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Canada's federal government committed to endorsing the UN Declaration in the Speech from the Throne delivered in March 2010. These intentions were confirmed to the international community at the April 2010 United Nations Permanent Forum on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. No formal steps have been taken.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo commented on the third anniversary of the Declaration.

"The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a landmark achievement by the more than 370 million Indigenous peoples around the globe and the members of the United Nations General Assembly that voted in favour of its adoption."

" The National Chief adds: "Canada's full endorsement of the UN Declaration will be important as the beginning of a new era where we work together as true partners to chart a new approach, new laws, policies and practices and a new path forward that strengthens First Nations citizens, governments and nations.

• Ineffective oversight by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry has allowed mining companies to set up illegal camps and landing strips.
• Mining companies using claim staking, exploration, and related activities to circumvent government's promises to protect half the boreal forest, an area vital to Ontario's threatened woodland caribou.
• Failure to keep an up-to-date inventory of closed landfills that could be polluting groundwater.
• Worsening wastewater discharges threatening the Great Lakes because rules fail to factor in rapidly increasing southern Ontario population.
• Air quality standards that allow government to exempt whole sectors of industry.
• One billion more trees need to be planted in southern Ontario - far more than the government's target of 50 million trees by 2020 - to conserve biodiversity and respond to the challenges of climate change.

A land claim free-for-all in the so-called "ring of fire", a vast swath of recently discovered mineral-rich lands in Northern Ontario, has created a modern day wild west, according to Miller. "Just like our historic wild North you had to send the Mounties up to the Klondike. Well, I think it's time we send the MNR [Ministry of Natural Resources] up into northern Ontario to keep things well managed and under control."

Ontario passed the Far North Act the day following release of the ECO report, though the act has not been proclaimed into force. The legislation aims to protect half, at least 225,000 square kilometers, of Ontario's boreal forest from development. Several First Nation leaders have expressed opposition, saying the legislation violates their treaty rights and doesn't give them a say in how their lands will be developed.

"Restoring the health of Lake Winnipeg, its contributing watershed, and its downstream environment is a collective responsibility... I am very pleased to join with the Government of Canada on this memorandum of understanding," stated Manitoba Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick at a ceremony signing event held at The Forks in Winnipeg, Manitoba, September 13, 2010.

"Today is a great step forward in taking concrete action to help clean up Lake Winnipeg," added Vic Toews, Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Manitoba's Senior Member of Parliament from Provencher.

Toews also announced $875,000 for 20 projects to find ways to help clean up the lake. The Canadian government has invested $17.7 million through the Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative for scientific research, monitoring programs, governance initiatives, and support for community-based stewardship projects aimed at cleaning up the lake.

"What they've only done is approve small projects that are worthwhile, but really only merely tinkering," explained Terry Duguid, federal Liberal Candidate for the Manitoba riding of Winnipeg South and co-author of a 2005 report Restoring the Health of Lake Winnipeg, The 2005 report co-authored by Duguid suggested a 5-year Federal/Provincial agreement and double the funding commitments, with $40 million in total coming 2/3 from Canada and 1/3 from Manitoba.

The MOU signed by the federal and provincial governments appears not to be available to the public. Neither government has posted it on their web sites.

"It's time to have an honest discussion about the economic risks and liabilities of oilsands development, instead of just focusing on the short-term economic benefits," said the report's lead author, Nathan Lemphers, a policy analyst for the Pembina Institute. "It's not acceptable that Alberta taxpayers could be left holding the bag for future oilsands mine cleanup."

The report shows that a conservative estimate to clean up the current land area disturbed by mining (more than 68,574 hectares) puts costs at up to $15 billion, but the Alberta's Environmental Protection Security Fund holds just $820 million.

A June 2010 Cambridge Strategies poll shows almost all Albertans (96 per cent) agree companies operating in the oilsands should be held responsible for all environmental damages caused by their operations.

