2001
- B.C. Continuing Legal Education B.C. Real Property Assessment Manual, aboriginal property taxation chapter - Editor
- Project Law Blog - Contributor
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus

- Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice, Calgary, Canada (2021)
- Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice
- Energy Regulatory Law
- The Legal 500 Canada: Indigenous Law
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Aboriginal law
- Chambers Canada: Aboriginal Law
- Chambers Global: Aboriginal Law
News & Media
Additional Information
- Experience
John’s representative experience includes:
Advising clients on strategies for working with the Government of Alberta in the development and application of consultation and accommodation guidelines by the ProvinceAdvising clients on negotiations with aboriginal groups on a range of natural resource, utility and transportation mattersAdvising clients on permitting, regulatory and aboriginal issues for proposed developments in western and northern CanadaAdvising clients on matters related to negotiation and implementation of self government agreements, land claims agreements and treatiesRepresenting a group of oil sands developers, power and gas utilities and other companies in the negotiation of a consultation and accommodation agreement with the provincial and federal governments and five First Nations in northeastern AlbertaHelping a major Canadian oil and gas company successfully resolve aboriginal issues arising in the course of regulatory applications for an expansion to a heavy oil project in AlbertaAdvising a major Canadian oil and gas company on negotiation of access agreements and benefits plans for exploration activity in the Northwest TerritoriesAdvising major conventional oil and gas companies on aboriginal matters in Alberta and British Columbia, including issues arising on Indian reserves and on Métis settlementsAdvising a national railway company on aboriginal matters across Canada, including the negotiation and implementation of ground-breaking agreements on aboriginal property taxation jurisdiction, resolution of historic grievances and local issues, and acquisition of Indian reserve lands for right of way expansionsAdvising natural resource developers on the negotiation of a joint venture business arrangements with an Alberta First NationAssisting a major public utility in negotiating and drafting impact benefits agreements with aboriginal groups affected by a proposed gas pipeline to Vancouver Island, with the result that aboriginal concerns were not an issue before the National Energy BoardActing as negotiator, facilitator and legislative drafter for a government client in the development of legislation implementing provisions of land claims agreements
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