Media Releases

Pulling a fast one on pesticides…

Posted on February 5, 2015
Media Release, February 5, 2015

Government members of the Federal Standing Committee on Health are using their majority to force a very quick review of the Pest Control Products Act (the law that governs the licensing of pesticides in Canada).

The 'review' will only consist of three brief sessions (about 6 hours) and will likely be over by the end of the week. Sierra Club only learned of the review last Wednesday and received an invitation to testify Thursday--very short notice indeed.

Why the big rush? To get it over with quickly before the public knows what’s happening. One acute observer described government members on the committee as 'railroading' the Act.

"This a clear attempt to protect the interests of international pesticide manufacturers while avoiding public scrutiny," said John Bennett, Sierra Club Canada Foundation.

An Early Holiday Gift for New Brunswick!

Posted on December 18, 2014
Sierra Club Canada Foundation Applauds Fracking Moratorium Announcement in NB

MEDIA RELEASE / December 18, 2014

Sierra Club Canada applauds today's announcement of conditions for a fracking moratorium in New Brunswick. New Brunswick Premier Gallant announced tough conditions for the moratorium today, joining Nova Scotia in banning the practice.

"New Brunswickers went to the wall to obtain a fracking moratorium and the conditions announced today indicate this law will address many of their concerns," according to Gretchen Fitzgerald, Campaigns Director for the Atlantic Canada Chapter, "The government has committed to cancelling existing fracking licenses, requiring proper consultation with First Nations, and addressing community and environmental concerns."

Ontario acts to protect bees while feds twiddle their thumbs

Posted on November 25, 2014
MEDIA RELEASE, November 25, 2014

TORONTO – The global campaign to ban neonicotinoid pesticides took a big step forward in Ontario today. The provincial government -- using its own pesticide control legislation -- will reduce the use of neonicotinoid pesticides by 80%.

The Sierra Club Canada Foundation looks forward to participating in the public consultation in Ontario. “This is an essential first step and it was courageous,” said John Bennett, National Program Director, Sierra Club Canada Foundation.

The Ontario government has been under tremendous pressure from multinational chemical companies like Bayer and Syngenta led by recently retired Conservative MP Ted Menzies. The companies stand to lose millions in sales of pesticides in Ontario.

An environmentally safe, sustainable Canadian laundry product

Posted on November 12, 2014
MEDIA RELEASE, November 12, 2014

OTTAWA – Toxic laundry detergent pods that threaten children is not Canadians only choice. Canadians should know there is a safe, nontoxic and environmentally sustainable product invented and produced in Canada. Sierra Club Canada Foundation has a strategic partnership with Dizolve – a Canadian company that produces an environmentally sustainable and effective laundry detergent.

Health Canada has 100,000 new reasons to rethink approval of controversial pesticides

Posted on November 5, 2014
MEDIA RELEASE, November 5, 2014

OTTAWA – More than 110,000 people have told Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) not to register flupyradifurone, Bayer's latest bee-killing pesticide.

Over the past three weeks, Sierra Club Canada Foundation, David Suzuki Foundation and SumOfUs.org spearheaded a campaign to inform the public of the opportunity to submit formal comments to the PMRA.

"We shared the facts about flupyradifurone, and the response has been incredible," said Paul Ferris, of SumOfUs.org. “Over 110,000 Canadians sent a clear message to the PMRA: Protect the bees.”

Canada about to license another bee-killing pesticide

Posted on October 30, 2014
MEDIA RELEASE, October 30, 2014

OTTAWA – Environmental organizations are calling on Health Canada to stop approving systemic pesticides that are toxic to bees and threaten to interfere with ecosystem functioning. The most widely used group of systemic pesticides, neonicotinoids, has come under increased scrutiny as a contributing factor in large-scale bee die-offs and other harmful effects. Now Health Canada is proposing to approve a new systemic pesticide, flupyradifurone. According to the government assessment, flupyradifurone may pose a risk to bees, non-target beneficial arthropods, and freshwater and saltwater invertebrates when used for foliar application. Flupyradifurone may pose a risk to birds and small wild mammals when used for soybean seed treatment.

Ontario must ban neonic pesticides in light of new study

Posted on October 21, 2014
U.S. EPA says bee killing pesticides provide no benefit

MEDIA RELEASE
October 21, 2014

OTTAWA – Sierra Club Canada Foundation is calling on Ontario Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal to immediately ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on soybeans in light of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study that concludes the bee killing pesticides provide little or no benefit to soybean growers.

Support First Nations, not corporate oil interests

Posted on October 13, 2014
No more license extensions for corridor resources

MEDIA RELEASE
October 14, 2014

K’JIPUKTUK (Halifax NS) - Save Our Seas and Shores Coalition is calling on the Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) to stop issuing license extensions (free or otherwise) to Corridor Resources for EL-1105 at Old Harry in the Gulf of St Lawrence.

Following up on the announcement made by the Innu, Maliseet and Mi’gmaq Alliance in Halifax last July, wherein First Nations called for a 12-year moratorium on offshore oil and gas development in the Gulf of St Lawrence, representatives from SOSS-NS, NB, PEI, QC and NL are meeting in Halifax this week to announce their support for the Alliance’s demand.

Treading Water on Climate Change

Posted on October 7, 2014
Sierra reacts to Environment Commissioner's report

MEDIA RELEASE 
October 7, 2014 

OTTAWA – The Environment Commissioner’s audit documents Canada’s lack of action on climate change, preventing pollution from the Tar Sands and lack of preparation for increasing shipping in the Arctic.

“Canada is treading water on climate change, Tar Sands pollution and arctic shipping,” said Sierra Club’s John Bennett. “We need legislation, regulation and enforcement.”

The Environment Commissioner found Environment Canada is doing a reasonable job tracking Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, but is making little headway on reducing emissions or living up to Canada’s international commitments.

Religious and Indigenous Leaders: Canada, United States need to modernize Columbia River Treaty

Posted on September 23, 2014
President Obama and Prime Minister Harper urged to right historic wrongs and advance water stewardship

MEDIA RELEASE
September 23, 2014

Today religious and indigenous leaders urged President Obama and Prime Minister Harper to start negotiations to modernize the Columbia River Treaty. Both nations need to work together to right historic wrongs and promote water stewardship in the face of climate change. The letter, signed by 14 religious leaders and 7 indigenous leaders representing nearly all Tribes and First Nations in the Columbia Basin, transmitted a Declaration on Ethics and modernizing the Columbia River Treaty as a foundation for international negotiations.