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- Canada Funds Manitoba Energy Research
- Nelson House Justice Seekers Petition Prime Minister
- NRDC Targets Protection of Manitoba First Nation Lands
- Manitoba Hydro Receives Energy Efficiency Award
- Diesel-Serviced Communities Pay Too Much
- Quebec Panel Says Forests Are Overcut
- 2004 A Success For ManitobaWildlands.org
- Mackenzie Valley Developers "Disdain" Environmental Review
- RealClimate.org Debunks Climate Change Myths
- Canada Supports "Conservation First" in Mackenzie Valley
- Secret Federal Document Says Kyoto Action Needed
- Yukon Gwich'in Tribal Leader Honored
| Canada Funds Manitoba Energy Research | 27 January 05 |
 The government of Canada and Manitoba Hydro will contribute a combined $2.73 million over the next five years toward two new energy research chairs at the University of Manitoba. Industry Canada, via the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), has committed $1.5 million to the Power System Simulation Research Chair, to be held by Dr. Aniruddha Gole. Manitoba Hydro will contribute $730,000 to Dr. Gole's work as well as $500,000 to the Alternative Energy Research Chair, which Dr. Eric Bibeau will hold.Both researchers are part of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba and do ongoing work with Manitoba Hydro. According to a Canada NewsWire release, "the chairs will focus on such diverse topics as the simulation of power generation and distribution problems, the integration of alternative energy into power grids, the development of modeling techniques, the design of turbines for small fast-flowing rivers, icing on wind turbines and the assessment of biomass digesters for cold climates." View the Canada NewsWire article View the Manitoba Hydro release Sources: Canada NewsWire, Manitoba Hydro |
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| Nelson House Justice Seekers Petition Prime Minister | 25 January 05 |
 The Nelson House Justice Seekers have filed a petition with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (INAC) asking for a forensic audit of Nisichawayasikh Cree Nation (NCN) revenues and expenditures for the past nine years. Recently charges of fraud and financial improprieties were laid against NCN Vice Chief and are currently before the courts. As part of an ongoing investigation the RCMP removed extensive records from the NCN band office in spring 2004.The forensic petition and accompanying band resolution was signed by over 800 eligible voting members of the Nelson House First Nation. Band members are requesting that the forensic audit take place prior to any referendum vote to endorse an agreement with Manitoba Hydro for the proposed Wuskwatim Generation Project ('Wuskwatim Agreement'). To date, the Wuskwatim Agreement has not been made available to the community for review, and no consultations regarding the agreement or side agreements being negotiated with Manitoba Hydro have taken place. The Elders of the community and Justice Keepers have requested at least two years be allowed for honest and meaningful consultation and consensus building in the community. Both the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the complaints division of INAC have responded to the Justice Seekers' petition. Carol Kobliski, spokesperson for the Justice Seekers, commented on the response from the federal government, "The PMO has responded to our petition and said that our concerns are being taken seriously. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada said a review and investigation will be conducted. We are all waiting for the issues raised to be addressed as quickly as possible to restore confidence in the administration of our First Nation." View the full Justice Seekers press release View the January 24, 2005 Winnipeg Free Press article View Manitoba Wildlands news item: Justice Seekers Plead for Community Water Testing View CJOB Radio coverage (DOC) Source: Justice Seekers |
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| NRDC Targets Protection of Manitoba First Nation Lands | 25 January 05 |
 The latest in a series of letters intended to put pressure on the Manitoba Government to protect Manitoba's boreal forests emphasizes interim protection for First Nation nominated lands by spring 2005.The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has been running a campaign in support of Manitoba environmental groups' and First Nations' efforts to protect Manitoba's boreal forests and achieve World Heritage Site (WHS) status for the area east of Lake Winnipeg. This latest letter writing opportunity also highlights the need for First Nations to undertake conservation planning and asks the government to confer protected status on these lands, as requested by the First Nations, so that planning will not be jeopardized by development during planning. 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. The Government of Manitoba recently publicly stated its support for the WHS but has yet to take any concrete action to make good on its promise.  Send a letter to Manitoba Conservation Minister Stan Struthers through the NRDCVisit the NRDC BioGems page for the 'Heart of the Boreal' View the Government of Manitoba press release stating support for the World Heritage Site (page two) View Manitoba Wildlands news items on the NRDC 'Heart of the Boreal' BioGem campaign; 1, 2, 3 Source: NRDC |
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| Manitoba Hydro Receives Energy Efficiency Award | 25 January 05 |
