Latest News
Human rights must be the Priority at Grassy Narrows: Social justice groups say province’s efforts to resume clear-cut logging could derail progress in Grassy Narrows
- Details
- Created on Tuesday, 01 September 2009 01:00
Public interest organizations say Ontario is treating the people of the Grassy Narrows First Nation as second-class citizens with second-class rights. Grassy Narrows is the site of a seven-year-old blockade against forestry practices that community members say threaten their culture and survival. In May 2008, the community and the province entered into talks over long-term management of the forests in the traditional territory of Grassy Narrows.
There are growing concerns, however, that the province may have already made up its mind to continue large-scale clear-cut logging in the territory, regardless of the consequences for the community. Even while talks are continuing, the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources has brought forward a new logging plan that includes provisions forpotential resumption of large-scale clear cutting on the disputed lands.
In a public statement issued today, 21 organizations concerned with Indigenous peoples’ rights, social justice and environmental protection strongly criticized the government of Ontario for failing to make the rights of the people of Grassy Narrows their first priority.
Take action to protect the Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Park
- Details
- Created on Monday, 20 July 2009 20:29
We need you to speak out against a controversial quarry that could threaten vital habitat, wildlife species and groundwater! The deadline for comments is this Thursday, July 23rd.
A proposed granite quarry, if approved, will operate just outside of the boundary of Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Park, Ontario's second largest park south of Algonquin. This park is one of the most diverse and least disturbed natural areas found in Central Ontario, containing more than 50 landform vegetation patterns.
Giofam Investments Inc. is proposing to mine 200,000 tonnes of granite annually, and will require a “Permit to Take Water of 8.1 million litres/day”. The impact that this industrial activity will have on wildlife corridors will be devastating, and this tremendous water taking will have severe consequences on both water quality and quantity in the region.
Our provincial government has made a commitment to improve biodiversity and to protect source water and groundwater; destroying contiguous wetlands and forest habitats that are dependent on groundwater sources contravenes several promises and objectives that have been clearly outlined by the Liberals.
We need your voice to help convince the Ministry of Natural Resources that this quarry license should be denied!
Please see our template letter below. You can copy and paste the template to form your own submission - please change the letter to reflect your own personal views as this will have a greater impact with the decision makers. To read the posting on the EBR or to submit your comments on-line through their website, please click here. Remember that the government, by law, has to consider each comment submitted through the EBR - this is a valuable tool for voicing concerns about environmental values! Take action by this Thursday, July 23rd.
Contact Earthroots' Senior Campaigner, Josh Garfinkel, if you have any questions or require further information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 416-599-0152 x15
Paul Cutmore
Aggregate Inspector
Ministry of Natural Resources
Field Services Division
Southern Region
Peterborough District Office
300 Water Street - Floor 1
PO Box 7000 - South Tower
Peterborough, Ontario
K9J 8M5
Phone: (705) 755-3110
Fax: (705) 755-3125
Dear Mr. Cutmore,
Re: EBR Registry Number 010-6875
As a citizen of Ontario, I feel privileged to reside in a province that holds such a diverse and extensive network of parks and conservation reserves, accounting for nearly 10% of the land base. Despite this network of protected areas, our province is still home to roughly 1/3 of the country’s species at risk, and biodiversity loss is taking place at an alarming rate. The significant decline in wildlife habitat as well as the threats to intact wilderness and biodiversity, have meant there is an even greater urgency to enact stronger protection for our protected areas - spaces which are supposed to act as refuges for wildlife, and in particular, for species that are facing extinction.
I am strongly opposed to industrial activities that threaten Ontario's protected areas and do not support the creation of a crushed granite quarry just outside of the boundary of Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Park, Ontario's second largest park south of Algonquin. Allowing a massive mining operation within five hundred metres of a unique and sensitive ecosystem will cause irreparable damage to the scenic beauty, uncontaminated lakes, and the abundance of wildlife that exist within and around its boundaries. This park is one of the most diverse and least disturbed natural areas found in Central Ontario, containing more than 50 landform vegetation patterns.