The report prompted an acknowledgement from the Alberta government that oil company payments into Alberta's security fund may increase. "At the end of the day, our goal is the same as what we see in this report. It's that we need to make sure that we have a program in place that ensures that Albertans aren't stuck footing the bill for any reclamation," stated Alberta Environment spokesperson Chris Bourdeau.

In a letter signed by over 40 environmental groups, First Nation communities, landowners, and fishermen addressed to Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams, Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, and Federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice, the coalition states:

"We respectfully request, Minister Shea and Minister Prentice, that you both exercise your federally-legislated powers to impose an immediate moratorium on any and all oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for now and in the foreseeable future. The benefits of 1 or 2 decades of non-renewable oil revenue could never come even close to justifying the enormous risks to the centuries-old renewable resources of our priceless Gulf."

Founding member of Save our Seas and Shores, Mary Gorman says, "Any spill would create widespread contamination along the coastlines of all five Gulf provinces. It's not worth the risk because one spill could wipe out our entire Gulf."

Gorman said the coalition will also raise its concerns to the Prime Minister Stephen Harper, federal cabinet ministers and the premiers regarding regulatory regime in the Gulf region she believes is fundamentally flawed.

"The current regulatory regime does not work because we have five provincial jurisdictions functioning as if there are five separate bodies of water," Gorman States.

The coalition also plans to ask the federal government to halt exploration by Corridor Resources in an area called the Old Harry Prospect off Iles-de-la-Madeleine and ban all further oil and gas activity.

Taseko Mines Ltd. plans to drain Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) in central B.C. to access gold and copper deposits and make room for a waste rock dump and toxic tailings pond. The proposed Prosperity open-pit mine is on the traditional lands of the Xeni Gwet'in First Nation, a member of the Tsilhqot'in National Government.

Tsilhqot'in National Government (TNG) is joined by the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) and BC First Nations, in addition to 12 environmental organizations from across Canada, in speaking out against the proposed mine.

"There are no options open to the federal Government - it must respect the findings of significant and irreparable harm to the environment and First Nations rights and culture that were delivered in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's (CEAA) review Panel Report 2010," said Chief Marilyn Baptiste, of Xeni Gwet'in.

The CEAA panel report found that creation of the mine and destruction of Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) would impose irreversible harm to the environment, fish and wildlife and on First Nations rights, lives, culture and spirituality. It also found the proposal does not meet standards required under federal fisheries and navigable waters Act and that the proposed mitigation measures would not address environmental harm caused by the mine.

Under terms of reference for the CEAA panel review, the federal government is to deliver a decision on the mine in September, 2010.

"In planting a tree, Manitoban's can think about the historic, economic and social impact of trees in our world. In addition to cleaner air, forests prevent soil erosion and create wildlife habitat and offset greenhouse gases," said Manitoba Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie.

• Sept. 17 - Morden Community Hall, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
• Sept. 20 and 21 - Manitoba Conservation office, 200 Saulteaux Cres., Winnipeg, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sept. 20 - Manitoba Conservation offices in Lac du Bonnet, The Pas, Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage and Snow Lake, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sept. 21 and 22 - The Forks Market, Winnipeg, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sept. 21 - Riverbank Discovery Centre, Brandon, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

National Forest Week is an annual event held since the 1920's, which initially started as Forest Fire Prevention Week. National Forest Week, as it has been known since 1967, focuses the public's attention to the importance of managing Canada's forests to meet present and future needs.

As part of the Manitoba government’s plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, the Trees for Tomorrow program was launched in 2008. Under this program, the province committed to planting more than five million trees in Manitoba by 2012. So far, Manitobans have planted or been provided with approximately 2.4 million hybrid poplar cuttings and conifer seedlings. It is not clear exactly how many of these tree have actually been planted.

"This is the first year we've seen three provinces receive a grade of A+, and most jurisdictions have either improved or maintained their previous score," said Ken Elsey, president and CEO of the CEEA.

