Sierra in the News
2012-02-21 03:19
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Climate Summits, Ecosystems, Government, Atmosphere & Energy
The Canadian government has been accused of "muzzling" its scientists.
Speakers at a major science meeting being held in Canada said communication of vital research on health and environment issues is being suppressed.
But one Canadian government department approached by the BBC said it held the communication of science as a priority.
Prof Thomas Pedersen, a senior scientist at the University of Victoria, said he believed there was a political motive in some cases.
"The Prime...
2012-02-20 17:10
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Alberta Tar Sands and Mackenzie River Delta, Climate Summits, Alberta Tar Sands Pipelines, Energy Onslaught, Atmosphere & Energy
OTTAWA — Collateral damage from Canada's booming oilsands sector may be irreversible, posing a "significant environmental and financial risk to the province of Alberta," says a secret memorandum prepared for the federal government's top bureaucrat.
The memorandum, released by the Privy Council Office through access to information legislation, also raises doubts about recent industry and government claims that oilsands companies are reducing heat-trapping gases produced...
2012-02-11 22:09
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Alberta Tar Sands and Mackenzie River Delta, Climate Change, Ecosystems, Forests, Forests and Climate Change, Alberta Tar Sands Pipelines, Energy Onslaught, Forests and Biodiversity, Nuclear Phaseout, Wilderness and Species Conservation, Oceans, Toxics, Trade and Environment, Government, Radioactive Waste, Nuclear-Free Canada, Endangered Species, Atmosphere & Energy, Health & Environment, Transition to Sustainable Economy
After vowing to take on radical environmentalists determined to stop the Northern Gateway pipeline, the Harper government has released a new anti-terrorism strategy that targets eco-extremists as threats.
With his announcement this week, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has increased the concern among environmentalists that Ottawa regards them as implacable adversaries to be monitored and battled, rather than well-meaning advocates to be consulted.
“This is just one more step in their...
2012-02-11 22:07
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Climate Change, Forests and Biodiversity, Toxics, Pesticides, Nuclear-Free Canada, Atmosphere & Energy, Health & Environment, Protecting Biodiversity, Transition to Sustainable Economy
In a report released yesterday outlining the federal government’s new counter-terrorism strategy, Public Safety Canada listed environmentalists among other “issue-based domestic extremists” that could pose a threat to Canadians.
Responding to the report, Sierra Club Canada director John Bennett said this portrayal is aligned with officials’ attempts to silence environmental groups opposed to major energy projects like the Northern Gateway pipeline.
“We...
2012-02-09 20:19
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Ecosystems, Government, Indigenous Sovereignty, Atmosphere & Energy, Health & Environment, Protecting Biodiversity
Amidst rising concerns around climate change and the controversial review of the Northern Gateway pipeline, the government’s proposed changes to Environmental Assessment legislation have many critics up in arms.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) is just one of several pieces of legislation up for review this year, along with proposed changes to the Criminal Code, immigration laws and the Copyright Act. So far, the suggested changes to Environmental Assessment legislation...
2012-02-08 18:42
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Ecosystems, Forests, Forests and Biodiversity, Wilderness and Species Conservation, Protecting Biodiversity
Vancouver Sun (Feb. 7, 2012)
Eco groups urge government to complete protection promise for Great Bear Rainforest
By Gordon Hamilton
Environmental groups supporting the Great Bear Rainforest agreement said Tuesday that the B.C. government is not meeting conservation targets set six years ago in a landmark agreement that would preserve 70 per cent of the central coast forest but allow commercial logging on the rest.
ForestEthics, the Sierra Club and Greenpeace said with two years to go before...
2012-02-04 18:52
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Ecosystems, Sustainable Fisheries, Oceans, Transition to Sustainable Economy
Fred Winsor says he's happy to see vindication from national science panel calling for sweeping changes to Canada's fisheries managment policies.
Winsor, the conservation chair for Sierra Club, said that he's been saying for a while the federal government's efforts to foster cod stocks just aren't working.
"I've lost track of the number of letters I've written to ministers of fisheries, asking to have various areas closed for marine protected areas and,...
2012-02-04 18:46
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Nuclear Phaseout, Nuclear Subsidies, Radioactive Waste, Nuclear-Free Canada
Bruce Power’s licence to transport steam generators containing radiation for recycling expired Friday.
The nuclear power generator has not reapplied and said in a news release Friday it will do so “when it’s appropriate.”
It also said there is “no urgency” to ship the generators.
Company spokesman John Peevers declined to answer questions about it.
“Bruce Power continues to believe recycling offers the best environmental solution for reducing our...
2012-02-03 10:33
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Alberta Tar Sands and Mackenzie River Delta, Climate Change, Alberta Tar Sands Pipelines, Energy Onslaught
Federal Environment Minister Peter Kent and his Alberta counterpart Diana McQueen will take the wraps off a new oilsands monitoring program Friday afternoon.
Environmental groups are anxiously awaiting the details of the plan which has been in the works for more than a year.
The Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada says it's imperative the plan be totally independent of government and industry interference.
John Bennett says Canadians also want assurances that industry is...
2012-02-01 11:35
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Alberta Tar Sands and Mackenzie River Delta, Climate Change, Alberta Tar Sands Pipelines
A B.C. environmentalist claims in a sworn affidavit the Harper government labelled him and his organization, ForestEthics, an "enemy of the government of Canada" and an "enemy of the people of Canada" and threatened to pull the charitable status of its funder, the Tides Canada Foundation, because of ForestEthics' opposition to the Northern Gateway pipeline and tanker project exporting tarsands oil to China.
Tides Canada is a major social-policy and environmental...
