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National headlines

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NATIONAL HEADLINES

Environment Canada database reveals 260 toxic spills in the North

TYLER IRVING: Canada’s Far North has seen 260 spills of toxic substances over the last five years. That is the result of a two year Canadian Press investigation which finally pried open Environment Canada’s National Enforcement Management Information System and Intelligence System (NEMISIS). The database keeps track of all spills of toxic substances in the far north.

Most of the spills were of diesel fuel, but sewage spills ranked first by sheer volume; in one case, 13.5 million litres of sewage were released after a dike failed in the remote village of Hall Beach. In the past five years, only two companies have been prosecuted for spills of harmful material. In many cases, crucial details of the spills are unknown, including the parties responsible.

Manon Bombardier, head of Environment Canada’s enforcement branch, said that prosecution is just one of many tools it uses to deal with toxic spills, and that the majority of them are cleaned up within weeks. Nevertheless, the lack of complete information has worried many environmentalists, especially in the wake of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Energy Board is currently reviewing environmental safety and drilling requirements in the North. [ index ]

Record low water levels in the great lakes have both Canada and the US worried

DARYN CAISTER: The largely dry winter has had a profound effect on the water levels of the great lakes, according to the Canadian Hydrographic Service. Lake Superior, the largest of the lakes has fallen to its lowest point in more than 100 years. The agency also said that the low water levels can be dangerous to many boaters, both big transport ships up and down the St. Lawrence as well as smaller craft due to newly exposed underwater hazards. The US Army Core of Engineers’ data on the water levels in the system showed that Superior had lost about 3cm during April this year, compared to a usual April swelling of water levels of up to 8cm. Local fishermen are also reporting a complete lack of fish compared to this time every year, and have noticed increased pollution in the water due to the reduced lake water volume. Even water management tricks that manipulate the water level between locks on the St Lawrence aren’t working as the water is simply too low within the entire system. There also does not seem to be relief soon as indications are that this summer will continue to be hot and dryer than normal. [ index ]

Oakville and Haldimand Mayor advocate alternatives for new power plants

TYLER IRVING: In a joint announcement on Tuesday, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton and Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer proposed to relocate Ontario’s new natural gas generating plant from Oakville to Nanticoke.

The proposed power plant is meant to allow Ontario to meet times of peak energy demand after the closing of the remaining coal-fired generators in 2015. However, Oakville residents have been protesting the plant for months because it would be placed 400 metres from a residential neighbourhood. Meanwhile, residents of Nanticoke have complained that the local coal-fired plant’s closing will cost 600 jobs and millions of dollars in economic spin-offs. Moving the new natural-gas fired plant to Nanticoke could satisfy both municipalities.

The Ontario Power Authority says while Nanticoke does have the requisite space and power lines, the natural gas plant would require new gas lines, adding hundreds of millions of dollars to the cost. Energy Minister Brad Duguid says the province welcomes all suggestions, but did not say whether or not the province is considering the move. [ index ]

Cynical Canadian’s aren’t buying green hype

DARYN CAISTER: Cynical Canadian’s aren’t buying the green hype according to a new survey. The poll, called the Greendex, was conducted by the National Geographic Society and GlobeScan in 17 countries. They found that Canadians professed deep concern over environmental issues, but were however much less likely than other countries to make “green” consumer choices. They might have a point as well; the Ottawa based TerraChoice research company reported in its annual review of products that as many as 98% of Canadian “green” products are still green-washing to some degree or another. This may range from simply not providing verification for their claims to outright lying about their contents or methods of the products. According to the TerraChoice survey, 46% of Canadian respondents believe that companies are usually lying or exaggerating their claims, which surpassed the runners up of increased cost or inconvenience when purchasing “green” products. Overall with the Greendex, Canada ranked second lowest, above the US slightly. The most eco-conscious, or perhaps simply the least jaded were India, Brazil and China. [ index ]

Nunavut’s government says polar bears are not ‘at risk’

TYLER IRVING: Last Friday, Nunavut’s Environment Minister Daniel Shewchuk told reporters that his government is no longer supportive of listing the polar bear as a species “of special concern” under the federal Canada Species at Risk Act.

