Ontario Water Campaign
The Ontario Water Campaign works to address the concerns related to the Great Lakes Basin and water conservation. The specific problems in the Great Lakes have changed over time, but the broader issues have remained – those of deteriorating water quality through industrial and municipal uses, fluctuating water levels, flooding, and shoreline erosion.
Other concerns are acid rain, airborne toxics, depletion of wetland areas, increased demands on the shoreline land base. The impacts associated with the introduction of exotic species, and climate change, as well as drug residues in sewage effluent and the discovery that flame-retardants leaking from computers and mattresses are building up rapidly in the tissues of many animals living in the lakes.
Educating the public is critical to a healthy future for the Great Lakes. Our Water Campaign committee is looking at environmental education programs for water conservation and pollution prevention. If you are interested in helping out, please contact committee chair: Meirav Even-Har at <meirav.evenhar@gmail.com>
Bottle Shock
Submitted by Denna Berg on Thu, 2013-05-09 14:09
By Denna Berg
It is true what they say- ignorance is bliss. But as environmental issues grow larger in scale and have more damaging effects on the surrounding areas, it is getting more and more difficult to partake in blind consumption. Even with the global market, stories, such as the one-too-many factory fires, are making their way back to the developed world, inviting consumers to question the ethics and origins of their $10 T-shirt. As these horrific truths spread and become more frequent, there seems to be a disconnect between the companies true colours and what we would really value and expect from our beloved brands.... Read more »
- Denna Berg's blog
- Login to post comments
SCO submission on Pickering Nuclear request for extension
Submitted by Guest on Fri, 2013-05-03 11:55
Sierra Club Canada and the Ontario Chapter submitted a detailed report on the Pickering Nuclear Station request for permit extension. Our research has turned up a good argument for immediate closure of the plant - certainly not operating it beyond its own planned obsolescence.
From the report:... Read more »
- Login to post comments
Petition to protect the Nottawasaga River - AWARE Simcoe
Submitted by Mary Muter on Fri, 2013-03-08 16:53- AWARE Simcoe, a citizens' group in Simcoe County, Ontario, has started a petition to Protect the Nottawasaga River in the Navigation Protection Act.
Here's why it's important:... Read more »
- Login to post comments
Achieving the promise of the GLWQA
Submitted by Dan McDermott on Fri, 2013-01-25 11:38The Nutrient Annex & municipal sewage infrastructure
By Dan McDermott, Chapter Director
Nutrient loading is a growing and chronic Great Lakes problem. In the Lake Erie context, nutrient fed algal blooms have approached crisis levels in recent years. The 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) identifies the need for binational action to prevent further deterioration of the lakes and mandates action to reduce phosphorus loading. Today’s blue-green algal blooms and fish die offs are reviving memories of the time not long ago when Lake Erie was adjudged to be biologically dead.... Read more »
- Dan McDermott's blog
- Login to post comments
Gag-a
Submitted by Jeff Alan on Mon, 2012-10-29 06:03By Jeff Alan
Word on the internet is, they have named some ferns after Lady Gaga1. That's great and all, since they've also named proteins after Sonic the Hedgehog2 and Pikachu3, but let's stay serious. For someone who supports so many social causes, she doesn't seem to put much thought towards the biggest one.... Read more »
- Jeff Alan's blog
- Login to post comments
Children of the (Genetically Modified) Corn
Submitted by Denna Berg on Fri, 2012-10-12 12:09
By: Denna Berg / Photo: Utne.com
“For farmers today, it’s all about getting the most acre of corn while using as little inputs as possible”
-- Monsanto (2012)
Well lucky for farmers, Monsanto has concocted this magical corn seed which allows corn farmers to easily control natural variables and increase the amount of corn available to harvest. Whether you need a corn variety that can survive droughts and insects or can produce high ethanol yields, Monsanto’s super genius researchers can find a way to “unlock the yield potential” of the seeds (Monsanto, 2010)!
Marvelous!
Or is it...... Read more »
- Denna Berg's blog
- Login to post comments
Oysters Need a Sex Tape
Submitted by Jeff Alan on Tue, 2012-09-25 13:35By Jeff Alan
This past weekend, David Suzuki was at Just For Laughs 42 in Toronto. The bit was a casual interview periodically interrupted by comedy troupe “Monkey Toast” doing improv based on whatever he'd just said about his life, family and science.... Read more »
- Jeff Alan's blog
- Login to post comments
Acclaimed enviro writer exposes the politics behind low lake levels
Losses to Lakes Michigan, Huron put focus on St. Clair River
Pressure is mounting on the U.S. and Canadian governments to explore ways to restore water levels on Lakes Michigan and Huron that have been lowered nearly two feet due to historic dredging on the St. Clair River. The two lakes, which are actually one body of water connected at the Straits of Mackinac, have been below their long-term average for more than a decade, and forecasters say in the coming months they could plunge below their record low.
Now an organization of 90 mayors representing more than 15 million residents in cities across the Great Lakes region is telling the International Joint Commission that it is "dissatisfied" with a recent study that determined restoring lake levels by installing some type of structure to repair damage done to the St. Clair River would be a costly project that could take decades and ultimately do more harm than good.... Read more »
- Login to post comments
Nuclear waste dump in Great Lakes?
