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- Manitoba to Develop GHG Reporting
- Jane Goodall Weighs In on Climate Change
- Water Projects Dead?
- Pimicikamak Survey Manitoba Political Leaders
- Doer Promises Protection for Aboriginal Lands
- Poplar River Protection Promised in Election
- Environment Tops 2007 Election Issues
- Hydro to Report to Minnesota Legislature
- Green Green Water International Tour
- 'Green Power' Transmission Grid Meetings Held
- East Side WNO Chiefs Accord Reviewed
- Pimicikamak Show Of Power At Jenpeg Dam
| Manitoba to Develop GHG Reporting | 23 May 07 |
 The Government of Manitoba will collaborate with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and Canadian Climate Exchange (CCE) to develop a system for reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This will also provide a price signal and financial incentive for emissions reductions. The three parties will also work together to help proponents develop and showcase GHG emission reducing projects.Manitoba's objective is to be the first Canadian province to legislate provincial GHG emission reduction targets. The conceptual design of a web-based portal that would facilitate public reporting of GHG inventories and emission reducing projects is intended as the first phase of a Manitoba-based Climate Change Registry. Another objective is to address the demand for verified GHG credits from organizations wishing to reduce their GHG footprint. Manitoba Wildlands Director Gaile Whelan Enns commented: "First a transparent carbon stocks inventory needs to be in place; then all emissions should be made public. Manitoba's legislated targets for true emissions reductions will then be credible, based on transparent emissions and carbon information." View April 23, 2007 Canadian Standards Association press release View April 23, 2007 Canadian Climate Exchange press release View December 14, 2006 Manitoba Government press release Sources: Canadian Standards Association, Canadian Climate Exchange
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| Jane Goodall Weighs In on Climate Change | 23 May 07 |
 Renowned primatologist and UN Messenger of Peace, Jane Goodall, spoke out on climate change recently, noting species extinctions and deforestation will be exacerbated by the effects of climate change.Goodall makes the link between the health of primate populations, as well as species like elephants, tigers and chimpanzees and the health of rainforests that are their habitat. She also draws attention to crucial values of intact forests; their role in curing human diseases and as a significant storehouse of the world's carbon stocks. Goodall's says threats to forests will increase due to effects of climate change as has been predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Large-scale commercial exploitation (for example to feed enthusiasm for biofuels) and rapidly increasing destruction of forests to make charcoal all drive deforestation. Goodall's argues that protecting forests prevents the release of carbon currently stored while the forests continue absorbing carbon in the future. View the April 23, 2007 Miami Herald article Visit the Jane Goodall Institute website Source: Miami Herald
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| Water Projects Dead? | 16 May 07 |
 Opponents of the controversial OlyWest hog slaughtering plant are cheering because all three political party leaders have indicated during the Manitoba election the controversial project will not proceed in Winnipeg.Both the Liberal and PC leaders have said OlyWest would not be built in Winnipeg under their watch and the NDP leader has said that Winnipeggers have been heard loud and clear. Gary Doer stated, "There's no money for OlyWest. The money has been withdrawn. Period. Full stop." Manitoba's Clean Environment Commission's (CEC) website indicates the OlyWest review process is on hold. Unless the Commission is instructed clearly, the hearing and licensing process could resume if OlyWest re-submits an amended proposal. Lack of clarity also exists about the proposed Pembina Valley Water Cooperative (PVWC) Supplemental Groundwater Supply project. A PVWC project summary posted April 17th on the government's website indicates "[t]he delays recommended by the CEC and Manitoba Water Stewardship . . . constitute an inequitable requirement not applied to other projects of a similar nature". For this reason, "the Director decided to issue an Environment Act Licence for the project". The PVWC requested the licence not be finalized until they say so because of concerns respecting an appeal process. "Conservation Minister Stan Struthers says the province will be following the recommendations of the Clean Environment Commission (CEC) report on the public hearings on the Pembina Valley Water Cooperative's (PVWC) proposal for a supplemental groundwater supply system," according to a February 2007 government release. View the May 17, 2007 Manitoba Co-Operator article (DOC) View the May 9, 2007 CBC article View the May 9, 2007 Winnipeg Free Press article View the May 8, 2007 CBC article Visit the CEC web page for the OlyWest hearings View the April 17, 2007 PVWC Project Summary (PDF) View the February 14, 2007 Manitoba Conservation release Visit Manitoba Wildlands' Pembina Valley Water Cooperative page and our February 19, 2007 news item Sources: CBC, Winnipeg Free Press, CEC
