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- Manitoba Road Study Ignores Protected Lands
- Mayors Sign Green Cities Declaration
- Sierra Club RIO Report Card: Governments Fare Poorly
- Escapees Threaten Wild Cousins
- Journalist Listens To An Elder
- Time to Protect Lands in the Heart of the Boreal
- Manitoba Says "No" to East Side Transmission Corridors
- Great Lakes Mayors Back Manitoba
- Tulsequah Chief Mine Put On Hold
- US Settles with Missouri Ethanol Company
- Aboriginals Stand Up to Oil Giants
- Manitoba's Boreal Profiled in Outdoor Canada
| Manitoba Road Study Ignores Protected Lands | 09 June 05 |
 The Manitoba Government has begun a process for routing of a proposed road from north eastern Manitoba to the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut which ignores protected areas the route options would bisect.A May 2005 invitation from Manitoba's Transportation and Government Services to attend a series of meetings regarding the route selection study includes a map depicting three possible options for the road. The government map is general and omits all crown land designations on the landscape, including Wapusk National Park. Manitoba Wildlands has created another map, using Manitoba Transportation and Government Services route information to show the locations of protected areas and the implications of the road options. One of the potential routes bisects Caribou River Provincial Park, a 764,000 ha protected area by regulation since 1995, and supported for permanent protection by the Sayisi Dene within whose traditional lands the park lies. Another route option runs through Sand Lakes Provincial Park and the Amisk Park Reserve. Both are protected from development by regulation. There are also several Areas of Special Interest (ASIs) under review for protected status - along Hudson Bay's western shores that may be impacted by the proposed road. Most of these have been approved for protection by the Manitoba mining sector. View the May 9, 2005 Manitoba Transportation letter regarding the route selection study (PDF) View the Manitoba Transportation map of the proposed route options for the Nunavut - Manitoba road View Manitoba Wildlands' June 2005 map of the route options and protected areas Sources: Manitoba Department of Transportation and Government Services, Manitoba Wildlands |
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| Mayors Sign Green Cities Declaration | 09 June 05 |
 Leaders of cities from around the globe took the historic step of signing the Green Cities Declaration, an Urban Environmental Accord, in San Francisco in recognition of United Nations World Environment Day June 5, 2005.The document sets out 21 specific actions for sustainable urban living, and addresses seven environmental areas common to all the world's large cities: water, energy, waste, urban design, transportation, urban nature, and environmental health. The Declaration is the result of yearlong partnership of cities, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), the United Nations Environment Program, the University of California at Berkeley, environmental nonprofits, and businesses. Mayors participating in the World Environment Day conference met for five days to debate language and implementation of the Accords, and share best practices and ideas. World Environment Day is a project of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Since its inception in 1972, World Environment Day has given a human face to environmental issues, and promoted an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes about the environment. View the June 5, 2005 World Environment Day press release View the Green Cities Declaration Source: United Nations World Environment Day |
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| Sierra Club RIO Report Card: Governments Fare Poorly | 06 June 05 |
 In the 13th annual release of the RIO Report Card, Sierra Club of Canada handed governments across Canada a set of tough marks for progress, and lack of progress, on issues from toxic chemicals and pesticides, to endangered species and climate change.The federal government was graded in eight areas, while every province and territory was graded in at least two, for a total of 36 grades. One third of the marks were for failures (12 F's). The next most common grade showed progress is possible, with 8 marks of B-. "For the federal government, progress was noted on the climate change file, but failing marks were handed out for fisheries policy, trade and environment, and for pesticide and toxics policy," noted Elizabeth May, Executive Director of SCC. Manitoba received a C for efforts in the area of biodiversity and a B- for progress on climate change. The 2004 Manitoba grades were C- and B-. The improvement was a result of the Doer government's persistence in fighting the Devil's Lake Diversion in North Dakota and its June 1, 2005 announcement that transmission corridors would not be run through the intact boreal on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg. Action in other areas remains to be seen; of significant concern is the lack of action, community consultations, or an agreement and interim protection of the proposed Lowlands National Park candidates. Lack of action to confer interim protection on proposed World Heritage Site lands is also of concern. Gaile Whelan Enns of Manitoba Wildlands, upon review of the RIO report contents, indicated, "Manitoba has slowed down almost to a halt in new protected areas decisions, and needs to show action in support of the World Heritage Site nomination immediately." View the Globe and Mail June 6, 2005 article (PDF) View the Sierra Club of Canada (SCC) June 6, 2005 press release regarding the RIO Report Card View the full SCC RIO Report Card (with Manitoba content starting at Page 43.) Source: Sierra Club of Canada |
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| Escapees Threaten Wild Cousins | 06 June 05 |
 A quarter of salmon in seas off Norway are escapees from fish farms, threatening the survival of their wild cousins, in a cautionary tale for fish farmers worldwide, the WWF conservation group said."The wild races of salmon off Norway are threatened by escaped fish. We suspect this is an issue for every country where salmon are farmed," said Simon Cripps, director of the WWF's Global Marine Programme. "Around half a million farmed fish, both salmon and trout, escape from fish farms in Norway every year," Cripps told Reuters. Fugitive farmed fish, which make up about a quarter of salmon caught in seas off Norway and 9 of 10 in some fjords, compete for food and can spread parasites to wild fish. View the full May 12, 2005 PlanetArk article Source: Reuters News Service |
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| Journalist Listens To An Elder | 02 June 05 |
An article appeared in one of Winnipeg's 6 community newspapers recently, which we are providing to our audience. In the article a young journalist relates what he learned from Caroline Bruyere, who is a direct descendent of a treaty signatory, and Elder from Sagkeeng First Nation.View the full May 11, 2005 Lance article (DOC) Source: The Lance |
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| Time to Protect Lands in the Heart of the Boreal | 01 June 05 | ||
 There is a new citizen action opportunity from the Natural Resources Defense Council's BioGems Campaign for Canada's boreal region known as the 'Heart of the Boreal'. This latest call to action emphasizes the need for protection of the traditional lands of the Pauingassi and Little Grand Rapids First Nations, as requested by these communities. Both communities are part of the World Heritage Site nomination. The BioGem Campaign allows visitors to express their views in support of protecting the boreal forest in this region and send letters of support through the NRDC web site. Past NRDC 'Action Alerts' for the 'Heart of the Boreal' BioGem have generated tens of thousands of letters to the Canadian Government, Manitoba Government, Ontario Government, and Manitoba Hydro.