 Manitoba Hydro and the Province of Manitoba were recognized by The Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance (CEEA), December 2004, for their shared commitments to energy and efficiency. The CEEA, a non-profit, member-supported organization charged with promoting energy-efficiency in Canada, gave Manitoba an A in its Fifth Annual National Report Card on Energy Efficiency, the highest grade in the country. The integration of the provincial government's energy efficiency activities and Manitoba Hydro's comprehensive Power Smart programming resulted in Manitoba being recognized. Manitoba Hydro President and CEO Bob Brennan commented, "We're delighted that the CEEA has recognized our efforts to promote energy efficiency -- the Corporation takes its commitment to the environment and sustainable development very seriously. That's why I'm also pleased to announce today that Manitoba Hydro will be doubling its Power Smart energy savings targets over the next 13 years." Gaile Whelan Enns, Manitoba Wildlands director, said: "Clearly we are seeing results from the Wuskwatim hearings in Manitoba Hydro's recent support to three Manitoba university based research chairs regarding climate change and energy efficiency. This award does not diminish the need for Manitoba's public utility and government to get to work on the public consultations needed to establish an energy plan for our province's future." View the Manitoba Hydro December 14, 2004 news release Source: Manitoba Hydro |
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| Diesel-Serviced Communities Pay Too Much | 21 January 05 |
 In December 2004 the power rates paid by four remote First Nations serviced by diesel generators were reduced, but serious issues remain. The reduction follows a much larger increase in rates eight months earlier. That increase was designed to make electric space heating prohibitively expensive. The communities: Brochet, Lac Brochet, Tadoule Lake and Shamattawa, have a combined population of about 2000. Residential customers in the communities now pay the same as other Manitoba customers for their first 2000 kW.h per month. Beyond that amount they pay 36.13¢/kW.h compared with 5.496¢/kW.h elsewhere in the province. The average usage for a Manitoba home without electric heat is well below 2000 kW.h/month. Earlier last year (April 1) the price for energy above the 2000 kW.h cutoff was raised from 5.16¢ to 79.1¢/kW.h in the communities. Manitoba Hydro said the increase was designed to discourage electric space heating. This ban on space heating proved difficult to enforce. The December "reduction" changed the 79.1¢ to 36.13¢, retroactive to May 1, 2004. After the increase and reduction, residents of the communities pay seven times more for energy above 2000 kW.h per month now than they did one year ago. Non-residential customers in the communities now pay the same as other Manitoba customers for power up to 2000 kW.h and 36.13¢ for additional energy. View the Manitoba Hydro release on the rate reduction View the Public Utilities Board decision regarding diesel rates (PDF) View the May 26, 2004 MKO (northern chiefs) news release Source: Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba Public Utilities Board |
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| Quebec Panel Says Forests Are Overcut | 21 January 05 |
 Quebec's forest resources are being "over-harvested," a blue-ribbon panel of experts has determined, calling for a 20-per-cent reduction in the allowable cut.The forestry commission was an election commitment by the Quebec Liberals. The report is the result of over a year of public consultations with various communities and interests. Guy Coulombe, the head of the commission, stressed that if measures are not taken to reduce Quebec's harvesting of softwood trees, the forests will be endangered. Pierre Corbeil, Quebec's junior Forestry Minister, promised he would act on the report in the "short, medium and long term", but he balked at the commission's proposal to reduce softwood cutting by 20 per cent. Greenpeace Canada welcomed the final report of the Coulombe Forest Commission and emphasized support for the recommendation to increase the area of protected forest to eight per cent overall and 12 per cent in the slower-growing boreal forest by 2010. The Quebec Forest Industry Council (QFIC) was pleased by the Commission's decision to integrate two major proposals submitted by the industry: creation of the position of Chief Forester and mandatory certification. However, the QFIC stated its opposition to the Commission's proposal to reduce the allowable cut by 20%. The forest industry also reiterated its support for establishment of a network of protected areas but noted that such a network must not be set up on the basis of an arbitrary percentage, but rather according to characteristics of the various ecosystems and their conservation potential. View the Montreal Gazette December 15, 2004 article (DOC) View the December 14, 2004 Quebec Forest Industry Council press release View the December 14, 2004 Greenpeace Canada press release View the WWF Canada release Sources: Montreal Gazette, Greenpeace, Quebec Forest Industry Council |
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ManitobaWildlands.org wishes to thank all of its visitors and supporters for making 2004 a very successful year for the website!| Mackenzie Valley Developers "Disdain" Environmental Review | 18 January 05 |
