Psst...secrets can hurt you

Anyone who knows me knows I’m not good at keeping secrets, and I particularly don’t like when governments work in secret. Governments feed us a lot of malarkey about why secrecy is essential, but 9 times out of 10 there’s no justifiable reason.

Here are some government plans developing in secret that everyone should know about.

SECRET #1

At an undisclosed location in Ottawa this week, 400 delegates from Pacific Rim countries are negotiating the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) - the latest ‘free trade’ deal our government says we just have to have.

Green Bins Critical to Mitigating Climate Change (Video)

Sierra Club's Waste Diversion Expert, Rob Muir, continues to emphasize the necessity of waste diversion to combat climate change.  Local government has an important role in making it happen, however, the key is developing sustainable consumer behaviour.  We need to be more conscious of how resources are used, the products we consume, and how we deal with our waste. 

Watch Rob's video on Ottawa's Green Bin Program here

Visit Sierra Club Ontario Waste Diversion to learn about this critical step towards creating a sustainable future, and mitigating climate change. 

Rob Muir's Profile.

Brampton's Natural Capital

Natural Capital refers to the stock of natural resources and environmental assets, and how they contribute to building healthy communities. The Natural Capital perspective is a way of placing a monetary value on the ecological goods and services to quantify these benefits.  

Brampton's ecosystems contain many natural areas and urban green spaces that provide the city with ecological goods and services, which translates to valuable Natural Capital.  

Thanks to support from Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Mississauga Community Fund, we are expanding the project by doing walkshops and natural area restoration work throughout Brampton and Mississauga in summer of 2014.  Our goal is to educate and engage the community to raise awareness and appreciation for these natural areas.  

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

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

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.

Northern Gateway: Isn’t it time to reject the past and embrace the future?

June 17, 2014

Today the federal cabinet approved the Northern Gateway Tar Sands pipeline.

It’s a decision that could define our times. We are witnessing the final stages of a protracted wrestling match between our future and our past.

Can we afford to let this decision stand? Aren’t our children--born and unborn--depending on us?

I’m not going to go into all the reasons why we must end our fossil fuel addiction, and move on to a clean energy future. You’ve heard it before.

But this decision could be different. It could be a game-changer. The Northern Gateway Tar Sands pipeline could be a turning point because of the huge opposition in British Columbia —unparalleled in Canadian history:

Ajax beach will be swale once culverts removed

Author: 
Keith Gilligan
Source: 
Metroland Media
Date published: 
Thu, 06/12/2014

On June 6th, 2014, Sierra Club Canada Foundation was presented with a $60,000 grant from the RBC Royal Bank Blue Water Leadership Grant.  SCCF is proud to partner with the Town of Ajax and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) in a project to construct bioswales along the Ajax waterfront.  The native wetland plants of these bioswales will capture and filter the untreated stormwater before discharging into Lake Ontario.  This grant will also contribute towards a community awareness program. 

Environmental groups express solidarity with Pictou Landing First Nation

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

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

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.