View previous ManitobaWildlands.org news items on NRDC's 'Heart of the Boreal Forest' BioGem Campaign: April 21, 2005 January 24, 2005 November 2, 2004 October 19, 2004 May 28, 2004 May 13, 2004 February 26, 2004 |
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| Manitoba Says "No" to East Side Transmission Corridors | 31 May 05 |
 Manitoba Energy Minister Dave Chomiak has publicly stated the Manitoba Government will not allow hydro transmission lines through the boreal forest regions east of Lake Winnipeg. He told media Manitoba's east side intact boreal wilderness, being considered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for designation as a World Heritage site, is more important. In the May 29, 2005 Winnipeg Free Press article, Minister Chomiak cited environmental concerns as the main reason behind the government's position. He stated, "... when we weighed all the options, we couldn't support going down the east side. It's not going to happen... We're going to stand on our environmental concerns." Gaile Whelan Enns, Manitoba Wildlands Director, is optimistic about the commitment, especially as another barrier to protecting the east side in order to achieve World Heritage Site status has been removed. But she cautioned the public needs to hear more. "Bi Pole III is not the only hydro risk to these boreal regions. Each dam Hydro intends to build across the top of the east side could also mean new transmission lines or corridors. Minister Chomiak needs to confirm he is talking about no new transmission corridors bisecting these boreal regions." She also pointed out other new transmission projects under consideration by Manitoba Hydro may stop boreal forest protection. "We hope to hear soon from Mr. Chomiak and cabinet colleagues about similar decisions so that the long awaited Lowlands national park will be free of new hydro corridors." View the June 1, 2005 Canadian Boreal Initiative press release View the May 29, 2005 Winnipeg Free Press article (DOC) View Manitoba Wildlands' mapping of current and potential hydro interconnections by Manitoba Hydro View Manitoba Wildlands World Heritage Site page with maps View Manitoba Wildlands Lowlands national park mapping View Poplar River First Nation website Sources: Winnipeg Free Press, Manitoba Wildlands |
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| Great Lakes Mayors Back Manitoba | 31 May 05 |
 Mayors on both sides of the Canada - US border are now supporting Manitoba's efforts to refer the Devils Lake outlet project in North Dakota to the International Joint Commission for review.In a unanimous vote May 26th at a conference in Quebec City, the mayors of Chicago, Toronto and other big cities along the Great Lakes passed a resolution that urges US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to ensure the diversion doesn't operate until the International Joint Commission (IJC) has completed an assessment. The controversial North Dakota outlet is scheduled to begin flowing polluted water into the Red River within weeks. Worries that losing the Devils Lake battle will set a precedent that could allow the diversion of the Great Lakes are behind increasing political support from other provinces and US states. Concerns that future water disputes in the Great Lakes may not be resolved if Ms. Rice refuses to allow the IJC to do its job are also a motivating factor in decisions by other jurisdictions to get involved in the dispute, which is seeing steadily growing media and political attention. The Great Lakes mayors' announcement comes as Canada and Manitoba await a response from Ms. Rice and while Prime Minister Paul Martin prepares to call President George W. Bush. Canada has been waiting more than 14 months for the Bush White House to respond to its formal diplomatic request to have the North Dakota diversion referred to the IJC. View the May 27, 2005 Winnipeg Free Press article (DOC) View the May 27, 2005 CBC article View past ManitobaWildlands.org news items on Devils Lake: Citizen Action on Proposed Devils Lake Outlet Devils Lake Outlet Hangs in the Balance - April 28, 2005 Canada Must Act to Halt Devils Lake Project - February 17, 2005 Manitoba Loses Devils Lake Court Battle: War Not Over - August 31, 2004 Canada Supports Halt to Devils Lake - May 3, 2004 Manitoba Challenges Devils Lake Project - April 5, 2004 Devils Lake Battle Could Head to Court - November 3, 2003 Source: Winnipeg Free Press |
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| Tulsequah Chief Mine Put On Hold | 31 May 05 |
