CHRIS HANNAY (read by SARA-JOYCE BATTERSBY): Residents of London, in Southwestern Ontario, are still digging themselves out of a barrage of snow this week. The city was hit with more than a metre of snow over a few days, burying the city, and causing the mayor to nearly call for a state of emergency. Snow days were called for schools and public transit had stopped running by Tuesday afternoon. Even more snow fell north of London, closer to Lake Huron. Some communities saw upwards of metre and a half of snow. Of course, the weather system spread across Ontario and into Quebec and Eastern Canada, where some power outages were reported. Environment Canada admitted to making a rather big mistake in ‘underforecasting’ the amount of snowfall in Montreal. The agency had said Montrealers should expect about two to four centimetres – before the city was hit with ten times that amount, or more than 30 centimetres. [ index ]

TYLER IRVING (read by MARTIN WALDMAN): Canada’s federal government is not living up to its commitments on environmental issues. That’s the conclusion of Scott Vaughan, the federal Environment Commissioner, in his annual report, which was released to parliament this week.

The document describes Canada’s actions on the environment as “unclear and uncoordinated” as well as being “aggravated by the overriding problem of a lack of sustained leadership.” It also points out that despite decades of talk, Canada still has no strategy to address the effects of climate change, is not prepared to respond to a major ship-born oil spill, and is doing a poor job of monitoring the quantity and quality of its fresh water. A prime example is of this is a 20-year-old water quality monitoring station on the Athabasca river; despite being located downstream from the oil sands, the station is only testing for pollutants associated with the pulp-and-paper industry.

The report was tabled as acting Environment Minister John Baird was preparing to leave for the COP 16 climate conference in Cancun. In a statement to the media, he said that the government is working to address Mr. Vaughan’s concerns. [ index ]

CHRIS HANNAY (read by SARA-JOYCE BATTERSBY): Sixty-one First Nations groups are opposing a proposed pipeline from Enbridge that would run from the Alberta oil sands through northern British Columbia. The pipeline, part of the Northern Gateway project, would transport crude from tar sands to waiting supertankers, that would then ship the oil to Asia. The First Nations groups that oppose the project live in the Fraser River Basin, an ecologically sensitive region also known for its sockeye salmon. The First Nations group say they oppose the pipeline because they are worried about an oil leak or spill that could harm the local habitats. The Union of B.C. Municipalities has also come out against construction of the pipeline. Enbridge did have a leak this summer in Michigan, where a burst pipeline released 3.7 million litres of crude oil. [ index ]

TYLER IRVING (read by MARTIN WALDMAN): Canada will begin consultations to create a new marine conservation area in the Lancaster Sound, off the coast of Baffin Island. The move was announced on Monday by acting Environment Minister John Baird.

Last August, First Nations in the Lancaster Sound were shocked to learn that permission had been granted to use seismic testing to map the ocean floor in the area. Residents feared that the loud sounds from the sonar equipment would threaten the region’s marine mammals. As we reported at the time, the Qikitani Inuit Association managed to get an injuction to prevent the testing the day before it was scheduled to begin.

Designating the area as a marine park will put an end to further testing in the area, which Minister Baird described as the “Serengeti of the Arctic.” It will also prevent resource exploration or extraction. However, shipping in the area will still be allowed. While many residents were happy with the announcement, others groups were not. In a press release, John Bennet of the Sierra Club stated “Climate change is already radically altering the habitat in the Arctic. Announcing a marine conservation area is a meaningless, if not cynical, gesture.” [ index ]

CHRIS HANNAY (read by SARA-JOYCE BATTERSBY): The House of Commons endorsed a motion this week to urge the government to ban oil tankers off the coast of British Columbia. The motion calls on the Conservative government to protect sensitive ecosystems by immediately proposing a bill that would ban bulk oil tanker traffic. The motion also calls on the government to honour First Nations claims in the region. The motion was introduced by New Democrat MP Nathan Cullen, who represents a riding in northern B.C. The vote passed 143 to 138, with Opposition MPs supporting it and Conservatives opposed. After the vote, Cullen said: “Banning tankers would protect the B.C. coast from Enbridge’s risky venture.” The motion is non-binding on the government, who have said a formal ban is unneccessary.  [ index ]

TYLER IRVING (read by MARTIN WALDMAN): The federal government is not following its own laws when it comes to protecting killer whales, according to Federal Court Judge James Russell. The ruling came down Tuesday as the result of a lawsuit brought by nine conservation groups.

