[All] GREN NEWS Feb: 27

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Local:

March 4 meeting at Waterloo Regional Council. 1pm: Hidden Valley with public comments around 3pm and later on the same day: LRT selected tender to be announced and voted on.  Agenda to be posed up at the Region of Waterloo website. To prebook time to speak contact Kim Hodasy's at the Region: 519-575-4757 X3012.​ 

GRCA issues flood warnings: Concerns for Ice Jams and debris from December Ice storm. I called Enbridge. They are aware and are bumping up monitoring along Grand and Nith.
http://www.grandriver.ca/Newsroom/News.cfm?id=759

Folks can follow the GRCA’s Twitter feed at @grca_flood_msg


Brant City Council asks Medical Officer of Health to review cumulative impacts of Silica from Sand and Quarry Pits. (Seeing that Waterloo Region has over 80 pits happening, we might wish to ask same from our Regional Medical Officer)
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2014/02/25/health-study-sought-on-dufferin-pit

Provincial:

Provincial government says it will give up to $190 million to help municipalities pay for ice storm cleanup.

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4386401-ontario-to-give-190m-for-ice-storm-cleanup-wants-ottawa-to-step-up/


The Green Belt turns 9 years old Friday Feb. 28. Over 1.8 million hectares protected from sprawl. Expansions will happen in Oakville where council unanimously voted to add Fourteen Mile Creek into the Greenbelt and in Mississauga where their council voted to include lands along the Credit River and Etobicoke Creek. The Regional governments need to ratify the cities request then the Province will have to make the Greenbelt designation official. More info here: 
http://environmentaldefence.ca/blog/good-news-greenbelt-green-shoots-spotted?utm_source=Environmental+Defence+Campaign+Email+List&utm_campaign=9cfa972022-Greenbelt_Watch_April_20124_26_2012&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_df56834cfa-9cfa972022-27177993

National: 

National Energy Board Audit on TransCanada found they were non-compliant
http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/general/transcanadas-pipeline-safety-practices-non-compliant-neb-audit-133709


Victory in the courts for Tsihlqot'in First Nations who saved Fish Lake from the Prosperty Mine gold mine project. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/taseko-new-prosperity-mine-at-fish-lake-rejected-again-1.2553002


Justin Trudeau supports Kinder Morgan & Keystone XL pipelines
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/justin-trudeau-comes-out-favour-kinder-morgan-pipeline


Northern Gateway decision expected Mid June. 
http://www.torontosun.com/2014/02/25/northern-gateway-pipeline-decision-expected-by-mid-june

Keystone XL would endanger health of Americans U.S. senators say 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/keystone-xl-would-endanger-health-of-americans-u-s-senators-say-1.2552425


International

Oklahama Geological Survey 635 earthquakes this year so far. (Lulu comment: James Bond fans are disappointed. They prefer their Martinis stirred not shaken)
http://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/ogs-reports-increase-in-earthquakes-across-oklahoma-insurance-agents-selling-more-quake-insurance

US regulator issues emergency order to pretest fuel content prior to train deliveries after data proved industry undermined explosive risks.  

http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/#!/content/1.2551227

US raises Liability Cap for Oil Spills
http://www.nasdaq.com/article/obama-admin-raises-liability-cap-for-oil-spills-cm330478#.Uw9KU7_UGwk.twitter


C02 blamed for acidic water that resulted in a decade of die offs of shellfish off BC Coast.
http://www.vancouversun.com/touch/story.html?id=9550861


A secret report from a committee of Federal Deputy Ministers finds Canada is failing to reach climate change targets
http://o.canada.com/news/national/feds-need-to-do-more-to-fight-climate-change-finds-deputy-ministers-report/#.Uw1xNnsZVRA.twitter

FREE Online Event

Free Web Lecture March  5th: Governing in the Dark: Evidence, Accountability and the Future of Canadian Science (Sponsored by Dalhousie University Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Evidence for Democracy, and Canadian Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs)
http://www.situsci.ca/event/governing-dark-evidence-accountability-and-future-canadian-science



Quick Sign Petitions:

Call for provincial ban on bee-killing pesticide with the Ontario Beekeepers Association; 
http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/save-ontario-s-bees-ban-the-use-of-neonicotinoid-pesticides

Say No to Trans Pacific Partnership
http://campaigns.350.org/petitions/say-no-to-corporate-power-grabs-reject-the-trans-pacific-partnership?source=twitter-share-button


Support Ontario's Anti Slapp law to be finalized prior to Earth Day with Environmental Defence: http://environmentaldefence.ca/passbeforeApril22

Have a good one everybody! 

Lulu :0)
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