Atlantic Chapter

The Sandpiper is the quarterly newsletter for the Atlantic Canada Chapter of Sierra Club Canada!

Here's what you'll find in the Winter 2010-2011 issue...

Executive Summary

The existing greenhouse emission targets are weaker than required according to the latest science and the existing strategies did not deliver the expected results.  We make a number of specific policy recommendations to change this:

Five directions of action:

1. Education– take advantage of the educational capacity at MUN and in environmental NGOs – in the latter: urgent need for project and base funding.

I present arguments in  favour of the small-scale, community owned, renewable energy generation in Newfoundland and Labrador.  I identify current bottlenecks in  the development of the distributed energy generation in the province and list necessary conditions that have to be met in order to move forward. Most of the arguments would apply to other provinces in Canada as well.

Dr. Piotr Trela, SCC- Atlantic Region; Atlantic Canada Sustainable Energy Coalition.

While the Sierra Club Canada – Atlantic Canada Chapter supports rate restructuring of water, waste water and storm utilities in the interest of improved management and sustainability, the current rate structure application does not sufficiently address questions of efficient allocation of resources, adequate revenues over time, and increased innovation and conservation.

By introducing Bill 61, the province of Nova Scotia took a proactive stance, one that ensures chemicals must be proved to be safe before that can be used in the province. This is a truly progressive step, one that will protect our health, create green jobs in organic lawncare and landscaping, and save tax dollars spent on health care. This document was submitted by Gretchen Fitzgerald, Director of Sierra Club Atlantic to the NS Law Amendments Committee.