There are two populations of killer whales, also known as orcas, living full-time in the waters off British Columbia. The southern population contains about 85 animals and is considered “endangered,” while the northern one contains about 220 animals and is classified as “threatened.” Under the federal Species at Risk Act, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is legally required to develop plans for their protection and recovery. The department attempted to do so in a Protection Statement issued in 2008, but the policies outlined in it were non-binding. A Protection Order issued in 2009 did not account for such factors as water quality, noise pollution and food supply. These policies were challenged as inadequate by the conservation groups, and this week the judge agreed.

The DFO was tight-lipped about how it would respond to the ruling, stating only that it would review the decision to determine its next steps. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE (read by MARTIN WALDMAN): A federal judge in California has ordered that genetically-modified sugar beets recently planted in the U.S. be uprooted and destroyed. The ruling affects ‘Roundup Ready’ sugar beets, produced by GMO giant Monsanto and engineered to be resistant to herbicide. It allows farmers to spray their fields with herbicide without killing their crops. Judge Jeffrey White had ruled in August that the United States Department of Agriculture had not properly assessed the environmental impact of the modified beets, and that no further beets could be planted until a new review was completed. Ignoring the ruling, the USDA issued permits to Monsanto to sell and plant more of the modified seeds. Last week, Judge White took the USDA to task for illegally issuing permits against his ruling, and ordered that all beets planted after his ruling took effect be destroyed. Monsanto has countered that its beets have already proven to be safe, and that because 95% of sugar beets in the U.S. are genetically modified, the ruling will wipe out the country’s 2012 harvest. Monsanto plans to appeal the ruling. This is the first time that a U.S. court has ordered the destruction of planted crops. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE (read by MARTIN WALDMAN): The 2010 UN Climate Change Convention is underway in Cancun, Mexico. At issue is the creation of a new global agreement to fight climate change and to replace the nearly expired Kyoto Treaty. Key to any agreement are the United States and China, the world’s two largest emitters of greenhouse gases. Earlier this month, China admitted for the first time that it had become the world’s largest emitter of carbon. Reports coming out of the ongoing meetings suggest that China and the U.S. have compromised on key issues to come closer to an agreement. One key issue is how to veryify a nation’s total gas emissions, and recent reports claim that China has softened its stance on the issue as the U.S. has compromised on funding and technology transfers to developing nations. The New York Times reports that there is guarded optimism among some officials that deal could be reached by the end of the talks later today. [ index ]

TYLER IRVING (read by MARTIN WALDMAN): A day after being sworn in as the mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford announced that his first item of business will be to shut down the controversial construction project known as Transit City.

Transit City would have cost $8.15 billion over ten years, and would have produced four light-rail transit lines, largely focused on the northern part of the city of Toronto. Many of the contracts for the plan have already been signed, and one of these lines is already under construction. Ford wants to replace the lines with subways, which opponents argue will be much more expensive.

Killing the plan won’t be easy. The mayor will require a council resolution to cancel the existing contracts, which will incur millions of dollars in penalties. Ford will also have to persuade the provincial and federal governments, both of which have invested heavily in the project, to embrace his alternate plan. Ontario Transport minister Kathleen Wynne has warned that the province doesn’t have any extra money for subways, but also acknowledged that it will be impossible to proceed with the project without the city on side. Ford appoints his new transit commissioners on Dec. 8. [ index ]

VANESSA PURDY: On Wednesday, Calgary city council voted to reduce their low-income transit pass, as well as cut the fees imposed on vehicles left in Light Rail Transit park-and-ride lots. The $3 a day fee, introduced last spring, was criticized as punishing commuters. The fee has largely resulted in the park-and-ride lots being used ineffectively, as potential LRT passengers chose to drive instead, or clog up the side-streets of nearby neighborhoods.

Alderman John Mar was against the elimination of the fee, saying that it was a user fee that affected only a small portion of Calgarians. That sentiment was not shared by the majority of councillors, as after a 10-5 vote, the fee will no longer be in place, beginning in April of 2011. The use of the lots will be subject to other conditions; one in the works being a reservations system where commuters would have the option of paying a premium to secure spots in the busiest lots.  [ index ]

TYLER IRVING (read by MARTIN WALDMAN): This week Samsung announced the opening of a new plant to build wind turbines in Windsor, Ontario. The plant will directly employ 300 people and will be capable of turning out between 200 and 300 turbine towers per year.

The plant is the first of four manufacturing plants the Korean company eventually plans to open in southern Ontario. Last spring, the Ontario government negotiated a $7.5 billion deal whereby Samsung promised to create 16,000 clean energy jobs in the province. It has been called the largest deal of its kind in the world.

