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- Climate Coalition Discouraged By Survey Results
- Election Survey Results Posted
- Manitoba Wildlands Site Soars
- Election Eco-Olympics Announced
- Manitoba Wildlands Surveys Federal Parties
- Wuskwatim Federal Environmental Study Reviewed
- US Coal Plant Emissions Investigated
- 800 Species on Verge of Extinction
- US Senate Rejects Arctic Oil Drilling Provision
- Doer Renews Commitment to World Heritage Site
- Manitoba Receives Lofty Award
- The Right To Be Cold
| Climate Coalition Discouraged By Survey Results | 17 January 06 |
 The Canadian Climate Coalition, a nation-wide network of groups working on climate action, sent a questionnaire to all five major parties to verify positions on the Kyoto Protocol. Only the Conservative Party refused to respond."The purpose of the survey was to determine future actions to reduce greenhouse gases in Canada. Only the NDP and the Green Party were prepared to state specific targets for future action. The Liberals have committed in general terms to long term targets after launching the process to negotiate post-2012 emission reductions last month in Montreal," noted Brent R. Kopperson, Executive Director of the Windfall Ecology Centre. "It appears that a Canadian government under Stephen Harper would move Canada more into the same camp as U.S. President George W. Bush," noted Kathryn Malloy, Executive Director of the British Columbia Chapter of Sierra Club of Canada. View the full January 17, 2006 press release on the Canadian Climate Coalition web site View the Response Grid to the Questions Posed to the five main parties (DOC) View the Backgrounder on the Conservative Party position on Climate Change (DOC) Source: Canadian Climate Coalition |
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| Election Survey Results Posted | 16 January 06 |
 Answers to Manitoba Wildlands 2006 federal environment election survey are now posted.The New Democratic Party, Liberal Party and Green Party answered the 2006 survey. The Conservative Party of Canada, despite several contacts with their staff, did not answer the questions. The Bloc answers a limited number of national surveys, and does not answer surveys that are regional. Links to other 2006 federal election environment surveys are provided with the Manitoba Wildlands survey answers. "We surveyed the political parties about Lake Winnipeg, climate change, environmental assessments in our province, and about federal responsibility in energy projects, with the aim to obtain answers to important Manitoba questions," said Gaile Whelan Enns, director, Manitoba Wildlands. View Manitoba Wildlands' 2006 Federal Election Survey Questions View Manitoba Wildlands' 2006 Federal Election Survey Questions & Responses View other 2006 federal election surveys Source: Manitoba Wildlands |
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| Manitoba Wildlands Site Soars | 13 January 06 |
 Each January we provide our visitors and supporters an update about the web site you all use so much! In 2005 unique visitor stats increased significantly, with proportion of bytes and downloads also increasing beyond previous rates per unique visitor.During 2005 there were 70,174 total unique visitors to the Manitoba Wildlands web site, for a total of 131,975 unique visitors since fall 2002 when the site was launched. For those who think only in hits, we average between 200,000 and 300,000 hits per month. During 2005 ManitobaWildlands.org changes included a new work products listing, significant new content in Water and Climate Change pages. Traffic to Protected Areas, Biodiversity pages stays high, and the News page remains the favourite entry page. A redesign, which includes the new Manitoba Wildlands owl logo was completed in late fall. Please keep your comments coming to info@manitobawildands.org, tell your friends about the site, or sign up for our weekly Manitoba Wildlands bulletins. Access our new RSS service. We thank all our visitors and supporters, and look forward to providing a great web site during 2006. |
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| Election Eco-Olympics Announced | 12 January 06 |
 For the third time in a Canadian federal election, Sierra Club of Canada, using the metaphor of the Olympics, issued its list of the top environmentally aware candidates across the country.SCC Executive Director Elizabeth May told Manitoba Wildlands; "There are environmental leaders in the ranks of all the parties. This is our way of thanking them." The medals this year are awarded to over one hundred candidates from the Liberal, Conservative, NDP, Bloc and Green Parties. The medal rankings are as follows: Liberal Party - 35 New Democratic Party - 34 Green Party - 23 Conservative Party - 6 Bloc Québécois- 4 The leaders of four national parties received Eco-Olympic medals. Paul Martin, Jack Layton, Gilles Duceppe and Jim Harris were all noted for aspects of their records. Manitoba Eco Olympic medal winners are listed on page six of the national roster, see link below. The Sierra Club of Canada Eco-Olympics medals are not endorsements, nor are they exhaustive. The awarding of medals was based on a call for nominations to members across the country. In the 2004 election, 80 candidates received medals. In 2000, 42 candidates were recognized. View full Sierra Club of Canada January 11, 2006 release View Eco Olympics national roster Source: Sierra Club of Canada |
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| Manitoba Wildlands Surveys Federal Parties | 09 January 06 |
