(Toronto). In his 2006/7 Annual Report, released today, Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner warns that the province’s approach to development without adequate planning could do irreparable damage to the province’s environment. Earthroots applauds Commissioner Miller’s frank recommendations. In particular, he highlighted the destruction of greenspaces in Southern Ontario as a result of industrial and suburban sprawl. He also noted that inadequate monitoring of industrial development, such as forestry, mining, and hydro, in the far north poses serious threats to the Boreal Forest.
(Sudbury). The Minister of Natural Resources has recently admitted that the largest old-growth red pine forest in Canada, and possibly even the world, will be opened to logging in the near future. In response to a letter by a concerned citizen, Minister Ramsay has stated that the forest reserve designation for Wolf Lake will be removed and that “the new land use designation would likely permit forest access, harvest and renewal.”
(Toronto). The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) has revealed its true colours in its recent attempts to sabotage the government’s landmark new Endangered Species Act (ESA). The new legislation, which has been hailed by environmental groups as some of the best in the country, will use a science-based approach to update the list of species at risk and make specific provisions for their protection. Yet the OFIA, which represents forest companies operating in Ontario, is actively trying to derail the legislation in order to minimize restrictions on destructive forest operations.
(Toronto) Queen's Park has quietly approved the "Big Pipe" sewer to be built along 19th Avenue in Richmond Hill, supporting York Region's preferred route that will run through protected areas of the Oak Ridges Moraine and the recently protected Greenbelt.
(Toronto) On February 24th, 2005 the McGuinty government stated that the Greenbelt would “protect greenspace and contain urban sprawl in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.” One year after the McGuinty government’s plan to create a 1.8 million acre band of natural spaces and agricultural lands (including the previously protected Niagara Escarpment and Oak Ridges Moraine) was enacted, has the Greenbelt curbed sprawl or encouraged more leapfrog development onto our region’s greenspace?
Groups shut out from consultations over government's pro-gun approach
(Toronto) As the Ontario government begins its first round of consultations for managing human-wildlife conflicts, referred to by the Ministry as “nuisance” wildlife, environmental and animal protection groups, conspicuously excluded from the stakeholder invitation list, held a press conference today at Queens Park slamming the Ministry’s pro-hunting agenda.
