Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

Canadians

The Barclay Construction Group Inc. agreed to pay $175K to the Environmental Damages Fund as part of an alternative measures agreement related to excavation work near Lake Ontario

The Barclay Construction Group Inc. agreed to pay $175K to the Environmental Damages Fund as part of an alternative measures agreement related to excavation work near Lake Ontario

Canadians value a safe and clean environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada's enforcement officers strive to ensure that individuals and companies comply with Canadian environmental laws. An alternative measures agreement has been concluded between the Government of Canada and The Barclay Construction Group Inc. As a result of the agreement, the company has agreed to pay $175,000 to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund. The agreement, as recommended by the court, was entered into as an alternative to prosecution of charges that had been laid by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers under the Fisheries Act. The charges, which have since been stayed, were related to an incident where sediment-contaminated water was deposited into Lake Ontario. 

One in three Canadians think their home insurance policies cover water damage

One in three Canadians think their home insurance policies cover water damage

With severe weather becoming less and less of a rarity across Canada, home insurance is climbing up the list of things Canadians have to double-check. And yet a new survey has found that one in three Canadian homeowners mistakenly think their standard home insurance policy includes flood protection. It doesn’t. The Insurance Bureau of Canada recently revealed that severe weather insurance claims shot up 400% from 15 years ago. Most recently, hurricane Fiona tore through Atlantic Canada and left $660 million worth of insured damage in its wake, making it the most expensive severe weather event in the region.

The Dangers of Fracking in Canadian Wells

The Dangers of Fracking in Canadian Wells

Fracking is a process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at a high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks and release natural gas inside. Although fracking has been used in the U.S. since the 1950s, it was not until recently that this process made its way up to Canada. Currently, there is a moratorium on fracking in Quebec, but this process is still occurring in many other parts of the country. Fracking has been shown to have a number of negative environmental impacts, including water contamination, air pollution, and noise pollution. In addition, fracking can also lead to earthquakes. For these reasons, it is important for Canadians to be aware of the dangers of fracking so that they can make informed decisions about whether or not to support this process.

Global Water Futures Observatories a critical step towards water security for Canadians

Global Water Futures Observatories a critical step towards water security for Canadians

Now six years on, GWF is the largest and most published university-led freshwater research program in the world and includes 213 faculty investigators, 531 end-users, 1,826 new researchers, and a network of 23 Canadian universities working on 65 projects and core teams. The program has also established or operates 76 water observation sites, 27 deployable measurement systems, and 31 state-of-the-art university-based environmental and aquatic analysis facilities.

NDP Statement on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

NDP Statement on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Despite tireless advocacy, the federal government is still denying Indigenous communities much of the funding they have requested for discovering the remains at former residential schools and healing programs. Across the country, there are still 32 long-term boil water advisories in effect in 28 communities, and at least 45 short-term drinking waters advisories in Indigenous communities. More troubling, as Indigenous women and girls face an ongoing genocide, the government has failed to build new shelters to help Indigenous women and gender-diverse people and children flee violence.

Why home insurance will get more expensive for all of us and unaffordable for some: experts

Why home insurance will get more expensive for all of us and unaffordable for some: experts

As extreme weather events such as forest fires and floods become more severe and common thanks to the effects of climate change, experts say that could result in more expensive home insurance in the long term. Morgan Roberts, insurance sales director at Ratehub.ca, says the increasing frequency of claims means that insurance companies could try to implement more premium hikes.

Canadians could soon have the legal right to a healthy environment. But can it be enforced?

Canadians could soon have the legal right to a healthy environment. But can it be enforced?

Canada has joined much of the rest of the world in adopting a United Nations resolution recognizing that a healthy environment is a human right. But a bill making its way through Parliament to codify this right into law may need to change to be truly effective. While Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault has promoted the resolution’s “principles” as being in line with the bill, a Canadian UN special rapporteur has said the legislation “should be strengthened” and noted it is not consistent with the approach taken by the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly.

Bacteria, sharks, man o' wars: Why Canadians can't find a place to cool off in the sweltering heat

Bacteria, sharks, man o' wars: Why Canadians can't find a place to cool off in the sweltering heat

As summer temperatures rise, Canadians may have trouble finding a place to cool off in the sweltering heat for reasons ranging from E.Coli in British Columbia to shark sightings in Nova Scotia. It’s an especially hot summer, with heat warnings by Environment Canada for many cities across the country in July. Temperatures are creeping above 30 degrees Celsius. Some Canadians have even been evacuated from their homes due to wildfires, like the one in Lytton, B.C. this month.

Even in Canada, where water prices are low, aging infrastructure and rising costs are a problem

Even in Canada, where water prices are low, aging infrastructure and rising costs are a problem

Canadians living in the Great Lakes basin have perhaps become spoiled at the seemingly endless availability of water. In taking it for granted, topics like the material cost of it or the amount listed on someone’s water bill can be seen as immaterial and unnecessary to discuss. But in many respects, water is also a fairly traditional resource commodity, one that governments have invested billions in maintaining. There’s a cost to all this, and not just for the liquid itself.

Our oceans are hotter than ever. Scientists say they worry about what that means for our future

Our oceans are hotter than ever. Scientists say they worry about what that means for our future

Amid another record warm year for the planet, one of the most dramatic and alarming changes occurred in our oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They are the warmest they've been in recorded history. In fact, the ocean heat has been topping its own record annually for the past seven years, with last year's record set despite the absence of El Niño — a warming in part of the Pacific Ocean that tends to drive up global temperatures.

Strengthening protections for Canadians and the environment from harmful chemicals and pollutants

Strengthening protections for Canadians and the environment from harmful chemicals and pollutants

Canadians expect their government to protect their health and the environment from harmful chemicals and other toxic pollutants. Today, the Government of Canada took an important step forward to do just that. The Government introduced in the Senate the bill Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, which would modernize the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) for the first time in twenty years and make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act.

