[All] Super event!

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi everyone

First off, Susan you are absolutely right. We need to talk to other communities 
to join forces on this one.

Whether it's gravel pits, water taking permits or smog emissions, the baseline 
issues creating the largest risk is the absence of data on the large scale. We 
need to establish a computerized program specifically designed to gather the 
data on all existing water, quarry and pollution discharge permits (and/or 
proposed permits) and start realistically looking at risks associated with 
cumulative impacts on communities.

In absence of this system at the provincial and federal level, I think the first 
step we could take is to encourage our own region to take the initiative to 
gather this data at the local level in order to plan our community and identify 
risks. I'm certain this could be funded by the Federation of Canadian 
Municipalities Green initiatives funding to help build the first model. We are 
after all, the tech capital of Canada! If we approach the Federation of Canadian 
Municipalities about establishing this system as part of a larger program 
registry for all municipalities to record their data we can start to build the 
solutions we need to see from the ground up.

Makes sense to me seeing that health care costs are assumed at the Regional 
level. They have more of an incentive to do this seeing that they (*aka US 
regional taxpayers) are the ones assuming the externalized costs of pollution. 
Where problems are identified, we can then reasonably work in solutions to 
remedy.  If we had such data, it would sure make supporting the LRT easier don't 
you think? 


Lulu




________________________________
From: Susan Koswan <dandelion at gto.net>
To: gren <all at gren.ca>
Sent: Thu, April 7, 2011 9:15:12 AM
Subject: Re: [All] Super event!


It was Lulu. Well done and a big thank you to you for bringing this issue to our 
attention and organizing it. This is a landmark case that can have very 
far-reaching impacts on industrial pollution. I’ve sent Justin an email this 
morning with a few ideas and questions about how we can broaden the support by 
bringing in other communities affected by industrial pollution. The Aamjiwnaang 
may be the worst, but they are not alone in being affected by toxic industrial 
trespass.   
 
Susan K
 
From:all-bounces at gren.ca [mailto:all-bounces at gren.ca] On Behalf Of Louisette 
Lanteigne
Sent: April-07-11 12:24 AM
To: all at gren.ca
Subject: [All] Super event!
 
Hi folks

I just wanted to send my thanks to all the folks who came out this evening for 
the Pollution Vs. Human Rights event, I thank John for hosing and I'd like to 
thank GREN executives for making this event possible. Our guests gave excellent 
presentations that touched upon so many issues. Some of the highlights include 
the following points:

-There is no expiration on pollution emission permits.
-There is no consideration given to cumulative impacts when several permits are 
issued within the same area.
-The province does not keep records on what activities they have permitted. When 
concerns arise, it's up to each company to present their permit.
-The province states they have no jurisdiction on aboriginal lands because it's 
a Federal Issue.
-The Federal government doesn't get involved in emission concerns on reserves 
because they state it is a Provincial concern.
-In cases of illegal dumping, neither the Federal Government nor the Province 
gets involved because it's on aboriginal lands. This means aboriginal 
communities are basically left to fend for themselves. This complicates issues 
regarding who's duty it is to clean up environmental spills etc.
-The placement of factories appears to be situated in a location which exploits 
the fact the adjacent lands are home to aboriginal communities. (Less 
constraints because their neighbours downwind are not living on either Federal 
nor Provincial lands)
-The permits are not subject to planning legislation because they are often 
signed by ministers in processes that exclude public participation. It is 
literally between industry and government. No public say.
-Because lands are designated industrial, there are no planning processes for 
expansion of projects in these areas. 

-They have used the Environmental Bill of Rights to secure a request for review 
but their process has taken two years so far without any tangible results. 

-Ada Lockridge and Ron Plain are the only two members of the community 
spearheading this effort. The rest of the community cares of the issue but feel 
torn by the fact that so much of the area relies on the refineries for their 
jobs and pensions. Because many worked for the companies they bought into the 
corporate rhetoric that everything is fine, that the problems are taken care of. 

-The processes being done at the refineries adjacent to their reserve, includes 
the removal of sulfate from gas products. Instead of allowing sulfate to burn 
out of tailpipes, they simply discharge it into the air in large volumes at this 
location instead.
-The toxicity of the refineries increases during times of power outages because 
the protective filtration systems won't function without electricity.

I had taken a couple of group shots of the guest speakers but when I got home, 
my data card malfunctioned and I lost the photos. I was able to see the photo on 
my camera but when I tried to copy them it appeared as an empty file then I 
wasn't able to find them again.  None the less,  if anyone else took photos that 
evening, please forward them along to me. 


Thanks!

Lulu :0)
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