Quarries and open pit mines are very destructive: all the soil, plants and trees found in the extraction area are removed, the temperature and chemistry of surrounding streams are altered, natural habitat is eradicated. There is a high probability of endangered species and species at risk in this region therefore protecting biodiversity as well as maintaining natural corridors and connectivity is very important. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) should be doing everything in its power to protect all the natural attributes of this area, instead of considering industrial activities that will threaten them.
Giofam Investment Inc.'s proposal calls for mining 200,000 tonnes of granite annually will require a “Permit to Take Water of 8.1 million litres/day”. The impact that this tremendous water taking will have on both water quality and quantity will be devastating. Groundwater is the only source of potable water for all of the homes, neighbouring farms and businesses in the area, making this proposed mining operation a public health risk. Giofam currently plans to monitor wells within a one kilometre radius of the quarry. This means that as few as three properties may have their wells tested annually - this is not adequate. If water quality and quantity are to be sufficiently monitored, the well monitoring needs to be carried out in at least a three kilometre radius.
Water produced from dewatering the open pits will be fed into nearby watercourses, which will then flow into the Cranberry and Head River watersheds. If granted, Giofam's Permit to Take Water will be equivalent to the average consumption of approximately 10,000 households (based on Environment Canada’s published per capita residential consumption in Ontario of 260 litres per day, three persons per household). In addition to the risks of pulling millions of litres of water out of the ground, discharging this amount of water into the Cranberry River poses a huge threat to the vital watershed, as much as doubling the flow rate during low flow periods in the summer.
The new Clean Water Act ensures protection for our drinking water at its primary source and promises to prevent problems before they occur. If something transpires, there is no ‘Plan B’ for our drinking water; protection of our water resources is priority and law; therefore it must take precedence over a proposed quarry.
The impacts on local residents as well as the integrity of farms and surrounding communities cannot be overlooked. Blasting, dust, noise, vibrations, lights, truck traffic, fuelling and maintenance will have a profoundly negative effect on the environment. Furthermore, in the early stages of site development, granite will be moved to an Uxbridge quarry site for crushing into gravel; granite dust contains silica, a designated hazardous material, adding another risk to this already unhealthy and unsustainable operation.
The MNR must stop issuing below-ground water permits to the aggregate industry, and Ontario must reduce its demand for new aggregate. We must not forget why we have provincial parks in the first place - they meet a number of objectives: protection, heritage appreciation, recreation, and tourism. If quarries are permitted right beside our parks, these values will certainly be compromised. An area so important as Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Park should not be classified as “protected” if a massive quarry is allowed on the outskirts of its boundaries, destroying contiguous wetlands and forest habitats.
It is imperative that you deny this quarry licence. Approval of this proposal will critically affect public health and the quality of the natural environment.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this process.
Sincerely,
Solace Wildlands to be Clearcut
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 25 June 2009 14:24
Earthroots is working to convince Vermillion to honour past land-use agreements and provincial legislation by reconsidering its plans for the Solace Wildlands. For the sake of ecosystem integrity, ecotourism operators and the legitimacy of the forest management planning process, we hope they listen.
Earthroots pursues environmental assessment of Temagami Forest Management Plan
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 25 June 2009 14:10
Forest management plans in Ontario are exempt from the normal environmental assessment process; however, this exemption comes with conditions attached. Earthroots has made the case to the MOE that the 2009-2019 Temagami Plan fails to honour these conditions, and consequently deserves the second, much closer look, that an EA would entail.
McGuinty Government Introduces Far North Planning Legislation
- Details
- Created on Monday, 08 June 2009 15:53
On June 2nd, the government introduced a bill to enable protection and planning in Ontario’s Far North. The proposed Far North Act will guide the way as the province moves forward into the unchartered territory of co-ordinated land-use planning in Ontario’s Far North. The proposed Act is a good first step on the part of the Ontario government but Earthroots has concerns that there are some critical oversights.
