TORONTO ● On World Wetlands Day, the Ontario government deserves credit for significantly increasing the level of protection for wetlands from some of the highest threats that wetlands face across the Greenbelt, according to a new report from conservation groups.
Protecting Greenbelt Wetlands: How Effective is Policy? examines the Niagara Escarpment Plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Greenbelt Plan and finds that those three plans are working well to protect wetlands from housing, commercial and other forms of land development.
"A previous study showed that Greenbelt wetlands provide $1.3-billion in economic value to the province every year for services such as water filtration, flood control, moderating the impacts of climate change, and recreation and tourism opportunities. And that price tag doesn’t include benefits that can’t be assigned a dollar value," says Dr. Anastasia Lintner of Ecojustice. “If we don’t protect and restore our wetlands, higher future investments of public funds may be required to replicate these natural services, such as increased spending on expensive infrastructure like sewage treatment plants.”
Ducks Unlimited Canada, Earthroots, Ecojustice and Ontario Nature co-authored the report, which was made possible with the support of Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Law Foundation of Ontario, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and J.P. Bickell Foundation.
Temagami's Wolf Lake region contains the largest old-growth red pine forest in Canada, and possibly even the world. Towering red pines - some older than 260 years old - quartz cliffs, and sparkling blue lakes dominate the landscape. Old-growth red pine ecosystems are considered endangered as they now currently exist on a mere 1.2% of their former range.
The Ministry of Natural Resources has proposed to revoke part of Wolf Lake’s forest reserve to encourage investment in mining. If Wolf Lake loses its forest reserve status, the old-growth forest will no longer be managed with protection of natural heritage and special landscapes as the priority, but rather with resource extraction as the primary goal.
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Here are a few highlights from our list of accomplishments in 2011!
WOLF LAKE / TEMAGAMI
Earthroots gained high-profile media coverage critical of the proposal to remove Forest Reserve status from Wolf Lake, the largest known ancient red pine forest in the world. With the support of our partners at Friends of Temagami, Paddle Canada and CPAWS Ottawa Valley, we have mobilized the public around this important issue.
Our most recent call to action has generated over 1,000 letters in support of permanent protection of this endangered forest!
If you haven’t done so already, please lend your voice to the campaign by sending in your letter to the Premier today.
We generated hundreds of public comments and gained media coverage regarding our push for an immediate review of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan with our partners at Ontario Nature and STORM Coalition. Earthroots also recruited a team of twenty canvassers to go door to door across the thirty-two municipalities on the Oak Ridges Moraine – we reached approximately 20,000 households and raised the profile of the major threats to water quality and quantity.
The plan to destroy old growth forest near Temagami is not a done deal, said the Minister of Natural Resources.
In the wake of a Star story about his ministry’s plans to remove protections for stands of 300-year-old red pine around Wolf Lake in northern Ontario, Minister Michael Gravelle said he will decide soon whether the area will be opened up for increased mining.
“I will be speaking with my officials soon about that,” Gravelle said.
“There is no question that there is now an elevated interest in this issue,” he added, referring to the Star story.
The ministry wants to change the “forest reserve” designation for 340 hectares around Wolf Lake, located 50 kilometres from Temagami, to “general use,” which puts a greater focus on mining instead of forests and recreation.
Ontario is planning to kill its promise to protect an ecological gem — an old-growth forest near Temagami.
The Ministry of Natural Resources wants to change the “forest reserve” designation for 340 hectares around Wolf Lake to “general use,” which puts a greater focus on mining instead of forests and recreation.
The only company drilling in the region is Alberta's Flag Resources, which has been delisted or forced to stop trading on stock exchanges across the country. It is currently not trading anywhere.
Located some 50 kilometres northeast of Sudbury, Wolf Lake lies in the area commonly called Temagami. It is beloved by hikers and canoeists for its soaring stands of 300-year-old red pines and deep blue lakes.
Ontario's Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller said he's “greatly disappointed” by the ministry's plan to backtrack on a long-held agreement to protect Wolf Lake, which would have eventually turned it into parkland.
Toronto - Today Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller released his annual report, “Engaging Solutions”, a critical assessment of the Ontario Liberal government’s environmental policies and practices. The commissioner outlines multiple areas where the province is failing to take effective action on pressing environmental problems. Earthroots applauds the commissioner’s report, as it tackles a spectrum of environmental issues, ranging from waste diversion to concerns with the Endangered Species Act, and regulatory loopholes in land use planning - both in southern and northern Ontario.
“It is critical that our government upholds the objectives of the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, by placing a ban on sport hunting and non-aboriginal trapping of Eastern wolves in provincial parks and protected areas,” said Amber Ellis, Earthroots Executive Director. “We need our government to take immediate measures to protect wolves - this means going back to the drawing board, and reviewing its Strategy for Wolf Conservation, as most of the key principles in the strategy have yet to be fulfilled.”
