Habitat Protection and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

Harper Government to Eliminate Habitat Protection Provisions in the Canada Fisheries Act.

To date the Harper government has shown little regard for the protection of the environment and over the past few years has supervised the almost total elimination of enforcement of the habitat protection and the pollution provisions of the Canada Fisheries Act (Sections 35 and 36 respectively).

During the Cohen Inquiry in 2011 data was presented to show that pollution and habitat violation investigations have been greatly reduced and convictions of violations in BC and indeed throughout Canada is now almost non-existent.

The Fisheries Act of Canada was put in place in 1868 and is one of the oldest and most tested pieces of environmental legislation in the world. In 1975 many people worked hard to get a proper section added to the Act to protect fish habitat in Canada.

Section 35 (habitat protection) was passed by Parliament in 1976 and has been extensively used across Canada over the past 36 years. In B.C., the Federal and BC governments largely quit enforcing the pollution and habitat sections of the Act in favor of allowing industry to self govern their own environmental project’s ‘needs’ and monitor their own self compliance. This has proven to be a disaster wherever it has been attempted elsewhere in the World.

Click here to view the Important Form Letter Against Dismantling of The CEAA.

Township of Melancthon, Official Plan Review

NDACT  - Call to Action 

Melancthon taxpayers

Call to Action  - We need your help and participation with the Review of the Melancthon Official Plan.  Please support us and consider your future

The proposed new Township of Melancthon Official Plan has been prepared and you have until March 29th to submit written comments to affect change.  Even if you cannot make a submission by this date please let the Township know what you think as soon as you can.

“Mega Quarry Posters” by 1st Year OCADU Graphic Design Students

Opening Reception Wednesday March 28, 2012

Opening Reception Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Series of Posters on display from March 26 - April 2

Location: The Learning Zone - OCAD University, 122 St. Patrick St., Level 1, Toronto

Wed. Mar. 28: "Artists Against the MegaQuarry" awarded prizes for the top three poster designs, as well as for honourable mentions.

Weekly Call to Action – March 19, 2012

Welcome to our Weekly Call to Action. 

Our goals for this focused action campaign are:

1. To attract attention through quantity as well as content
2. To keep the proposed mega quarry on the “front burner”
3. To keep the quarry licence application process open and transparent by interacting with various levels of government on an ongoing basis.

If you have any suggestions or questions regarding the strategy of this campaign, contact NoMegaQuarry@xplornet.ca.

ACTION:  Contact the Prime Minister, the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister of the Environment and your MP and demand that Canada  strengthen environmental law rather than weaken it.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) is one of the most important pieces of environmental legislation in Canada

.  Today it is under attack by corporate lobbyists and the federal government who want to "streamline" regulations to better facilitate business opportunities.   

“The Conservative government is systematically dismantling environmental protection and regulation,” said NDP fisheries critic Fin Donnelly. “By eliminating provisions to protect fish habitat, they can push through their agenda of pipelines, oil super tankers, mega mines and other projects that harm the environment.”

Template e-mail

Responses received to date:

Elizabeth May, NDP

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When Will the Review of the Provincial Aggregate Resources Act Begin?

It has been six months since the Ontario Government committed to undertake a serious review of the Provincial Aggregate Resources Act.  This promise was greeted enthusiastically by Ontarians who recognized some time ago that the Act was severely dated and required a comprehensive overhaul.  For many Ontarians, the Highland Companies application for a 2,300 acre below-the-water table mega quarry on prime agricultural land in the Hills of the Headwaters in Dufferin County readily exposed a variety of very serious flaws in that old legislation.

We call on the Minister to make his intentions known and announce the start of this very important review.

You can reach Ontario Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle at: mgravelle.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org or http://www.michaelgravelle.onmpp.ca/Contact.aspx or fax at: 416-325-5316

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_detail.do?locale=en&ID=40 full list of contact information

 sample letter in PDF form

sample letter in word format

It is best to write a letter and sign your name, and include your address. Emails to government agencies are not always as effective.

You may also call his constituency office at 1-888-516-5555.

Water Docs. An Ecologos film festival focusing on water issues.

Dates: March 22 - April 22, 2012

Location: Ralph Thornton Centre, 2nd Floor, 765 Queen St. E., Toronto  (2 blocks east of Broadview Avenue at Saulter Street) http://www.ralphthornton.org/

April 5, 2012  “Save Our Water” by Jason van Bruggen. Jason & NDACT Chair, Carl Cosack, were present to discuss the film.

Click on picture for printable poster with details.

Admission to all films is free.