RSS Feeds:
News |
- NDP Convention Ignores Conservation Resolutions
- Energy Sector Deemed Least Sustainable
- Shipping Lines Oppose Penalties for Dumping
- Canada's Groundwater Management Assessed
- Alaska Oil Drilling Plan "Big Mistake"
- Heart of the Boreal Proceedings Available
- Supreme Court Supports 'Polluter Pays' Principle
- Eight in Ten Want More Protected Areas
- Canadian Auto Emission Deal Reached
- Canfor Defers Logging in Caribou Habitat
- Climate Change Fuels Forest Fires OR Is It the Reverse?
- Quebec Cuts Forestry Harvest by 20%
| NDP Convention Ignores Conservation Resolutions | 11 April 05 |
 Three resolutions that support efforts to protect areas of Manitoba's east side and Interlake region did not pass at a recent meeting of the Manitoba New Democratic Party (NDP). They were not priority resolutions, and did not even receive discussion or debate time. Two of the resolutions were about Manitoba's boreal forests. Resolution 05-EN-30 expressed support for the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS), the East Side Planning Initiative, and the MOU between the Province and east side First Nations, and called on the government to place interim protection on the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site lands, as requested by the communities. Resolution 05-EN-40 called on the Manitoba government to initiate immediate interim protection, under the Manitoba Parks Act, for the entire geographic scope for the proposed WHS, as demonstration of the government's commitment. The third resolution relates to the establishment of the proposed Manitoba Lowlands National Park. Resolution 05-EN-09 called on the government to continue to work towards the establishment of this national park, increase the boundaries to include Little Limestone Lake, and fully incorporate these additional areas into the final park agreement. The 41st Annual Convention of the Manitoba NDP was held in Brandon, Manitoba at the Keystone Centre March 18-20, 2005. View the text of Resolution 05-EN-30 Boreal Forest - East Side Lake Winnipeg View the text of Resolution 05-EN-40 Boreal Forest View the text of Resolution 05-EN-09 Manitoba Lowlands National Park Visit the Manitoba NDP 2005 Convention web page Sources: Manitoba New Democratic Party |
|
| Energy Sector Deemed Least Sustainable | 11 April 05 |
 According to the recent GlobeScan Survey of Sustainability Experts, "energy has joined transportation as the economic sector deemed furthest from sustainability." The annual survey of international experts shows a trend toward sharply increased concern about energy. "Expert opinion of the energy sector's progress has deteriorated significantly since 2001, perhaps because of the increasingly likely threat of climate change and lack of significant global efforts to address it." Energy prices are expected to be the major driver of future energy supply and use, while wind power is expected to make major advances in the electricity sector. The survey also identifies the most influential books, authors and NGOs in the realm of sustainable development. GlobeScan is a Toronto-based public opinion and stakeholder research company. View the GlobeScan Report Highlights (PDF) Source: GlobeScan
|
|
| Shipping Lines Oppose Penalties for Dumping | 11 April 05 |
 A Bill making its way through the Canadian Senate would deter ships' captains from nonchalantly dumping fuel in Canadian waters by increasing the penalties. Bill C-15 is an act to amend the Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.Major shipping lines are lobbying hard to see that it doesn't pass as is, says an official with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Josh Laughren is the Director of WWF's marine conservation programs. Bill C-15 would give additional powers to enforcement officials to redirect and detain ships suspected of dumping in Canadian waters. The aim is to further protect the marine environment by sending a strong message to polluters through increased minimums of fines. Upon conviction, the courts already have the power to fine shipping companies a maximum of $1 million. "This amendment puts in a minimum fine, bringing it to U.S. levels, where they are routinely in the hundreds of thousands of dollars or millions." In Canada, Laughren noted, the average fine is about $20,000. Both the WWF and shipping officials will appear before Senate hearings on the matter April 2005. View the St. John’s Evening Telegram March 4, 2005 article (DOC) View Bill C-15: 1994 Act to amend the Migratory Birds Convention Act, and 1999 Canadian Environmental Protection Act View the legislative history of Bill C-15 View information about WWF Canada's Marine Conservation Program Source: St. John's Evening Telegram |
|
| Canada's Groundwater Management Assessed | 07 April 05 |
 At the beginning of April 2005, the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation released a landmark study on Canada's management of groundwater. Buried Treasure: Groundwater Permitting and Pricing in Canada reveals that Canada suffers from a patchwork of groundwater standards, regulations and permitting processes."This report is intended to provide a snapshot of the current framework for groundwater management in Canada." commented report author Linda Nowlan on behalf of the Foundation. "We wanted to shed light on the variation among jurisdictions, examine "best practices", and highlight the gaps that exist." The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation will host a series of workshops with regulators, policy-makers and NGOs to address the findings of the Buried Treasure report and explore best practices and ways to move forward with strengthened and more standardized regulatory and policy regimes. View the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation March 30, 2005 press release (PDF) View the report Buried Treasure: Groundwater Permitting and Pricing in Canada View the full report (PDF) View the Fact Sheet on Groundwater in Canada (PDF) Source: Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation |
|
| Alaska Oil Drilling Plan "Big Mistake" | 07 April 05 |
 Canada's Minister of the Environment, Stephane Dion stated Thursday, March 10, 2005 that a US plan to drill for oil in an Alaskan wildlife refuge was "a big mistake" and vowed to keep pressuring Washington to scrap the idea.Ottawa says drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in northeast Alaska would ruin the calving ground of the Porcupine caribou herd, on which native Gwich'in Indians in Alaska and Canada have depended for thousands of years. Opponents of the plan to drill in the ANWR suffered a setback on March 16, 2005 when the US Senate narrowly defeated an effort to strip a drilling provision from the 2006 budget. (51 votes to 49) Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell, sponsor of the amendment, refused to concede defeat. "The fight over drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is far from over. This will be a short-lived vote for those who want to drill in the wildlife refuge." The plan would open 1.5 million acres on Alaska's north coast for exploration, although only 2,000 acres could be under development at any given time. ANWR would supply about 6% of current US consumption of oil. View the March 11, 2005 Reuters article on PlanetArk View the March 16, 2005 Anchorage Daily News View February 8, 2005 Manitoba Wildlands news item Sources: Reuters, Anchorage Daily News |
|
| Heart of the Boreal Proceedings Available | 07 April 05 |
 The proceedings of the January 2004 workshop, Shared Values in the Heart of the Boreal, between First Nations and conservation groups are now available on the Wildlands League web site. Co sponsored by Wildlands League in Ontario and Manitoba Wildlands, the gathering was a 'watershed' moment in relations between Aboriginal Peoples and conservation groups in Manitoba and Ontario.The historic workshop took place in Thunder Bay, Ontario January 2004. The event brought together over eighty members and representatives from 17 First Nations and 9 conservation groups to talk about ways to work together to care for the Heart of the Boreal, an intact boreal region shared between Ontario and Manitoba. Key Aboriginal speakers and leaders in land use planning presented their experiences and lessons learned from regions across Canada. Elders played an important role in sharing their knowledge and guiding the direction of the bilingual workshop (carried out in both Ojibway and English). Through an open and respectful dialogue participants acknowledged challenges in the past. They also acknowledged urgency and opportunity for future collaboration between First Nations and conservation groups to conserve and protect the future of the Heart of the Boreal. View the proceedings of the January 2004 workshop Shared Values in the Heart of the Boreal (PDF) |
|
| Supreme Court Supports 'Polluter Pays' Principle | 04 April 05 |
 A January 2005 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada "closed a legal gap that would have allowed BC Hydro to escape liability for cleaning up one of BC most severely contaminated sites," according to Sierra Legal Defense Fund. The decision is considered a major victory for the international 'polluter pays principle'. The case relates to a site near the mouth of the Fraser River where the BC Electric Corporation-BC Hydro's predecessor-dumped toxic coal tar for 37 years. "The Court unanimously and immediately slammed the door on BC Hydro's attempt to dodge liability [for its mess]" says a Sierra Legal Defence release. BC Hydro tried to convince Canada's Supreme Court it was not responsible for the sins of its predecessor. The decision sends a message to companies who seek to sidestep corporate responsibility through mergers and buyouts. View the Sierra Legal Defense Fund release View analysis of the decision Source: Sierra Legal Defence Fund |
|
| Eight in Ten Want More Protected Areas | 04 April 05 |
 A new poll released by the Canadian Boreal Initiative shows that North West Territories (NWT) residents want to see more of the territory protected from industrial development.The poll found that 83 percent of NWT residents supported the creation of more areas protected from industrial activities, where traditional activities like hunting and fishing were allowed. "This direction needs to guide us as we contemplate the single largest industrial construction project in the history of our country - the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline," said CBI Director Cathy Wilkinson. The survey also found that eight in ten (82%) respondents say that "a balanced approach to economic and environmental protection" is a high priority. This is in line with the balanced vision of the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework, which aims to protect half the region and ensure sustainable management of the remaining landscape. The December 2004 opinion research was conducted for the Canadian Boreal Initiative by McAllister Opinion Research The findings are based on a phone survey of 500 randomly selected NWT adults between December 17-22, 2004 with a margin of error of 4.3%, 19 times out of 20. The survey was weighted to reflect the latest census figures on ethnicity, gender, age and region. View the Canadian Boreal Initiative March 14, 2005 press release View the Canadian Boreal Initiative Backgrounder - Public Support for Protected Areas in the NWT (PDF) Source: Canadian Boreal Initiative |
|
| Canadian Auto Emission Deal Reached | 04 April 05 |