 Redfern Resources, the proponents of the planned Tulsequah mine project in northern British Columbia have announced they will not be proceeding with the development at this time because of increased capital and operating costs, and a lower estimate of available ore.The mine is located on the Tulsequah River in northern BC, about 40 miles from Juneau, Alaska in the Taku River watershed. Ever since Redfern began planning to redevelop the historic Tulsequah Chief mine, which is leaching toxic effluent into the Tulsequah River, fishermen, environmentalists, US Tribes, and Canadian First Nations on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border have been questioning or opposing it. Meanwhile, the company is attempting to install a rudimentary treatment system for toxic waste that is leaching into the Tulsequah River, a tributary of the Taku. The Canadian Supreme Court recently turned down an appeal by the Taku River Tlingit Nation to reject the Tulsequah mine's environmental review. A sequence of previous court cases have alternately supported the Taku Tlingit's objections, or supported the BC government in issuing permits. The project still hasn't received environmental approval at the Canadian level under federal environmental assessment law. View the CBC North May 17, 2005 news story View the Juneau Empire May 19, 2005 news story View the ManitobaWildlands.org March 3, 2005 news item regarding the Tulsequah Chief mine Visit the Redfern Resources website Sources: CBC North, Juneau Empire |
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| US Settles with Missouri Ethanol Company | 31 May 05 |
 The US Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the State of Missouri announced a civil settlement with the Golden Triangle Energy, LLC, ethanol plant in Craig, Missouri for alleged Clean Air Act violations April 8, 2005.The facility was alleged to be operating in violation of the Clean Air Act's New Source Review (NSR) provisions. The consent decree, filed in the federal district court in Missouri, requires Golden Triangle's Craig plant to install new components that will result in reductions in air pollution, including volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. The facility will also pay a civil penalty of $30,000. Ethanol's high oxygen content allows automobile engines to combust fuel better, resulting in reduced tail pipe emissions. During the ethanol manufacturing process, dry mills burn off gasses, which emit volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide into the air. To date Manitoba has no environmental licensing standards for ethanol plants. Also no public notices or reviews regarding environmental licenses for Manitoba ethanol plants have occurred. View the full April 8, 2005 US Department of Justice press release View the April 13, 2005 Capital Reports 'News Link' Environmental article Visit the Manitoba Energy, Science & Technology - Ethanol Office Sources: US Department of Justice, Capital Reports 'News Link' Environmental |
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| Aboriginals Stand Up to Oil Giants | 27 May 05 |
 Aboriginal peoples along the route of the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project are changing the way business is done in a remote region that some call a frontier and others call home. The $7 billion project involves three natural gas fields near the Beaufort Sea, a 1,220 km pipeline through the Northwest Territories into Alberta; all in the homelands of the Deh Cho, Sahtu, Gwich'in and Inuvialuit indigenous peoples.At the end of April 2005, developers-led by Imperial Oil - halted all engineering work on the project, a move seen by some as an attempt to strong-arm federal regulators and Aboriginal negotiators. But it may be First Nations that have the strong arm. The Aboriginal condition of $40 million in annual property tax payments is a key issue. In an interview with Manitoba Wildlands, Alex Swann, spokesperson for Deputy Prime Minister McLellan, said of Aboriginal support, "clearly it's key, especially given the history." In the 1970s Aboriginal opposition moth balled the Mackenzie pipeline project. Swann also said the government is streamlining the review process "as much as possible". Premier Handley of the Northwest Territories, and other northern leaders, say $100 million a year of new money from Ottawa will be needed if the Project is to proceed beyond this impasse. Swann says Ottawa will accept the figure as a starting point for negotiation. Visit the Mackenzie Gas Project website View the Imperial Oil release View the May 4, 2005 Planet Ark article View the May 15, 2005 Petroleum News story View previous ManitobaWildlands.org story: Mackenzie Disdain for Environmental Review View previous ManitobaWildlands.org story: Deh Cho seek injunction Sources: Globe & Mail, Deputy Prime Minister's Office |
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| Manitoba's Boreal Profiled in Outdoor Canada | 27 May 05 |
 In its May 2005 issue, Manitoba's eastern boreal forest region - particularly the Bloodvein River and its exquisite scenery and natural abundance - are profiled in an article in Outdoor Canada magazine entitled 'Serenity Now'.The article details the journey of author Bob Sexton along the Bloodvein River in Manitoba's boreal forests in a canoe, at the invitation of the Boreal Forest Network. The article describes the outstanding natural surroundings and the abundance of wildlife, particularly fish (as the author is an avid angler). The article also refers to the political forces at work, including plans to achieve World Heritage Site status for the area that will ultimately shape the area's future. View the Outdoor Canada article 'Serenity Now' (PDF) Visit the Outdoor Canada website Visit the Boreal Forest Network website Source: Outdoor Canada |
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