Windsor offers easy access to American markets and a skilled manufacturing workforce, two factors that were key in the decision to locate the plant there. Although a site has not yet been chosen for the new plant, several mothballed factories are being considered. The new plant will cost between $40 and $50 million, and is expected to begin production in 2012. [ index ]

VANESSA PURDY: General Motors is preparing to launch the Chevrolet Volt next year. At first, the plug-in, electric vehicle will only be sold in Montreal, Quebec City, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, Ottawa, and Oshawa. The vehicle is marketed towards the greenest Canadians, due to its intense operating costs. In development since 2007, the Volt will run off of its lithium-ion battery for the first 40-80 kilometres. After this, it shifts to gas, for up to another 500 kilometres. The Volt takes at least 10 hours to charge, which is problematic for owners concerned with paying peak electricity prices.

There is the option for the Volt’s owners to upgrade their electric systems, whereby the charge time would be cut by almost two-thirds. However, this would occur after shelling out over $1,000 in equipment and installation costs. It was also announced that Hydro-Québec has agreed to purchase and test 20 Chevy Volts. This is in conjunction with the Quebec government’s program to explore the effects of its “fuelling” cars on its power grid. Toronto Hydro is following suit in analyzing whether or not it can cope with the arrival of electric cars.  [ index ]

TYLER IRVING (read by MARTIN WALDMAN): Alberta has become the second province to consider enacting a ban on idling vehicles. A private member’s bill introduced this week by the independent MLA for Calgary-Currie, Dave Taylor, would impose a $100 fine on motorists who idle for longer than three minutes in a one-hour period. If passed, the bill would take effect January 1, 2012.

Several cities in Canada already have similar legislation in place, including Toronto and Vancouver. Last week, Nova Scotia’s government introduced a bill that would require government vehicles, bus companies, and transit authorities to create their own anti-idling policies by 2011.

Taylor’s bill offers exemptions to buses and emergency vehicles, as well as cars idling on days were the temperature is below -23 C. [ index ]

VANESSA PURDY: Edmonton-based Titanium Corp. has recently revealed technology that, in a small-scale experiment, can recover oil, water, solvents, and valuable heavy metals before the waste enters tailings ponds. After six years in development, Titanium Corp will to discover if this technology could make money on an industrial scale. The hope is that the technology, that treats the oil sand’s ore in two stages, could eventually make $500 million annually off of oilsands waste.

Titanium’s work seems promising, so much so that Alberta, Ottawa, and other investors have placed over 18$ million total into its growth. Challenges remain, however, particularly when it comes to dealing with the variety of waste types that go through the pipes, as well price negotiation for the companies buying the recovered solvents and minerals. If successful, this could mark a Canadian achievement, as well as a PR victory for the oil industry. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE (read by VANESSA PURDY): Plans are underway to build a ‘green’ urban community in Texas that will serve as a living laboratory to test new technologies from smart power meters to new building materials. The project, envisioned at Texas A&M University, will see the construction of a 73-acre community North of Dallas that will serve as a testing ground for sustainable urban living. A network of computers will monitor water and energy consumption in homes and offices. This will allow the manufacturers of smart appliances or water-efficient plumbing to test their devices in a real-world setting. Companies including General Electric and LG Electronics are already lining up to include their technologies in the project. The project will also test new building materials and smart-grid technologies that monitor the patterns of energy use. Construction on the community, called the Urban Living Laboratory, is set to begin late next year. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE (read by VANESSA PURDY): The annual rate of de-forestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has fallen to its lowest levels in 22 years, according to the Brazilian government. Using satellite imaging, Brazil estimated that just over 6,000sq km of forest were cleared. This is a reduction of 14% from last year, and a drastic reduction of 75% from its peak in 2004, when over 27,000sq km were cut down. This puts Brazil well on its way to reducing de-forestation to 5,000sq km per year by 2017. The reduction is credited to better policing of illegal logging by the government, as well as the choice by consumers worldwide to avoid foods grown on de-forested land. [ index ]

BRYANT BOULIANNE (read by VANESSA PURDY): 2010 was the hottest year on record for many areas of the world, according to the latest tally by the World Meteorological Organization. The average, year-round temperature for Canada, Greenland, China, and parts of Russia were the highest since 1850, when reliable records began. This was particularly evident in Eastern Russia, which was gripped by an unprecedented heat-wave along with scores of uncontrollable wildfires. Britain, meanwhile, had its overall coldest year since 1996. This comes as Britain and Northern Europe are being hit with unusually cold and snowy weather for the second year in a row. The findings are sure to be raised at the UN’s Climate Change Conference, underway now in Cancun, Mexico. [ index ]