Submitted by Guest on Mon, 2012-09-24 14:19
Learn about current proposals to bury nuclear waste and the Great Lakes locations being considered for the dump:
Sunday, Sept. 30, 6:30-8:30pm
St. Clair County Community College
- Login to post comments
How many dead fish would be “significant”?
Submitted by Guest on Fri, 2012-09-21 14:28From our friends at Lake Ontario Waterkeeper -- a persuasive argument against the Darlington nuclear power plant's use/abuse of the fisheries and water resources of Lake Ontario.
By Krystyn Tully, Waterkeeper.ca Weekly
A nuclear power plant in Ontario should be allowed to kill millions of fish each year, say staff of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). Their surprising recommendation is part of the final environmental assessment report for Ontario Power Generation’s plan to refurbish four nuclear reactors at its Darlington Nuclear Generating Station on the north shore of Lake Ontario.... Read more »
- Login to post comments
Georgian Bay loses water while International Joint Commission does nothing
Toronto Star - Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012
By Catherine Porter, Columnist
The maples on Georgian Bay are already changing. It’s almost time to say goodbye for another year.
... Read more »
- Login to post comments
Breaking News: IJC Accepts Comments Until Sept. 30; Holds Teleconference on Sept. 19
Submitted by Mary Muter on Mon, 2012-09-10 13:47In an Open Public Letter sent out on August 31, 2012 – the first-announced deadline for comments on their Report on International Great Lakes Study – the International Joint Commission (IJC) has stated:
“Due to strong public interest, the IJC has extended the deadline for written comment until September 30, 2012.”
How to send comments;
Address your mail as follows:
International Joint Commission
234 Laurier Avenue West, 22nd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6K6
... Read more »
- Login to post comments
Sierra Club applauds the new Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
Submitted by Mary Muter on Mon, 2012-09-10 10:12
Updated GLWQA signed in Washington DC, September 7, 2012
By Mary Muter, Chair Sierra Club Canada Great Lakes Section... Read more »
- Login to post comments
Public hearings soon on Darlington nuclear site (deadline to submit Oct15)
Submitted by Kristina Jackson on Fri, 2012-09-07 14:44On Sept. 4th an official announcement was posted with the details for new Darlington hearings. Greenpeace and NorthWatch are working to coordinate the public participation on these. For more info you can contact Sarah Sherman at Greenpeace: stop.darlington@greenpeace.org. They have provided many links to info to help you participate fully - see below.
Here is the public hearing announcement:... Read more »
- Login to post comments
The Great Lakes Protection Act – Will the Promise Lead to Fulfillment?
Submitted by Kristina Jackson on Wed, 2012-09-05 10:49By Dan McDermott
In January of this year I attended a briefing held by Ontario Environment Minister Jim Bradley and his staff regarding the Great Lakes Protection Act (GLPA) initiative that had been promised by Premier McGuinty during last fall’s election campaign. The specifics of the Act, then as now, are few. The draft Act, which has yet to become law, is enabling legislation with many details left to follow. Throughout this year Great Lakes advocates have been encouraged to submit an expansive list of Great Lakes concerns on the many issues related to Great Lakes water quality and quantity.... Read more »
- Kristina Jackson's blog
- Login to post comments
Watching New York: fracking moratorium may be replaced with regs
Submitted by Kristina Jackson on Wed, 2012-08-22 10:38Keep your eye on New York. According to Huffington Post and CBS, the state is about to drop its moratorium on fracking and create regulations allowing the practice.
Read the entire article on Huff Post (Aug 20, 2012)
... Read more »
- Login to post comments
Press Release: IJC to allow Georgian Bay to drop another 1.25 meters
Submitted by Guest on Thu, 2012-08-09 12:26Immediate release: August 9, 2012
IJC to allow Georgian Bay to drop another 1.25 meters
(Midland) -- The International Joint Commission may be intending to allow water levels in Lake Huron and Georgian Bay to drop by more than 1.25 meters (4 feet) below current levels that are already at historically low threatening shoreline wetlands, navigation and access of island properties if the recommendations of a report by the Upper Great Lakes Study Board are adopted. A video shown at a series of public meeting arranged by the IJC appeared to downplay the implications to the middle lakes.... Read more »
- Login to post comments
Burying the Past, Exhuming It, Repeating
Submitted by Guest on Tue, 2012-07-17 13:54By Jeff Allen
Canada's history (and present state) as a place of mines and sawmills and boom-bust cycles has left a lot of pock marks across the landscape. Sometimes someone deals with them, sometimes nobody does.
Marathon, Ontario, has had a string of hazardous materials spilled/leaked/mishandled out of an abandoned sawmill over the last few years, on top of the already dirty history of operation. Said contamination blessed the surrounding area with everyone's favourite friends “Miss Mercury” and “Captain PCB”.... Read more »
- Login to post comments
Asian Carp Report Must Lead to Action, Groups Say
Submitted by Guest on Tue, 2012-07-17 11:18ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 13, 2012)—Yesterday the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canadian released a study affirming that all five Great Lakes are hospitable to Asian carp and that once established the non-native fish will likely disrupt the native fishery, alter the ecosystem and create another food web.... Read more »
- Login to post comments
First Nations joins fight to restore our upper Great Lakes levels
Submitted by Kristina Jackson on Fri, 2012-07-13 15:14MEDIA ALERT -- For Immediate Release
Attention: Great Lakes, Water, Federal, Provincial, Municipal Politics, Environment
... Read more »
- Login to post comments
Connect With Us...