GoFundMe spurred by trucker protest raises $600K for Indigenous communities

GoFundMe spurred by trucker protest raises $600K for Indigenous communities

The fundraiser, which was created on Friday, has a $5 million goal, with all proceeds going towards Water First, an organization that partners with Indigenous communities “to support access to clean drinking water through education, training, and meaningful collaboration.” If the money is raised, Howarth says GoFundMe will send the funds directly to the organization. Referring to the truckers convoy, Howarth says, “If anyone can raise $5 million in one week, it should be all Canadians who believe that clean drinking water for Indigenous communities should be our nation’s top priority.”

A cold war in a hotter world: Canada's intelligence sector confronts climate change

A cold war in a hotter world: Canada's intelligence sector confronts climate change

Since its birth during the Cold War, Canada's spy agency has occupied itself with three primary threats: terrorism, espionage and foreign interference in domestic politics and business. Now, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service is pointing to a disruptive new player on the field: climate change. CSIS says it's trying to get a handle on how climate change will disrupt national security. It has even acknowledged that effort publicly — something intelligence agencies rarely do. "This is something that will absolutely have profound impacts on Canadians and it will have impacts on our national security. I think it's important that we are going to be in that space," Tricia Geddes, deputy director for policy at CSIS, told an intelligence conference last month.

Eight new substances added to U.S. carcinogen report

Eight new substances added to U.S. carcinogen report

In the latest report, chronic infection with the bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, has been listed as known to be a human carcinogen. H. pylori is a spiral bacteria that can enter the body through food, water or utensils, lives in the digestive tract and is behind most stomach ulcers. It is thought to penetrate the mucous lining of the stomach to establish infection and can lead to stomach cancer. It is more commonly found in countries with less established infrastructures surrounding clean water and sewage systems, but spread from one person to another is possible through saliva or other bodily fluids.

Canada’s new governor general, Mary Simon, is poised to engage in her most challenging diplomatic mission yet

Canada’s new governor general, Mary Simon, is poised to engage in her most challenging diplomatic mission yet

It may be challenging for Canadians to wrap our heads around the concept of peoples living in this territory, with inherent rights (through their own treaties) to water and land that we do not possess, not wanting to be part of this country — and even seemingly undermining it by blocking major economic and industrial projects.

GOLDSTEIN: Tainted water poisons reconciliation with Indigenous Canadians

GOLDSTEIN: Tainted water poisons reconciliation with Indigenous Canadians

In light of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Canada Day message urging us to reflect on our relationship with Canada’s Indigenous people, I’ve been reflecting on why his government can’t get clean water to every Indigenous reserve in Canada, despite spending $24.5 billion on Indigenous issues this year. The lack of clean water on reserves means the people living on them have far higher rates of infections and disease than other Canadians.

Theodore TOO stops in Kingston as part of Great Lakes tour

Theodore TOO stops in Kingston as part of Great Lakes tour

Canada’s famous and beloved tugboat, Theodore TOO, announced on Jun. 9, 2021, that he would set sail from Halifax to his new home in the Port of Hamilton and would become an ambassador to the Great Lakes and the marine industry. The 65-foot life-sized reproduction of Canada’s beloved “Theodore Tugboat” has partnered with Swim Drink Fish and will take on a large role in promoting several of the organization’s initiatives including its Great Lakes Guide, according to the tugboat’s owner, Blair McKeil. “We must ensure access to clean water and promote employment in one of our nation’s most vital and skill-intensive sectors,” said McKeil, President and CEO of Breakwater Investments. “We’re incredibly honoured to join Swim Drink Fish and lend support to its work with Indigenous leaders and sustainability thought leaders in their mission-critical work rallying Canadians around a clean water strategy built on the conservation, restoration and protection of our waterways and Great Lakes. Tugboats have a big job on the water and Theodore TOO has an even bigger mandate now. We’re incredibly excited about the role he’ll play in promoting sustainability.”

Autumn Peltier – Water Warrior gains more recognition

Autumn Peltier – Water Warrior gains more recognition

Autumn Peltier of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory has been named to the national Clean50 list, which recognizes “outstanding contributions to clean capitalism.” The initiative was created in 2011 by the Delta Management Group, a staffing firm with a focus on ‘green’ initiatives such as cleantech, renewable energy and sustainability.

Residents of Saskatoon area to benefit from upgrades to water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure, and other community and green infrastructure projects

Residents of Saskatoon area to benefit from upgrades to water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure, and other community and green infrastructure projects

Today, the Honourable Jim Carr, the Government of Canada's Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Don McMorris, Saskatchewan's Minister of Government Relations, and His Worship Charlie Clark, Mayor of the City of Saskatoon, announced more than $102 million in joint funding for 11 green infrastructure and COVID-19 resilience projects. The green infrastructure projects include upgrades to drinking water and wastewater systems, improvements to solid waste management, sidewalk expansion, and a new solar power plant. Several of those projects will help provide long-term reliable services to local communities while also contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Government of Canada invests in climate change awareness and action project for young Canadians

Government of Canada invests in climate change awareness and action project for young Canadians

Canadians want clean air and clean water for their children and grandchildren. When companies pollute our natural environment, they pay the price, and the Government of Canada ensures that environmental good follows environmental harm by reinvesting those fines in projects that will benefit our environment. Today, Kate Young, Member of Parliament for London West, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced that the Government of Canada is investing $5.9 million from environmental fines into Let's Talk Science. With this funding, Let's Talk Science will engage over 600,000 youth across Canada in climate science awareness and action through regional events, action projects, hands-on activities and a suite of digital resources, including career information.

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