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| Pimicikamak Survey Manitoba Political Leaders | 15 May 07 |
 Following their demonstration at JenPeg dam north of Lake Winnipeg, in Manitoba, Thursday May 10 where 1000 persons gathered in support of the community, Pimicikamak is again surveying Manitoba political leaders before Manitobans vote May 22, 2007. Manitoba Liberal Leader Dr. Jon Gerrarrd said the Liberal Party of Manitoba would act on the Pimicikamak demand for action to implement the spirit and intent of the original Northern Flood Agreement (NFA) treaty. The Pimicikamak Okimawin May 2nd letter to Manitoba political party leaders asked for a response their call to action during of the Manitoba election campaign. The letter includes a list of eight remedial actions. The commitments received will help the next Manitoba government honour the NFA and resolve outstanding elements of the treaty while improving the relationship between the Pimicikamak and Manitoba Hydro. The response from the Manitoba Liberal Party is the only response from Manitoba political leaders to date. View the May 15, 2007 Pimicikamak Okimawin press release (PDF) View the May 14, 2007 Pimicikamak Okimawin letter (DOC) View Manitoba Wildlands' news items with Pimicikamak documents: May 10, 2007 - Hydro to Report to Minnesota Legislature May 3, 2007- Pimicikamak Show Of Power At Jenpeg Dam Sources: Pimicikamak Okimawin
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| Doer Promises Protection for Aboriginal Lands | 15 May 07 |
The Manitoba NDP committed to "new protection for sensitive ecological treasures such as the proposed UNESCO heritage site on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg". The commitment was part of a May 7th election announcement. The NDP release indicated: "Today's NDP will move forward to protect the East Side of Lake Winnipeg by introducing a new legislative tool for protecting designated areas and implementing land use plans..."Currently, of the four Manitoba First Nations involved in the WHS process, only Poplar River's traditional lands First Nation are protected from development - on an interim basis until 2009. Pauingassi and Little Grand Rapids have petitioned the government for interim protection of their traditional territories while they develop land use plans without any success to date. According to the release, "The proposed legislation will create a new protected areas designation, which would allow East Side First Nations to create and implement their land-use plans and ensure the area is protected..." Interim protection is an essential tool for planning, enabling a community to focus on planning with the certainty that development permits or licences are not issued while planning takes place. Several legislative mechanisms already exist for interim and permanent protection of lands in Manitoba. Manitoba Wildlands director Gaile Whelan Enns commented: "We are pleased the NDP will make lands protection options available to all First Nations whose lands are in the east side planning initiative area. Delay must be avoided, especially after several years of meetings. Interim protection options are available for immediate lands protection enactment." View the May 11, 2007 Manitoba NDP announcement(DOC) View the May 7, 2007 Manitoba NDP announcement(DOC) View April 30, 2007 Manitoba Wildlands' 2007 election news item Sources: Manitoba NDP, Manitoba Wildlands
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| Poplar River Protection Promised in Election | 15 May 07 |
 The Manitoba NDP has promised permanent protection of the Poplar/Nanowin Rivers Park Reserve in the election. As part of the election tour visit to Poplar River First Nation May 11th, NDP Leader Gary Doer committed to protecting east side First Nations' traditional lands that are part of the proposed World Heritage Site (WHS) by "introducing a new legislative tool for protecting designated areas and implementing land use plans". He also told members of Poplar River First Nation that their traditional lands encompassed by current protected land the park reserve would be permanently protected if the NDP forms government. It is unclear how the new legislative tool will be developed or whether the Parks Act will be amended to accommodate a new designation for Aboriginal or First Nation protected lands. Various legislative tools for interim and permanent protection of Manitoba lands already exist to accommodate permanent protection for Poplar River First Nation's traditional lands. Gaile Whelan Enns, Manitoba Wildlands director commented: "This is not a new promise. Permanent protection can be enacted now." View May 11, 2007 Manitoba NDP election announcement(DOC) View May 12, 2007 Winnipeg Free Press article (DOC) View Manitoba Wildlands' 2007 Election Survey Visit the Poplar River First Nation's website Sources: Manitoba NDP, Winnipeg Free Press, Manitoba Wildlands, Poplar River First Nation
