[All] Gren News

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hello everybody!
Here is the latest in Environmental News 
Local News
Hidden ValleyIn a report issued Dec. 23rd, the KW record notes that the River Road extension through Hidden Valley will be delayed until at least 2019. The project costs currently estimated at $70 million dollars. The ministry has been addressing the Jefferson Salamanders and three challenges have been levied with the MOE which puts the timing of the project out of regional control. The ministry has a year to respond to the challenges but there are no consequence if they simply don't.  Even if the project were to be approved, they would still have to buy out a multitude of private properties and the chances of that all of them can be successfully expropriated...is slim. http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6205884-river-road-extension-delayed-again/

Barrie's LakePublic Information Centre re: Cambridge West Development is happening on Thursday January 14th 2016 6:30-8:30pm Cambridge City Hall in the Bowman Room. This regards a new proposed roads subdivisions and infrastructure in proximity to Barrie's Lake where Jefferson Salamanders were confirmed.  Concerns exist regarding the impacts to both the water quality, water flow and flow rates as well as the potential disturbance of the capture zones and habitat areas. The draft storm water management pond would divert runoff into Barrie's Lake. Local environmentalists have been working to secure habitat protection for the salamanders prior to approvals in compliance with the Species At Risk Act and the Endangered Species Act. Folks are welcome to have their say on this project.
Another KW first! Mennonite Savings and Credit Union  (MSCU) in Kitchener announced they are the first Canadian financial institution to show that all of its GICs qualify as Socially Responsible Investments (SRI). Until now, the SRI approach to investing, which includes sustainable screens, has only been associated with mutual funds and market investments.https://www.mscu.com/AboutUs/Media/PressReleases/January072016/

Sprawl without Consent The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is warning that a masssive 3,500 Empire Development subdivision project near the Grand River by Six Nations is risking another conflict in Caledonia. http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5965122-confederacy-warns-province-about-new-housing-project-proposed-for-caledonia/

Enbridge Line 7 closed in Cambridge by protesters on Jan 4th. Activists sabotage Enbridge pipeline in Ontario to protest oilsands crude
Line 7 was installed in 1957. The line had been carrying 147,000 barrels per day, but will soon be carrying 180,000 barrels per day, an increase of about 22 %,http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/the-local-enbridge-pipeline-expansion-you-don-t-know-about-1.2498056

Local Waterloo student Rachael Thevenard completed running 831 km along Line 9. http://www.lfpress.com/2016/01/06/students-run-over-protest-continues


Provincial News
Chippewas of the Thames launched their court action to stop Line 9. http://www.570news.com/2016/01/10/ontario-first-nation-heads-to-countrys-top-court-over-enbridges-line-9/For folks wanting to help the legal effort online crowdfunding is underway here:  https://www.gofundme.com/chippewas
Precision Agriculture aims to reduce pesticide, water and fertilizer use while saving farmer's money. Forum happening in London Ontario on Feb. 2 and 3rd. Details here: http://www.farms.com/precision-agriculture/conference-2016/

Ontario Clean Air Alliance blowing the whistle on the actual costs of the Darlington Rebuild which includes the cost of a 1.7 Billion contingency fund. http://www.cleanairalliance.org/darlingtondeal/

Ontario has a new Waste Free Ontario Act in the works. Public comments are needed. Here is the website from the Toronto Environmental Alliance with suggested concepts we could recommend as well as the link to the official Ontario feedback page.  http://www.torontoenvironment.org/new_waste_free_ontario_act?utm_campaign=cw_jan_8_16&utm_medium=email&utm_source=toenviro
Federal News
There was a spill of 44 barrels of oil (7 cubic meters) at the Jean-Gaulin oil refinery. Line 9 brought to the Valerio terminal is shipped from the one terminal to this location to be refined. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/jean-gaulin-refinery-oil-leak-valero-energy-1.3385185Multiple spills have taken place at this sight between 2012-2014 with the largest spill taking place Oct. 2014 when there was a release of 15,000 litres of crude. (94 US barrels) More info on these spills are in this PDF report:https://www.ecologyaction.ca/files/images-documents/EnvironmentalThreatEasternRefineries.pdf
After the Line 9 hearing, Valero was removed from NEB oversight with the approval of the Privy Council and the Govenor General. To this day they remain outside the NEB's jurisdiction.
BC officially opposes the Kinder Morgan Pipelinehttp://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/01/11/news/bc-government-formally-opposes-kinder-morgan-pipeline-expansion

Park Canada's budget to fight fires is almost gone due to record number of fires in 2015 http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/01/10/parks-canada-firefighting-funds-almost-gone-after-2015s-122-wildfires.html

Only 1.3% of Canada's current Marine areas are protected and Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo voices intent to protect more. He wants 5% by 2017 as an interim target. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tootoo-fisheries-oceans-marine-protected-areas-1.3396175?cmp=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Major court challenge underway may impact a wide variety of Fossil fuel ventures as woman argues Fracking violates her Charter Rights.  http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/01/08/End-Fracking-Regulator-Immunity/

The extreme systematic tactics used by Harper Government to spin environmentalists and First Nations as being terrorists. 
http://www.thealfalfafield.com/2016/01/proliferation-of-pipeline-shutdowns-creates-challenges-for-enbridge-and-for-protestors/
International News
The Story of Stuff has just released a handy 2 minute video on the dangers of Microbeads. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAiIGd_JqZc&feature=youtu.be
Campbells soup officially supports GMO food labels. Corporate stance here: http://www.campbellsoupcompany.com/newsroom/news/2016/01/07/labeling/?fb_action_ids=10153662263955813&fb_action_types=og.likes
President Obama has made it US law to ban Microbeads in production by July 1 2017 and to ban the sale of products containing them by July 1st 2018. http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/01/04/Ban-on-microbeads-quietly-becomes-law.html

The Pope inspired a vast multitude of diverse faith based communities to join the climate action movement.  http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/pope-inspires-clergy-to-join-environmental-movement-20160109

Carbon Pricing globally on the rise. http://www.theenergycollective.com/davidhone/2310142/carbon-pricing-2015?utm_content=buffera7d24&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
World Bank states about 18M ppl in Bangladesh now have electricity -- thanks to solar home systems
http://blogs.worldbank.org/energy/six-stories-show-renewable-energy-underpins-climate-friendly-future?CID=EAE_TT_Energy_EN_EXT


Take Action! 
Where would you like provincial funds to go? Have a Say on Ontario's Budget: https://talks.ontario.ca/home?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=PhotoAd&utm_content=HYSAd1&utm_campaign=BudgetTalks
The Prime Minister has a special email for folks wanting to comment on the Trans Pacific Partnership. Here is the info from Council of Canadians. http://canadians.org/blog/trudeau-offers-e-mail-address-hear-you-tpp
Have a good one folks!
Lulu :0)

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