"We're proud of Manitoba's performance in conserving energy and promoting efficiency," said Manitoba Innovation, Energy and Mines Minister Dave Chomiak.

"It is gratifying that Manitobans are being recognized for the work they have done and it shows how working together we can make a difference," added Manitoba Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie.

Manitoba received high marks for water conservation requirements added to the Manitoba Building Code and Plumbing Code, mandatory energy performance requirements, Power Smart programs through Manitoba Hydro, and a strong Green Building Policy.

"The summer 2008 Council of the Federation energy efficiency commitments are the basis for these grades. Increased transparenct on government reports would support A+ grades", said Gaile Whelan Enns of Manitoba Wildlands.

"We accept the CEC's recommendation the plant be permanently granted an amended licence and Manitoba Conservation officials will be working to thoroughly review the recommendations as a part of the licensing process, " says Bill Blaikie, Minister of Conservation in Manitoba.

The CEC also recommends the new licence require additional air monitoring, a community-health study and a review of the mandate of the Community Liaison Committee. A decision on the licence will be concluded in the next few months.

"The commission has concluded that increased emissions associated with a decision to operate the plant as proposed would not present a significant risk to human or environmental health," said Edwin Yee, chair of the CEC Louisiana Pacific air emissions investigation.

Louisiana Pacific's Swan River plant is the only OSB plant in Canada which uses regenerative thermal oxidizers. Minister Stan Struthers approved shut down of the plant RTOs in early 2009. Due to reaction from the surrounding community, the minister requested the CEC conduct a review and make recommendations as to permanent shut down of the RTOs. During the CEC's 19-month review, the commission received 15 presentations and 17 written submissions from the public as part of the public consultation process.

EnergyManitoba, ManitobaWildlands and Gaile Whelan Enns have facebook pages. Twitter address is MBWildlands.

"We are noticing that more students and journalists are using our online information services. Subscriptions to the Manitoba Wildlands weekly bulletin are also increasing. Canadian visitors are steadily increasing, while US and international traffic on websites have smaller increases."

"Manitobans and Canadians are more and more concerned about our lands and waters, and climate change. We are aiming to meet the growing demand for independant lands, water, and environmental information. A new blog, and other sites are under discussion."

The show was a fun, fashionable and unique place for consumers to learn about the benefits of living a healthy, earth-conscious lifestyle from over 100 eco-friendly exhibitors.

"We believe the biggest challenge for living sustainably is people just don't know about it. Living in an eco-friendly lifestyle is delicious, it's nutritious, it's gourmet, it's luxurious and it's fabulous. It's all the things you love," said Stacy Werier-Wyatt, manager of the Winnipeg Green Lifestyle & Organic Living Show.

Manitoba Wildlands (MWL) was among the exhibitors at the show. Congratulations to the MWL draw winner Margaret Slater who won the three toy stuffed owls.

In addition to the exhibitors, the Green Show also featured a series of seminars, demonstrations, and speakers, including an organic cooking stage, an interactive Eco Kids Zone, yoga classes, and a speech from Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May.

The GHG Measurement Guidelines are an outcome of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) /IHA GHG Status of freshwater reservoirs Research Project. The Guidelines were launched at the 2010 HydroVision International Conference in Charlotte, USA.

GHG Measurement Guidelines provide a comprehensive tool to assess the GHG status of Freshwater reservoirs, including definitive guidance on measurement and qualification of emissions resulting from the formation of reservoirs. The Guidelines cover concepts and processes involved in GHG measurements, approaches to conducting field measurements, and guidance on calculating results.

"This milestone publication draws from ongoing research hosted by IHA, in collaboration with the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of UNESCO, and has benefited from the collaboration of numerous research institutions and scientists its peer-review group," states Richard Taylor, IHA Executive Director said.

The guidelines aim to promote scientifically rigorous field measurements and evaluate net emissions from global freshwater reservoirs, build standardized, credible set of data from sampled reservoirs, and develop predictive modeling and guidance/assessment tools for mitigation of GHG emissions.