Archive for April, 2009:

Environment Canada ordered to enforce NPRI laws

¶ Published Monday, April 27th at %I:%M %p ∞ In EnvironmentNo Comments »

Twice last week, the Federal Court of Canada told the Harper government to do its job.
First it was the repatriation of Omar Khadr. Then it ordered the Federal government to include in the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) the publication of all mining pollution data, going back to 2006.
The NPRI details all the industrial [...]

To the Crazy Ones

¶ Published Thursday, April 23rd at %I:%M %p ∞ In Environment, MiscellaneousNo Comments »

Like them or hate them, it is the crazy people that push society forward. Challenging us, threatening us and pushing us to change. Greeenpeace is just such a group, great video below.

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Your options for Canadian Environmental Compliance Information and Tools

¶ Published Thursday, April 23rd at %I:%M %p ∞ In MiscellaneousNo Comments »

When it comes to canadian environmental laws, you have a few options.
First, you can consult government websites – they have the laws and some guidance. To simply gain access to legislation and standards, the people at Eco-Log and CCOHS offer good service at reasonable prices. To simply receive environmental law updates, you can subscribe to [...]

Get Angry about Chickens and their Waste

¶ Published Thursday, April 23rd at %I:%M %p ∞ In Environment, Miscellaneous1 Comment »

Yesterday, an excellent PBS Frontline documentary on the environmental degradation of The Chesapeake  Bay and Potomac River was aired. The show outlines some of the current problems, but also traces the interesting evolution of the environmental mouvement back in the 1960s, which culminated in the the first Earth Day in 1970. During the 60s, a [...]

Federal government under attack for EA removal

¶ Published Monday, April 20th at %I:%M %p ∞ In Legal IssuesNo Comments »

In an attempt to ’stimulate’ the economy, the feds may have stirred the pot a little too much. Their removal of environmental assessment on infrastructure projects tied to stimulus has raised some questions. Though removing EA requirements will certainly speed up some projects, it will likely be taken advantage of by companies planning to build [...]

Report from IAPA – CANECT 2009

¶ Published Monday, April 20th at %I:%M %p ∞ In Environment, MiscellaneousNo Comments »

I just finished a day at the Toronto CANECT tradeshow and conference. The show is designed to showcase environmental companies and offer training on new regulations and emerging issues.
Located alongside the much larger IAPA (Health & Safety) conference, CANECT seems like a sideshow; the booths are smaller, the lighting dimmer and it is tucked away [...]

EPA to the rescue

¶ Published Monday, April 20th at %I:%M %p ∞ In EnvironmentNo Comments »

Last week, a landmark ruling by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strengthened the hand of supporters of a climate change bill in the U.S. In it the EPA formally declared that carbon dioxide emissions present a danger to public health. This after the 2007 US Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA in which [...]

Doing away with wasteful waste

¶ Published Friday, April 17th at %I:%M %p ∞ In Design & Features, EnvironmentNo Comments »

Greenies often complain about the sheer amount of garbage society produces. They are right, we produce a lot. Yet, the challenge is not to simply reduce the quantity of garbage, but to re-define it. Plastic is extremely useful. It saves lives, makes items more affordable and accessible and is generally beneficial to society. That being [...]

NRTEE: Carbon pricing for Canada

¶ Published Friday, April 17th at %I:%M %p ∞ In EnvironmentNo Comments »

The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) has published its latest report, “Achieving 2050: A Carbon Pricing Policy for Canada“. Its principal recommendation: a unified carbon pricing policy for Canada to achieve “the greatest amount of carbon emission reductions, at the least economic cost”, as opposed to “the current, fragmented [...]

Ontario lead on toxic substances regulation laudable, but slow

¶ Published Wednesday, April 15th at %I:%M %p ∞ In EnvironmentNo Comments »

Bill 167 may be the leading edge of a new wave of substance regulation in Canada.  Following the lead provided by REACH in the European Community, and Proposition 65 in California, Ontario is preparing to put forth a framework to gather information on substances whose effects on human health and the environment are little known.    [...]