Transition to Sustainable Economy
Budget: Canadians have no say in environmental laws
Media Release, March 29, 2012
OTTAWA- Canadians are less able to protect our water, air and land because of changes to environmental law outlined in today’s federal budget.
The key change, essentially speeding up environmental reviews of mega-projects, will greatly hurt the public's ability to participate in future processes.
“Environmental assessments need to be thorough, consultative and science-based.” said John Bennett, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada. “Creating hard-time limits and rushing the process compromises all these things.”
The changes will result in weaker environmental assessments and projects being approved without a full understanding of the social, economic and environmental impacts they will have.
... Read more »
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Show your support for Green Energy!
We need your help again.
As you may know, Ontario has become a world-leader when it comes to developing green, renewable energy. But Tim Hudak, leader of the Conservative Party of Ontario, wants to reverse this accomplishment and recently introduced a bill to kill green energy in the province.
His surrogates and front-groups have already been mobilized and recently launched a letter writing campaign targeting Ontario Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPP).
The bill to kill green energy will be voted on March 22nd. So there’s not much time to act!... Read more »
Environmental groups launch court challenge over Lower Churchill Generation Project
Project’s environmental assessment is unlawful and must go back to review panel for completion, groups say
Media Release, March 16, 2012
VANCOUVER— The Government of Canada’s endorsement of the Lower Churchill Generation Project is unlawful and will be challenged in the Federal Court, environmental groups said today.
Grand Riverkeeper Labrador Inc. and Sierra Club Canada — represented by Ecojustice lawyers — filed a judicial review application with the Federal Court in December, on grounds that the joint review panel’s environmental assessment was unlawful, incomplete and must go back to the panel before the mega-dam project is allowed to proceed.... Read more »
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Senate examines foreign funding of charities
The Conservative government has quietly begun looking into the charitable status of environmental groups in the Senate.
Senator Nicole Eaton is sponsoring an inquiry into what she calls "funding by foreign foundations." Eaton began her debate Tuesday by laying out what she considers to be a threat to the Canadian economy.
"This inquiry is about master manipulators who are operating under the guise of charitable organizations in an effort to manipulate our policies for their own gain," she said in the Upper Chamber.
Environmental groups don't see it that way.
"My fear is that they will just try to smear us and then walk away," said John Bennett, executive director of Sierra Club Canada. "And that they're hoping to frighten off U.S. foundations from supporting us... And they're going to try to turn off the public from supporting us."... Read more »
Link to source site:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/02/29/pol-senate-foreign-charitable-d... - Alberta Tar Sands and Mackenzie River Delta
- Climate Change
- Ecosystems
- The Boreal Forest
- Alberta Tar Sands Pipelines
- Energy Onslaught
- Wilderness and Species Conservation
- Toxics
- Trade and Environment
- Government
- Nuclear-Free Canada
- Atmosphere & Energy
- Health & Environment
- Transition to Sustainable Economy
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Premier Charest: Call 'Time-Out' on A5 HWY Extension
Media Release (March 1, 2012)
OTTAWA – Sierra Club Canada has joined with local Wakefield residents, Gatineau Park protectors, and large and small environmental groups in a call on Premier Jean Charest to temporarily halt construction of the A5 highway extension project near Wakefield village. At stake are 88 acres of old growth forest and the drinking water of thousands of people.
"The cumulative negative impacts of roads on species and ecosystem integrity are evident across the country, and it is the job of government to ensure every action is taken to minimize such impacts," said John Bennett, Executive Director. "It would appear this did not happen in the Wakefield case," he said.
Apart from two very short online public comment periods, there has been no active effort by MTQ to consult with local area residents since the original environmental assessment was conducted over 25 years ago in 1987.... Read more »
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