Latest News
Study: Wolf Lake Ancient Forest is Endangered Ecosystem
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- Created on Wednesday, 26 June 2013 11:09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New research from the University of Guelph, published Tuesday in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation, says that allowing industrial extraction in a northern Ontario old-growth red pine forest – the largest remaining in the world – would significantly threaten biodiversity in Canada.
The study says that Wolf Lake Forest Reserve is a “scientifically irreplaceable system.”
Scientists find 210 species at Wolf Lake
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- Created on Wednesday, 12 June 2013 13:21
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recommend moratorium on further industrial disturbance
Sudbury - A team of scientists released a new report today on the findings of an intensive species count conducted last year at Wolf Lake. 210 species were identified including two bird species "At Risk" (special concern) the Canada Warbler and Common Nighthawk. The report finds that the Wolf Lake old-growth forest is a unique and rich natural laboratory with the potential to provide the answers to many scientific questions relating to the ecology and conservation of endangered forested landscapes. It warns that planned industrial activity puts this value at risk.
Ontario Government Abandons Endangered Species
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- Created on Friday, 31 May 2013 15:34
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - David Suzuki Foundation, Earthroots, Ontario Nature, Sierra Club of Canada
Environmentalists decry Cabinet decision to gut law protecting imperilled wildlife
Toronto, May 31, 2013 – The provincial Cabinet announced today its approval of sweeping exemptions for industry under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). Environmental organizations are incensed at the government’s abdication of its responsibility to protect and recover Ontario’s endangered plants and animals.
“This is the first major test of the new Cabinet’s commitment to the environment, and they have failed,” says Dr. Anne Bell, director of conservation and education at Ontario Nature. “They have turned their backs on the province’s most imperilled wildlife, and at a time when the federal government is poised to do the same.”
NEW Save Wolf Lake Video
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- Created on Tuesday, 07 May 2013 04:01
For more info about the campaign to protect the world's largest ancient red pine forest, visit savewolflake.org
Canoe Camp Facebook invites Wynne to paddle Wolf Lake using stunning time lapse video
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- Created on Tuesday, 07 May 2013 04:00
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Threatened ancient red pine forest is among Sudbury’s top eco-tourism destinations
Sudbury – Today Camp Keewaydin on Lake Temagami launched a breathtaking time-lapse video on Facebook, inviting Premier Wynne to join them on a canoe trip to Sudbury's famed Wolf Lake, home to the world’s largest ancient red pine forest.
Advocates are hoping that the new Premier will breathe life into the deadlocked conversation over providing full protection for one of Sudbury’s top eco-tourism destinations. The Government of Ontario promised to protect Wolf Lake in 1999, but last year mining leases surrounding Wolf Lake owned by Calgary based Flag Resources were renewed for 21 years.
Sweeping exemptions would leave endangered species sliding toward extinction
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- Created on Thursday, 04 April 2013 11:11
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Earthroots, Ontario Nature, Sierra Club
Some 65 species have been waiting and waiting for habitat protection – on average for 19 years
Toronto - Sixty-five species slated to receive mandatory habitat protection this summer under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) may be out of luck if the government proceeds with sweeping exemptions to the act. A new analysis reveals that these species have already been waiting an average of 19 years to have their habitat protected. Now that wait-time is about to be extended – in some cases, forever.
“Almost every one of these 65 plants and animals is threatened by habitat loss. The vast majority (83%) have been listed as threatened or endangered for more than 10 years. Almost half have been listed for more than 20 years,” says Dr. Anne Bell, director of conservation and education at Ontario Nature. “Yet the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is proposing to waive ESA protection requirements for a broad suite of activities that would damage or destroy the places where these species survive.”
Grassy Narrows comments on appeals court ruling against Treaty rights
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- Created on Monday, 18 March 2013 19:17
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"I am very disappointed that the appeal court has ruled against protecting our Treaty rights from destructive clearcut logging," said Joseph Fobister, a Grassy Narrows trapper who initiated the legal action. "What meaning can our right to hunt and fish have when the courts allow Ontario to clearcut our forests and poison our fish with mercury?"