| Manitoba Wildlands is surveying the five federal political parties about their positions on environmental issues and federal responsibilities in Manitoba, prior to Canada's election on January 23, 2006. The approach taken for the 2006 election survey is similar to the one used in the 2004 federal election. Questions regarding Energy, Climate Change, Water, Species At Risk, Protected Areas/National Parks, Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and Lands and Water Planning/Use are included in this year's survey. Answers to the survey will be posted as received. Election surveys from national environmental organizations are also linked below. View Manitoba Wildlands 2006 Federal Election Survey View Manitoba Wildlands 2006 Federal Election Survey Questions & Responses View previous Manitoba Wildlands election surveys View Greenpeace Canada 2006 Federal Election Survey View Sierra Club of Canada 2006 Federal Election Survey Source: Manitoba Wildlands |
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| Wuskwatim Federal Environmental Study Reviewed | 06 January 06 |
 Several public interest groups and communities provided comments on the federal comprehensive study report (CSR) for the Wuskwatim Generation project, for the public review deadline December 21, 2005. The CSR, authored by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, was released in November 2005, almost 18 months following the public review hearings held by Manitoba's Clean Environment Commission. Manitoba Wildlands, along with the Manitoba Métis Federation, Pimicikimak Cree Nation, Trapline 18, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and others provided commentary on the CSR. Deficiencies in the CSR, the significant unresolved public concerns about the Wuskwatim projects, and various challenges related to environmental effects and the review process itself were cited as grounds for Canada's Minister of the Environment to refer the hydro development for further review. Members of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, a co-proponent of Wuskwatim along with Manitoba Hydro, must also vote on contents of a project development agreement, and whether or not to proceed with Wuskwatim. No date has been set for the community vote, though it is not likely to be before spring 2006. View Manitoba Wildlands' December 21, 2005 letter (PDF) View Manitoba Wildlands' general comments, Wuskwatim federal CSR (PDF) View Manitoba Wildlands' page by page comments, Wuskwatim federal CSR (PDF) Visit EnergyManitoba.org for history, evidence, presentations, etc, from the hearings. View further sets of federal CSR review comments on the Wuskwatim page Source: Manitoba Wildlands |
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| US Coal Plant Emissions Investigated | 04 January 06 |
 The NAFTA Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) announced December 2005 that it intends to launch an investigation into the US government's failure to enforce its environmental laws. Following a complaint submitted by several Canadian and American environmental groups, the CEC Secretariat formally recommended that an investigation be launched into allegations that the US government and its Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are failing to uphold provisions of the Clean Water Act concerning emissions of mercury from coal fired power plants.The Submitters claim that emissions from power plants in ten states represent almost 60 percent of U.S. mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants and that the alleged failure to enforce the CWA in those ten states is "reflective of the broader problem in the U.S." "The CEC Secretariat's decision is a welcome step towards ensuring that the US government acts to protect the health of our waterways and at-risk mothers and children in the US and Canada," said Scott Edwards, Legal Director of Waterkeeper Alliance, one of the environmental groups involved in the case. The CEC was established under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) to address environmental issues in North America from a continental perspective. The citizen submissions mechanism of the CEC enables the public to play a whistle-blower role on matters of environmental law enforcement. View the December 13, 2005 Sierra Legal Defense Fund release View the December 14, 2005 Globe & Mail article View the December 13, 2005 NAFTA CEC release View the December 14, 2005 Environmental News Service article Source: NAFTA, CEC, Sierra Legal Defense Fund |
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| 800 Species on Verge of Extinction | 04 January 06 |
 A study drawn up by a coalition of leading conservation groups lists and maps almost 800 species, which they say will disappear soon unless urgent measures are taken. Most of the 800 are now found only in one location, mainly in the tropics. This makes them particularly vulnerable, but also makes their protection very possible. Researchers say protecting some of these sites would cost only $1,000 per year. Behind the study is the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), an umbrella organization including, among others, the Zoological Society of London, Conservation International, and the American Bird Conservancy. The AZE website includes an interactive map showing the locations of endangered species. View the AZE interactive extinction map View the December 12, 2005 BBC article Visit the UN World Conservation Monitoring Centre Sources: BBC, AZE |
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| US Senate Rejects Arctic Oil Drilling Provision | 23 December 05 |