The status of the polar bear is currently suspended. That’s because the federal government is still considering a 2008 recommendation by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada to keep the bear on the list. Although the government of Nunavut originally supported the listing, Shewchuk said that after recent consultations with Inuit hunters and community members, he believes that the polar bear population is healthy.

Total polar bear numbers have remained more or less steady at between 20,000 and 25,000 since the 1970s. However, scientists from the Polar Bear Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature reported last summer that at least 8 individual populations are in decline. There are also concerns about the as-yet-unknown impact of contracting sea ice in the Arctic.

If listed, the federal government would be required to develop a management plan for the bear’s habitat. The ‘of special concern’ designation is the lowest of the four possible under the Species at Risk Act, behind threatened, endangered, and extirpated. [ index ]

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Too little, too late; says critics of Alberta’s Grizzly’s endangered species listing

DARYN CAISTER: Alberta has moved to list the iconic grizzly bear onto the endangered species list, but critics are saying too little, too late. There are only about 760 bears left in Alberta which more than qualifies it for the listing which specifies an endangered species as “a species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed”. Critics in Alberta and across Canada however are saying too little is being done because most of the accommodations that come with a “threatened” designation have already been completed. The new “endangered” designation will not entitle conservationists in the province to more funding or protections due to the label. The action has potentially been too late because conservation experts alerted the Alberta government more than 8 years ago that immediate action was needed then to protect the important species. A major dispute is about habitat, is the numerous sports and snowmobile trails, which can be a major disturbance to the bears as well as increasing potential human contact frequently resulting in defensive. At the press conference, the Alberta government hinted that it might look at reducing the number of sport trails, but insisted it would not take a “heavy hand” in alleged self defence shootings involving humans or livestock. [ index ]

 

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

Criminal Charges for BP

LEEANNE MACGREGOR: First today we bring you your weekly dose of information on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which continues to spout 12,000 barrels of oil every day. Earlier this week, US Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the federal government is launching a criminal investigation into the spill. Holder announced that several federal laws may have been breeched by BP. These include the Clean Water Act, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act . Of these, only the Clean Water Act allows for the placement of felony charges, which could result in jail time for BP employees. In order to place a felony charge, the Justice Department will have to prove that BP’s pollution of the Gulf was deliberate, – a hefty task. The continued delays with fixing the leak could provide enough grounds to substantiate the charge. Under the other Acts, the Justice Department will be seeking charges of negligence. Mounting evidence is indicating that a number of standard operating procedures were neglected on the oil rig, not the least of which, was the unheeded warning of gas leaking into the well. [ index ]

Bottom-up Strategy for New Round of Climate Talks

LEEANNE MACGREGOR: Fresh climate change talks were underway this week in Bonn, Germany in an effort to solidify some of Copenhagen’s initiatives. Officials from 182 countries were present to discuss forests, carbon emissions, and the lack of climate adaptation funds for poor countries. UN climate chief, Yvo de Boer, deliberately excluded heads of state from the guest list saying that their presence in Copenhagen may have contributed to the paralysis of the talks. De Boer is hoping that by supporting a more bottom up approach to negotiations, true progress can be made and legally binding agreements reached. In an attempt to bring new enthusiasm and expertise to the discussion, concurrent talks are also underway involving 500 mayors and municipal decision makers from around the world. This complementary Resilient Cities conference is meant to flesh out the specific impacts of climate change on cities. Both forums are mapping out strategy for the COP 16 summit in Cancun, Mexico this December. [ index ]

Indonesia Gets Anti-deforestation Aid from Norway

LEEANNE MACGREGOR: Forest conservation workers in Indonesia were overjoyed this week when their president signed a two-year moratorium on new logging concessions. The agreement was made uniquely in a deal that transcends borders. In a world first, the Norwegian government offered the government of Indonesia $1 billion dollars to stop all new deforestation plans. The money will be used to bolster forest conservation efforts. Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono has since suffered a backlash from palm oil companies who had plans to expand further into the now protected rainforest. While the final details of the deal are still being worked out, President Yudhoyono has expressed his desire to strike some sort of balance between the country’s economic needs and environmental responsibilities. Indonesia is the world’s third largest greenhouse gas emitter due to the rapid rate of deforestation. While the agreement is a step in the right direction, Indonesia has stated that more aid will be needed in order to re-forest clear cut areas. [ index ]