 On March 23, 2005, automobile manufacturers reached an historic agreement with the Canadian government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5.3 million tonnes by 2010.These vehicles will achieve about a 25% increase in fuel efficiency. Improvements will be made by using more efficient engines, smarter transmissions, and better aerodynamics - to make vehicles go farther on a gallon/liter of gas. The agreement is similar to the Pavley Clean Car Law adopted by California and seven other states. This deal has implications for the entire North American car market. With the addition of Canada, one-third of the North American auto market will have to meet California equivalent emissions rules. The automakers will find it financially impossible to make one more fuel efficient set of cars for eight states and Canada, and a less fuel efficient set for the rest of their markets. To ensure the auto companies comply, the Canadian government is changing its environmental protection laws to create a regulatory backstop. Canada will legally enforce the pact if the automakers fail to live up to their promises. Cutting car emissions is one way Canada hopes to meet its targets under the Kyoto Protocol, which obliges Canada to cut output of greenhouse gases by 6 percent from 1990 levels by 2012. But overall Canadian emissions are, in fact, about 20 percent above 1990 levels and senior government officials candidly admit Canada has no chance of meeting its Kyoto goals by domestic reductions alone. View the New York Times March 24, 2005 article View the Sierra Club US March 23, 2005 press release View the Reuters February 28, 2005 article on the Environmental News Network View the February 16, 2005 Manitoba Wildlands Emissions news item Visit our new Canada & Kyoto section View April 5, 2005 MOU between Canada and the Canadian Automotive Industry (PDF) Sources: Reuters, Sierra Club US, New York Times |
|
| Canfor Defers Logging in Caribou Habitat | 31 March 05 |
 Canfor, one of the largest logging companies in Canada, has committed to defer logging and road construction for two years in the Little Smoky region of the Alberta Foothills. The Little Smoky is home to a herd of caribou that, according to analysis done by industry and government, is categorized as in immediate risk of local extinction.In 1999, many parts of the Alberta foothills such as the Little Smoky region were nominated for protection in the Alberta governments Special Places Program but were never protected. Today, only 2% of this important region has been legally protected. The greatest threats to this region are the forestry and oil and gas industries, which are largely driven by US consumption of energy and forest products like catalogs and tissue paper. "We are encouraged by Canfor's decision and hopeful that this is a turning point for the future of both the Little Smoky caribou herd and the Alberta Foothills as a whole," said Tzeporah Berman, Program Director for ForestEthics. "We look forward to working with industry and government to ensure that this region is protected and restored." View the March 10, 2005 ForestEthics press release Source: ForestEthics |
|
| Climate Change Fuels Forest Fires OR Is It the Reverse? | 31 March 05 |
 A major part of Canada's plan to obey the Kyoto Protocol is going up in flames, as our vast forests are turning out to be a hindrance, not a help, in reducing greenhouse gases. New Canadian research shows that forest fires are becoming larger and more intense due to the effects of climate change and are adding enormous amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.Canada hoped to cancel out much of the country's pollution from cars and factories by pointing out our vast forests soak up a lot of that carbon dioxide. But every time a forest burns, a few million more tonnes of carbon dioxide are released. Because of fires, forests in Canada may actually produce slightly more carbon dioxide than they soak up. The fires are outpacing regrowth, and their intensity means that not only the trees are burning but also the under story vegetation and, most importantly of all, the organic matter in the soil. Fires in the northern hemisphere's boreal forest and peatlands are of particular concern because the region holds 40 percent of the planet's terrestrial carbon, almost twice the amount in the world's tropical forests. There is nearly ten times more carbon in the boreal region soil than in the plants and trees above. By contrast, tropical forest soils have one-third the amount of carbon. Significant burning of the boreal forest and peat could produce a positive feedback loop leading to hotter and drier conditions and more area burned, says Brian Stocks, a senior fire research scientist at the Canadian Forest Service (CFS). Eric Kasischke, a fire ecologist at the University of Maryland, noted that "This puts enormous emphasis on the need to reduce industrial emissions of carbon". View the Inter Press Service March 8, 2005 news release View the March 4, 2005 Ottawa Citizen article (DOC) Sources: Inter Press Service, Ottawa Citizen |
|
| Quebec Cuts Forestry Harvest by 20% | 31 March 05 |
 Quebec has legislated a 20% reduction in forestry harvests for the next three years. Natural Resources Minister Pierre Corbeil says the reduction, which comes into effect April 1, 2005 is based on the Coulombe Commission which found that Quebec's forests are being over-harvested. While environmental groups had been pushing for adoption of the Coulombe recommendation, some industry analysts are concerned the reduction will lead to significant job losses. Quebec's forestry sector employs a reported 56,000 people. Among Canadian provinces only BC produces more lumber than Quebec. View the Quebec Government release (French only) View the Montreal Gazette article View the Bloomberg news item View a summary of the Coulombe Commission report (PDF) View the WWF comment on the Coulombe Commission report Sources: Montreal Gazette, Government of Quebec, Bloomberg.com |
|
