Media Releases

Electric vehicles offer lane change to Nova Scotia

Posted on August 11, 2014

See an electric vehicle next to you on the road and you might not distinguish it from any other gas guzzler confronting rush hour traffic. But drive one yourself...and you won't soon shake the experience.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are powered entirely by their onboard batteries and therefore have no tailpipe. No combustion engine vibrates under their hood and no gears need shifted, giving these machines an unrivalled smoothness. When faced with stop signs, red lights or drive-thrus, EVs don't expend their power idling - they are incapable of idling.

But for all their blessings, EVs have their drawbacks. Their batteries have limited range, they can't be fuelled at the pump and for the time being, they cost more than your average gasoline vehicle. However, professor of mechanical engineering at Dalhousie University, Lukas Swan, said these drawbacks are being left in the dust.

PMRA continues to register bee-killing pesticides

Posted on August 8, 2014

MEDIA RELEASE, August 8, 2014

OTTAWA--Despite the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s (PMRA) decision to re-evaluate neonicotinoid pesticides, it is still registering new products containing the bee-killing pesticides.

“The Canadian government is attempting to deceive Canadians into believing it’s taking action on bee-killing pesticides when it is cleary not,” said John Bennett, National Program Director of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation (SCCF). “It’s a ruse. This government clearly isn’t taking the ecological threat seriously.

Pesticides greater threat than previously admitted; Sierra Club says ban bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides now!

Posted on June 23, 2014

MEDIA RELEASE, June 24, 2014

OTTAWA -- The findings of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) undertaken by the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides make it absolutely clear neonicotinoid pesticides must be banned by the Health Canada. The Study reviewed some 800 scientific papers and concluded that the impacts of neonicotinoid pesticides go far beyond honey bees: butterflies, birds and amphibians are all threatened.

“The experiment must end now!” said John Bennett, National Program Director, Sierra Club Canada Foundation. “There is overwhelming evidence to justify banning neonicotinoid pesticides,” he continued.

Conflict of Interest Investigation Required

Posted on June 19, 2014

Media Release, June 19, 2014

OTTAWA – Sierra Club Canada Foundation has asked the Ethics Commissioner to examine the ruling under the Conflict of Interest Act with regard to Ted Menzies’ work with CropLife Canada.

“A cabinet minister went directly to the board room of CropLife, the pesticide industry’s lobbying arm,” said John Bennett, National Program Director, Sierra Club Canada Foundation.

“We are advised that this could constitute a conflict of interest under the Act and should be investigated,” he continued.

CropLife is in the midst of a major lobbying and public relations campaign to prevent Canada from adopting a ban on bee killing neonicotinoid pesticides; Action the European Union took more than a year ago.

Environmental groups express solidarity with Pictou Landing First Nation

Posted on June 12, 2014

June 12, 2014

K'JIPUKTUK (HALIFAX) - The Ecology Action Centre, Sierra Club Atlantic Canada, and Council of Canadians express their solidarity with Pictou Landing First Nation and neighbouring communities in their fight to defend and clean up their home waters.

“The ongoing pollution and contamination of a once pristine coastal estuary and beach is a disgrace. It is absolutely the responsibility of the province of Nova Scotia to clean up this site once and for all” says Angela Giles, Council of Canadians.

No place for climate deniers in government

Posted on June 9, 2014

Sierra Club Canada
Media Release, June 9, 2014

OTTAWA -- Sierra Club Canada is calling upon Tim Hudak's Ontario Progressive Conservative Party to clarify its position on climate change after Carleton-Mississippi Mills incumbent MPP Jack MacLaren denied climate change was “human-caused” or “man-made” at two local debates last week.

“Ontario is recognized for taking serious action on climate change by closing its coal-fired power plants," said Chris Ball, President of Sierra Club Canada. “Voters have a right to know if Mr. MacLaren’s climate change denying remarks are party policy.”

Mr. MacLaren made his remarks during two separate all-candidates’ meetings last week in the riding of Carleton-Mississippi Mills. To date, his party has made no attempt to clarify whether his opinion will inform policy should his party form the government after the election.

Groups, First Nations demand a stop to oil and gas activities in the Gulf

Posted on June 7, 2014

MEDIA RELEASE, June 9, 2014

Groups and First Nations in five provinces demand a stop to oil and gas activities in the Gulf of St. Lawrence; Oceans’ Week starts with call for Gulf-wide moratorium and arms-length review panel

Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, June 9, 2014 – Fishermen, environmentalists, First Nations, and others kicked off International Oceans’ Week with a demand to the federal, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick and Quebec governments to immediately place a moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration and development in the entire Gulf of St. Lawrence. They followed up with a call for an independent Gulf-wide review panel with thorough public consultations on whether offshore oil and gas activities should ever be allowed to proceed in the Gulf.

New rules won't stop spills

Posted on May 13, 2014

Media Release, May 13, 2014

Sierra Club Canada Foundation welcomes any improvements in the industry’s handling of oil, but the announcement today won’t prevent more disasters, leaks or spills.

Canadians should note that as the amount of oil transported by truck, train and/or pipeline increases, the number of disasters, leaks and spills will too.

John Bennett, National Program Director
Sierra Club Canada Foundation
1510-1 Nicholas Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7
Tel: 613-291-6888
jb@sierraclub.ca
John on Twitter / Bennett Blog

Allowing oil and gas activity off western NL proves offshore board cannot say no to oil industry

Posted on May 6, 2014

Media Release, May 6, 2014

Pour la version française, cliquez ici.

The Sierra Club Canada Foundation and Save Our Seas and Shores are condemning the Newfoundland offshore board’s decision to allow the oil and gas industry to gain a toehold in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board released the results of a Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Western Newfoundland May 5th.

Canada not ready for shale gas

Posted on May 1, 2014

MEDIA RELEASE, May 1, 2014

OTTAWA -- The Canadian Council of Academies report: “Environmental Impacts of Shale Gas Extraction in Canada” concludes that much more needs to be known before allowing the rapid expansion of shale gas development across Canada. The government does not know enough to adequately protect Canadians from the potential environmental, health and socioeconomic impacts, the report found.

“We feel vindicated by this report. The Council looked at the issues and identified the same threats and lack of information we did,” said Sierra Club of Canada Foundation's John Bennett.

The report confirms that hydraulic fracturing (fracking) threatens ground water, surface water, increases local air pollution, leads to natural gas leaking in to the atmosphere, treads on Aboriginal rights and disrupts local communities.