This week:

• Dr. Danny Harvey, a Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto, speaks with host Jordan Poppenk about new research into whether biofuel is as eco-friendly as is often advertised.
• Chris Tindal, Green Party candidate for Toronto Centre, discusses the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) negotiations and their relevance to environmental policy in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. A conservative candidate from the same riding was unavailable to join the discussion. See the Green Party FAQ on the SPP, as well as a YouTube video from CUPE depicting alleged “police provocateurs” at the event (first aired August 31, 2007).

The headlines in brief:

• The federal government has come through on transit funding for the city of Toronto that’s been in arrears since a $1 billion deal made in March, 2004;
• Ontario has implemented new rules about the way its environmental assessments are conducted;
• Ontario’s transportation planning chief Rob MacIsaac has advised a Toronto panel that the city should upload costs of the subway system;
• The cold is causing major cost overruns for tarsands projects in Alberta; British Columbia’s Throne Speech has mapped out various action plans to improve the environment;
• Dawson Creek, British Columbia, is becoming a booming area for the natural gas industry;
• Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, received a Greenpeace ‘destroyer’ award;
• The United States has missed a second deadline to decide if polar bears should be listed under the Endangered Species Act;
• Abu Dhabi has begun to build what it says is the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste car-free city;
• According to a recent poll, nearly two thirds of people in Japan support the country’s whaling program.

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