“Our community has suffered for too long from the impacts of industry imposed on our people,” said Joseph Fobister*, one of the Grassy Narrows trappers who initiated the legal action. “We cannot allow industry to further damage our way of life and our health by poisoning our water and destroying the forests that we depend on.”
“It is time for Ontario to finally stop wasting time and money trying to force damaging clearcut logging on our community, and to begin the process of reconciliation by respecting our Treaty and aboriginal rights as we defend our forest-based way of life,” said Grassy Narrows Chief Fobister.
Contact: Joseph Fobister 807-407-2745
For background information click here.
Toronto training organization, co-founder, Jessica Bell, awarded Toronto Community Foundation Vital People grant
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- Created on Thursday, 31 January 2013 17:14
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Toronto) - Tools for Change’s co-founder and coordinator, Jessica Bell, was awarded a Vital People grant from the Toronto Community Foundation. The Vital People grant program recognizes valued leaders who are making outstanding contributions working at not-for-profit organizations. Grants are awarded in support of continued training and professional development of the selected leaders.
A project of Earthroots, OPIRG Toronto, and Greenpeace, Tools for Change provides skills-building training to Toronto’s volunteer, activist, and non-profit sector. The program hosts 20 workshops a year. Jessica Bell co-founded Tools for Change in 2010.
Jessica Bell will use the Toronto Community Foundation grant to complete courses in conflict resolution and mediation at York University.
Scugog digs deep for solutions against commercial fill
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- Created on Thursday, 31 January 2013 17:00
Fill symposium held at Scugog Community Centre
Jennifer Walker, durhamregion.com
SCUGOG -- As countless loads of commercial fill are being dumped in the countryside north of the GTA and contaminated fill continues to threaten the integrity of underground water sources, Scugog Township decided to dig a little deeper in hopes of finding a solution.
On Friday, Jan. 25, Scugog Township and Kawartha Conservation held a large-scale fill symposium to discuss large fill operations, consequences, possible solutions and next steps. Nearly 300 people attended.
Ontario appeals landmark Native Treaty rights legal ruling in battle over clearcut logging in Grassy Narrows
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- Created on Monday, 14 January 2013 00:00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Toronto) – Today the Government of Ontario begins proceedings in the Ontario Court of Appeal seeking to overturn a major legal victory for Grassy Narrows Indigenous Nation in their decade long battle for Treaty rights and against clearcut logging on their territory - a practice known to raise mercury levels in fish above safe levels. On August 16, 2011 Ontario Superior Court Justice Saunderson found that the Government of Ontario does not have the power to unilaterally take away the rights promised in Treaty 3 by authorizing industry including logging and mining. That judgment came after 11 years of legal process in Keewatin v. MNR.
Joint Statement Supporting Chief Spence and "Idle No More"
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- Created on Thursday, 03 January 2013 00:00
Indigenous and human rights organizations stand in solidarity with Chief Theresa Spence in her appeal for full respect for Aboriginal and Treaty rights by the government of Canada. There is an urgent need for Canada to demonstrate genuine respect and long-term commitment, initiated by a meeting between First Nations’ leadership, the Prime Minister and the Governor General.
KI to walk from Queens Park to Parliament Hill to say no to treaty violations
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- Created on Tuesday, 01 January 2013 00:00
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Toronto, ON – KI community member, Mark T. Anderson will walk from Queens Park to Parliament Hill starting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday to say no to continued treaty violations by the federal government. Anderson, who will be joined by members of the KI leadership and youth, has reactivated his walking team to pick up from his 2100 km walk to Queen’s Park in 2006 to say no to mining.
"The Crown pledged to honor the commitments they made at treaty time, ‘for as long as the sun shines, the waters flow, and the grass grows,’ says Anderson. "God's creation was used to entice our people to sign on to treaty #9 at KI, now Canada, through the actions of the Harper government, wants to continue to violate the treaty commitments through Bill C-45, which will negatively impact our peoples, lands, waters, and environment."
More Articles...
- 2012 Year in Review
- Grassy Narrows Blockaders Protest Logging on 10 Year Anniversary of Blockade
- Sacred fire at Queen's Park marks 10 years of the Grassy Narrows logging blockade
- Earthroots Executive Director receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the Friends of Temagami
- Firm abandons plan for mega quarry north of Toronto
- Save Wolf Lake