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| Environment Tops 2007 Election Issues | 15 May 07 |
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Environmental issues are in the spotlight as all four major political parties vie for Manitobans' support during the 2007 provincial election. Manitoba Progressive Conservatives have taken on the NDP on the issue of transmission lines for the province's east side boreal region, while the Liberals have focused on water issues such as the health of Lake Winnipeg, and on climate change initiatives. The environment is the basis for the Green Party election platform, which charts a path to a sustainable society. A recent announcement calls for a ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides. The incumbent Manitoba NDP has committed to protecting Aboriginal lands on the east side of the province, while at the same time pledging funds to build a cross-country east-west power grid. They also announced WaterSmart, in support of water conservation measures for the province. View May 11, 2007 Manitoba NDP announcement(DOC) View May 9, 2007 Manitoba NDP announcement(DOC) View May 7, 2007 Manitoba NDP announcement(DOC) View May 12, 2007 Manitoba Progressive Conservative announcement View the 2007 Manitoba Liberal Environment Platform View the May 7, 2007 Manitoba Liberal announcement View the 2007 Manitoba Green Party Environment Platform pages 7-13 (PDF) View the May 9, 2007 Manitoba Green Party announcement (PDF) View Manitoba Wildlands' April 30, 2007 news item: Final Responses - 2007 Election Survey Sources: Manitoba NDP, Manitoba Progressive Conservatives, Manitoba Liberal Party, Manitoba Green Party
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| Hydro to Report to Minnesota Legislature | 10 May 07 |
 Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed an amendment to Minnesota law May 8, 2007 that requires Manitoba Hydro to account for environmental and social impacts on First Nations signatory to the Northern Flood Agreement (NFA). The NFA is a treaty signed in the late 1970s by five Manitoba First Nations after extensive damage to lands and waters from the hydro project in northern Manitoba. Chief John Miswagon of Pimicikamak was pleased with the new requirements, "Manitoba Hydro now has to report to Minnesota - which buys 40% of Hydro's power - for impacts it is causing or contributing to by operating its hydro project. We hope this will provoke Hydro to start behaving responsibly." The Pimicikamak community is located above Lake Winnipeg, with the Jenpeg dam nearby. The new Minnesota Environment & Energy Omnibus Bill requires Manitoba Hydro to annually report to the state legislature on affected communities and the environment, specifically:
View the May 9, 2007 Pimicikamak Okimawin press release (PDF) View the May 8, 2007 Fresh Energy press release (DOC) View May 5, 2007 article in The Drum View Minnesota Senate 85th Legislative Session (relevant section at: 166.6 to 166.21) View the Manitoba Wildlands Election 2007 survey, Manitoba Hydro section View the May 3, 2007 Manitoba Wildlands news item Sources: Pimicikamak Okimawin, Fresh Energy, The Drum
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| Green Green Water International Tour | 08 May 07 |
 The controversial documentary film, Green Green Water is continuing to reach audiences around the world.In March 2007, the 13-minute preview for Green Green Water was screened in 10 cities across Canada as part of the "Water" Tour, an initiative of The National Film Board of Canada's CITIZENshift project with Council of Canadians, Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives (KAIROS) and Canadian Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGS). In April 2007 the film was screened at Ottawa University, Kansas as well as Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet, Minnesota. In June 2007, it will appear at The Native Spirit Film & Video Festival in London, UK. The documentary explores Manitoba hydroelectric power impacts on the lives of thousands of Aboriginal people in northern Manitoba, as told by the residents. "It is a story about power - power from hydroelectric dams. . . the power to destroy an ancient culture . . . the power of money. . . the power of Indigenous people who refuse to be powerless in their struggle to survive. . . and the power of activism." A DVD version of the film is also now available for purchase through the Green Green Water website. Visit the Green Green Water website View the Green Green Water 13-minute preview on CITIZENshift website View the Green Green Water screening locations at The Native Spirit Film & Video Festival in London, UK View previous Manitoba Wildlands news items: March 16, 2006 & October 25, 2005 Source: Green Green Water