 The US Senate voted Wednesday, December 22, 2005 against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) of Alaska - defeating yet another attempt in a long history of battling to open the area for oil drilling.It was an important victory for wildlife and aboriginal peoples in both Canada and the United States. Conservationists, who have worked tirelessly to motivate public opinion and lobby for the continued protection of the area, were jubilant at the latest victory. Drilling supporters had viewed attachment of the ANWR provision to the defense spending measure as a last-ditch effort to finally give oil companies access to the refuge. Elizabeth May told Manitoba Wildlands, "Many leaders in Canada, in the environmental movement and in government, particularly Stephane Dion and Paul Martin, worked with leaders and citizens in the US to keep the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge safe." ANWR sprawls across 19 million acres and is home to caribou, polar bears, migratory birds and other wildlife. View the December 21, 2005 WWF Canada news release View two December 22, 2005 articles in the New York Times: one & two View the Sierra Club US Executive Director's blog on the ANWR View an ANWR chronology by Reuters on Planet Ark View the December 17, 2005 Washington Post editorial View the November 24, 2005 Manitoba Wildlands news item on ANWR Visit the Arctic Wildlife web site Sources: WWF Canada, Sierra Club US, Reuters, New York Times |
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| Doer Renews Commitment to World Heritage Site | 20 December 05 |
| At the recent Climate Leaders Summit in Montreal, coinciding with the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 11) and the 1st Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (MOP 1), Manitoba Premier Gary Doer made a point of referring to the proposed boreal forest World Heritage Site (WHS) for the east side of our province - and unequivocally reiterating his government's support for the WHS. On December 6, 2005 as part of his welcoming address at the Summit, Premier Doer commented that "[t]o make sure we are not practicing the elimination of our forests we are setting aside areas of the Boreal forest on the East side of Lake Winnipeg and not building transmission lines through that East Side of Lake Winnipeg. We would prefer that to be a UNESCO Heritage Site." The Premier's WHS commitment is welcomed as the latest in a series from the Manitoba Government, despite the fact that so far the commitment has largely been symbolic; no resources to facilitate community land use planning and traditional use studies for WHS communities have been announced. Requests from the communities for interim protection of their lands have not been acted on. Visit the Montreal Leaders Forum web site View Manitoba Wildlands' list of Manitoba Government WHS commitments (PDF) Sources: Manitoba Wildlands |
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| Manitoba Receives Lofty Award | 20 December 05 |
 Manitoba was named a "Low Carbon Leader of the Decade" by Business Week magazine and The Climate Group. The awards, sponsored by The Climate Group, were handed out on December 7 during a special ceremony at the Climate Leaders Summit in Montreal. The Climate Group has noted Manitoba as a leader in geothermal heating/cooling, manufacture of hybrid buses (though none are currently in use in Winnipeg), promotion of ethanol, elimination of coal from its electricity generation mix, promotion of a national energy grid and generation of "clean" hydroelectricity. The Climate Group is made up of international governmental and corporate members (including Manitoba who is a founding member) working to address climate change while "growing the bottom line," and "boosting profitability." Of the organization's 24 members, 17 were among the winners of the 2005 awards. Award recipients from beyond the Group's membership included General Electric, Dow Chemical, Alcoa, Weyerhaeuser, and Fortis. View The Climate Group's awards page Source: The Climate Group, Winnipeg Transit |
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| The Right To Be Cold | 20 December 05 |
 The Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) is taking international action to have the rights of polar Aboriginal Peoples protected in the face of climate change. Backed by an expert panel, which was chaired by former foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy, Sheila Watt-Cloutier of the ICC outlined her organization's approach during a side session at the recent climate meetings in Montreal. That same day, Watt-Cloutier presented a petition to the Washington-based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The 163-page petition seeks relief from violations of the human rights of Inuit resulting from global warming caused by GHG emissions in the U.S. Axworthy called the session in Montreal "one of the most important initiatives that has ever been taken at a COP session." He highlighted the importance of recourse to international action when governments abdicate their responsibility to protect their own citizens, whether that is protecting them from genocide or the impacts of climate change. "Climate change is destroying our environment and eroding our culture," Watt-Cloutier says. "But we refuse to disappear. We will not become a footnote to globalization." View the web cast of the session (scroll down to "The right to be cold") View the December 7, 2005 Inuit Circumpolar Conference release View the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment View theDecember 8, 2005 CBC article View information on ICC Chair, Sheila Watt-Cloutier Source: UNFCCC, Inuit Circumpolar Conference |
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