Conservation groups ask Province to protect Ontario’s rain barrel
For immediate release
Toronto, November 29, 2011 – Echoing months of warnings from Ontario conservation organizations, a new report from the provincial environmental commissioner Gord Miller underscores the need for tougher land use and water monitoring rules on the Oak Ridges Moraine.
Nevertheless, the Province recently denied a request to strengthen protective policies which could put an end to the multiple environmental threats to the moraine that include massive water taking and dumping contaminated fill in abandoned sites.
“Ontarians have been lulled into a false sense of security because of the Oak Ridges Moraine Act and Plan,” says Debbe Crandall, Executive Director of STORM (Save the Oak Ridges Moraine Coalition). “The reality is that the legislation has too many loopholes, which allow developers, gravel companies and other industrial users to cause irreparable damage to a highly sensitive area that supports the headwaters for Greater Toronto’s 65 river systems.”
Featuring: KI Chief Donny Morris, KI Spokesperson John Cutfeet, Judy Rebick.
In 2008 Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) Chief Donny Morris went to jail for refusing to allow mining exploration his community feared would contaminate their water supply. The remote First Nation community succeeded in fighting off mining exploration by Platinex, but now a gold exploration company has staked claims directly on top of sacred KI burials. Ontario continues to violate KI’s right to say ‘no’ to mining exploration on their Homeland.
KI First Nation has governed and cared for the Homeland, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Aaki, that is at the core of their culture since time before memory. This vast area of boreal lakes, rivers, forests, and wetlands provides KI’s pristine water supply, the lake trout the community rely upon, and their sacred landscape. KI has a vision for the future of their lands and environment that benefits both KI and all life.
Join us in this rare opportunity to hear directly from KI leaders about their struggle to control and care for their Homeland.
Tuesday, November 15th, at the Palais Royale, Toronto
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
A special evening to meet Mr. Robert Bateman, view his works and meet the organizations and causes close to his heart! - FREE - Click here for more information.
Ontario’s inaction violates freedom of religion; threatens to spark new conflict
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) - KI Chief Donny Morris is urgently calling on Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to intervene to stop mining exploration activity on a sacred KI ancestral burial site. Mining exploration company God’s Lake Resources has staked new claims in violation of KI’s well publicized moratorium and has worked the site in spite of being informed that multiple sacred KI graves are within the claim area. Government officials say that they are powerless to stop God’s Lake from working their claims in spite of KI’s Indigenous Title, Rights, and sensitive spiritual connection to the area. This growing conflict closely mirrors the events that led to the jailing of Chief Morris and five other KI leaders in 2008 for refusing to allow platinum mining exploration on their homeland.
"Our ancestors deserve a place where they can rest undisturbed. People everywhere understand that cemeteries are sacred places. But in Sherman Lake, they want to put a gold mine on one,” said Chief Morris.
Toronto. The Tools for Change program has launched its 2011/2012 workshop series. This year’s series consists of 16 workshops designed to provide Torontonians with the skills they need to advocate for social, economic, and environmental justice.
Ranging from three hours to a day in length, workshop topics include media strategy, facilitation, scouting, organizing rallies and actions, and conflict resolution. A complete list of this year’s workshops is online at: http://www.toolsforchange.net/events/
“Crippling student debt. Cuts to critical public services. Ongoing war. Climate change. It’s completely overwhelming to students and young people who don’t know how to channel their concern and altruism into concrete action,” says Tools for Change co-founder and University of Toronto Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) coordinator, Clare O’Connor. “Our workshops provide an opportunity for students to connect with like-minded people and learn practical skills for change.”
Environmental Groups Launch New Campaign to Protect the Rain Barrel of Southern Ontario
Media Release
On the 10-year anniversary of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM), Earthroots and Ontario Nature have joined forces to shine a spotlight on the most severe threats to the moraine, southern Ontario's rain barrel.
"We're pleased to announce the launch of our Moraine Can't Wait campaign, which will focus attention on a number of serious issues facing the moraine," says Debbe Crandall, Executive Director of STORM. "We can't wait until the 2015 review of the Conservation Plan, during which time these problems will only get worse. We're asking Ontario residents to make the moraine a priority in this provincial election."
The stunning Oak Ridges Moraine extends for 160 kilometres end to end, north of the Greater Toronto Area. This unique land formation possesses important prairie, forest and wetland habitats, many of which are a refuge for rare plants, birds and turtles. The moraine is likened to a rain barrel because it supplies drinking water to more than 250,000 people. But despite the legislation passed a decade ago, the ecological integrity of the moraine remains highly vulnerable to numerous environmental assaults.
"Unmonitored water taking is one of the most troubling concerns we have about the moraine," says Josh Garfinkel, Senior Campaigner with Earthroots. "Millions of litres of water are pumped out of the aquifers every day and millions more leak into the sewage system."
Take a few minutes to show your support for the permanent protection of Wolf Lake - your voice will make a difference. 
Support KI First Nation; Kanaawayandan D'aaki! Protect the KI Homeland
Kanaawayandan d'aaki!