 "Imperial Oil and its partner companies are showing disdain for the regulatory process for the $7 billion Mackenzie Gas Project by submitting inadequate environmental studies," according to a Sierra Club Canada press release.SCC Executive Director Elizabeth May doesn't want the environmental regulator and government to let themselves be "bullied" by oil giants. "Perhaps the oil companies think that federal political support means that the mega project will automatically be approved regardless of the environmental harm it causes. We hope this is not the case." Imperial Oil's majority shareholder is ExxonMobil, the world's second largest corporation, and its products are sold primarily under the Esso brand (also owned by ExxonMobil). The Mackenzie Gas Project would involve development of three natural gas fields near the Beaufort Sea in the Northwest Territories and a 1,220 km pipeline connecting them to markets in Canada and the US. Proponents hope to be pumping as much as 34 million cubic meters per day through the 76 cm diameter pipeline by 2010. That daily amount is enough to heat 30,000 homes for a year. View the Sierra Club of Canada release View Imperial Oil's January 7 news release View a map of the proposed pipeline (PDF) Visit the Mackenzie Gas Project Public Registry Visit the Northern Gas Project Secretariat website Visit the Mackenzie project website Sources: Sierra Club of Canada, Manitoba Wildlands |
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| RealClimate.org Debunks Climate Change Myths | 18 January 05 |
 Looking for information on the science of Climate Change? Want to cut through media spin on the topic? Check out RealClimate.org - a commentary site on climate science by working climate scientists, for the interested public and journalists.The site's objective is to provide a quick response to developing stories and provide the context sometimes missing in mainstream commentary. The scope of discussion is limited to those issues where the contributing scientists can claim competence. The validity of scientific information is completely independent of what society decides to do (or not) about that information. Constructive comments and questions are welcome, as are guest articles from other scientists who may choose to contribute on an occasional basis. Visit the RealClimate.org web site Source: RealClimate.org |
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| Canada Supports "Conservation First" in Mackenzie Valley | 14 January 05 |
 The Government of Canada has made a $9 million commitment to support community-based protected areas planning in the Northwest Territories' Mackenzie Valley. The funding was announced December 21, 2004 by the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Minister of State, and Northern Development. Community-based protected areas planning is essential for conservation planning, ahead of major industrial development.World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF-Canada) held numerous meetings with key Ministers and their officials in October, urging the federal government to commit this funding to implement the Mackenzie Valley Action Plan as part of the Northwest Territories Protected Areas Strategy. The NWT Protected Areas Strategy is a product of a unique collaboration led by Aboriginal communities, supported by territorial and federal governments, industry and conservation organizations (Ducks Unlimited Canada, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and WWF-Canada). The NWT Protected Areas Strategy and Mackenzie Valley Action Plan provide a vehicle for communities to identify lands with natural and cultural significance they wish to protect from industrial development. View the WWF Canada news release View the Northwest Territories Protected Areas Strategy View the MacKenzie Valley Action Plan (PDF) & Map (PDF) Source: WWF Canada |
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| Secret Federal Document Says Kyoto Action Needed | 14 January 05 |
 "With current policy and programs, Canada is still going to be significantly off the Kyoto target," says a document called Climate Change -- Lessons Learned and Future Directions that was obtained by The Globe and Mail."The 'voluntary approach and limited incentives [are] not sufficient to drive substantive change,' says the document, dated January. 5, 2005 and marked 'Draft -- Secret.' So policy makers 'need more consideration of regulation and taxation to drive behavioural change and technology deployment and uptake.'" "Overall we're pleased that they're taking [climate change] as seriously as this document implies," John Bennett, Senior policy advisor for the Sierra Club. View the Globe and Mail Jan. 11, 2005 article (DOC) View the Sierra Club news release on Canada's Kyoto implementation Source: Globe and Mail |
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| Yukon Gwich'in Tribal Leader Honored | 11 January 05 |
 The 2004 Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership was presented to Clarence Alexander (Dranjik Gwich'in) during a ceremony at Ecotrust's Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center in Portland, Oregon on November 30, 2004.The $25,000 Buffett Award recognizes indigenous leadership that improves the social, economic, political or environmental conditions in his or her community. The Award's intent is to provide resources for the development and transfer of knowledge in indigenous communities. Buffett Award nominees are First Nation, Alaska Native or tribal members over 35 years of age who exhibit extraordinary community leadership within the Salmon Nation region from Alaska to California. Clarence Alexander was honored as the recipient of the 2004 Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership for his many years of work advocating for environmental justice, tribal rights and protection of the Yukon River Watershed. He is a respected leader with indigenous values, strong coalition building skills and extraordinary vision. View the full article on the 2004 Buffett Award at the Tidepool website Source: Tidepool - News of the Salmon Nation |
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