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| 'Green Power' Transmission Grid Meetings Held | 08 May 07 |
 Provincial energy and natural resources Ministers from Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador met with aboriginal leaders and electricity infrastructure representatives to discuss potential for a cross-Canada 'green power' transmission grid.The April 19, 2007 Ottawa meeting resulted in a statement urging a national policy for electricity trade among provinces. The aim is to fuel construction of an east-west transmission grid to enhance assumed economic opportunities for Aboriginal peoples and other local communities. The statement recognized the need to protect ecological integrity by establishing conservation first principles for any energy grid project. 'Conservation First', articulated by the WWF, CBI, CPAWS and other environmental organizations in Canada, requires that valuable and vulnerable parts of a boreal forest region be protected from development impacts before development decisions are made. "Canada's Boreal Forest is the largest terrestrial storehouse of carbon on the planet. . . Protecting the carbon stored in intact Boreal Forest ecosystems must be part of the plan for any new resource development project," said Anna Baggio Director, Conservation Land Use Planning for CPAWS Wildlands League. The conservation group outlined pre-conditions a cross-country grid project must meet:
View the April 19, 2007 CPAWS Wildlands League release and backgrounder (PDF) View the April 20, 2007 Globe and Mail article on the Corporate Knights website View information on the WWF's 'Conservation First' approach View Manitoba Wildlands' information on the east-west power grid View Manitoba Wildlands' March 15, 2007 news item Sources: Corporate Knights, Globe and Mail, Wildlands League, The Tyee
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| East Side WNO Chiefs Accord Reviewed | 08 May 07 |
 An accord between east side First Nations Chiefs and the Manitoba Government was finalized and released April 3, 2007. The Wabanong Nakaygum Okimawin Council of Chiefs Accord was negotiated as part of Wabanong Nakaygum Okimawin (WNO) process.
It is not clear from the press release or the accord itself which or how many east side First Nations Chiefs actually signed the accord.Manitoba Wildlands commissioned an independent legal review of the April 2007 accord by Moses Okimaw, a respected lawyer and former Chief of the Manto Sipi First Nation (God's River). This review follows his October 2006 review of a draft version of the WNO Protocol. Primary observations contained in the April 2007 legal review:
The original East Side Planning Initiative (now WNO) included "maintaining the ecological integrity and biological functions of the boreal forest within the planning area" as one of its fundamental principles. As part of its response to Manitoba Wildlands' election survey, the Manitoba NDP (current government) has stated that the original fundamental principles of the ESPI will be upheld in WNO process. View the April 3, 2007 Government of Manitoba press release View the Manitoba Government WNO posting of WNO Accord View the April 30, 2007 Review of the WNO Council of Chiefs Accord by lawyer Moses Okimaw (DOC) Visit Manitoba Wildlands' WNO section of our East Side Planning Initiative page Sources: Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Wildlands
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| Pimicikamak Show Of Power At Jenpeg Dam | 03 May 07 |
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On Thursday, May 10, from 10 am to 2 pm, Pimicikamak and its supporters, including other indigenous parties to the Manitoba Northern Flood Agreement, will stage a show of power at Jenpeg dam near Cross Lake. The Northern Flood Agreement was signed with 5 northern Manitoba Nations in the 1970's after massive flooding and other damages from construction of Manitoba Hydro's Churchill River Diversion. Pimicikamak is mobilizing support and action for justice, and for protection of the boreal waters and environment. This is the next stage in Pimicikamak's fight to take back what has been and continues to be taken from it - its rights, its lands, waters, way of life, and dignity. Pimicikamak is puttting the governments of Manitoba and Canada, the political parties running in the Manitoba election to be held May 22, and Manitoba Hydro, on notice of its demands for just resolutions and its intent to see this through. (See attachments.) All signatories to the Northern Flood Agreement, and Manitoba political parties are expected to respond during the current Manitoba election. View the Pimicikamak Notice of Indigenous Power (PDF) View the Pimicikamak May 3, 2007 press release, with contact information (PDF) View the Pimicikamak backgrounder (PDF) Source: Pimicikamak
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