Caribou Conservation Plan Fails to Protect Woodland Caribou
- Details
- Created on Wednesday, 13 May 2009 16:21
Photo: CPAWS Wildlands League / T. Simonett
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has recently released the draft of its Caribou Conservation Plan (CCP), a requirement under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA). Earthroots has some major concerns with the province’s Plan. Although the document contains some high-level principles, it is missing essential aspects that are central to caribou conservation in Ontario.
The biggest issue with the draft is that it does not put an end to the single greatest threat to woodland caribou; the expansion of logging into intact habitat. Instead, the CCP has been placed in a forest management planning context that is allowing threats to caribou to be perpetuated. “Scientists have known for years that forestry activities like logging and road building pose direct threats to woodland caribou,” says Carly Armstrong Earthroots Northern Ontario campaigner. “Research has shown that they will not inhabit areas within 13km of roads. Yet, the province’s Plan allows for the continued expansion of roads and cut-blocks into some of the last remaining caribou habitat areas,” Armstrong adds. The draft comes as a major disappointment to Ontario’s environmental community, who have been working closely with the government throughout this process.
Toronto’s Leslie Street Spit: Cormorant Refuge in the midst of an international slaughter
- Details
- Created on Friday, 17 April 2009 20:30
by Ainslie Willock, Cormorant Defenders International (CDI)
Over a period of five years, more than 171,000 cormorants have been killed and far too many have been wounded in a North American-wide government sanctioned massive and cruel cull.
Tommy Thompson Park, simply known as the “The Spit” to Torontonians, is the home of the largest colony of double-crested cormorants on the Great Lakes. The Toronto Regional Conservation Authority (TRCA), who manages the Spit, has chosen a responsible and thoughtful approach to managing the colony. Their 2009 management goal is to "achieve a balance between the continued existence of a healthy, thriving cormorant colony and the other ecological, educational, scientific and recreational values of Tommy Thompson Park".
Temagami's ancient forests are at risk!
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 19 March 2009 01:00
The final plan for the next phase of logging in Temagami (2009-2019) has been released and is available for public inspection until April 2nd, 2009.
Many key old growth areas are slated for logging and we need your voice to speak out for increased protection of Temagami's wilderness! Please click here to access our Temagami fax action centre or alternately you can use our template letter by clicking here if you prefer to send in your comments by mail. Please add your own comments to either the fax letter or our template letter to reflect your personal views before sending it to the Minister of Natural Resources.
Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA) Update - Individuals and Groups Mobilizing Across the Country
- Details
- Created on Monday, 23 February 2009 15:28
Earthroots has been following the Federal government’s steps to make revisions to the 100+ year old Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA). The Federal government has attempted to slide these changes into its budget without public consultation or bringing the proposed revisions to table in parliament. This is an unprecedented move that has made allies out of former foes and has roused the concern of many, including environmentalists, recreational paddlers, northern communities, and anglers across the country.
“It’s absolutely unacceptable to propose such broad changes without consulting with the public,” says Earthroots campaigner Carly Armstrong. “The changes could take away an important part of our cultural heritage; our navigation rights on waterways across the country,” Armstrong adds. The changes also seek to sidestep essential regulative processes that safeguard the environment and ensure that development on waterways across the country do not inhibit the ability for fisheries productivity, public participation regarding development in their communities, or other environmental concerns.
Government Proposes Sweeping Changes to Forestry Rules
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 19 February 2009 11:31
Toronto - Today, an alliance of environmental organizations rang the alarm about a series of dramatic changes the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) plans to make to the regulation of Ontario's forests. The alliance says that many of the 146 proposed changes will undermine the transparency and public oversight of forest management planning, while others threaten the sustainability of the forest.
Proposed revisions to the Forest Management Planning Manual, one of the Ontario's most important forest regulatory documents, will affect all aspects of forest management in the province for years to come. The revisions give insufficient direction on climate change, provide an inadequate definition of sustainability, and expedite the use of the forest for fuel without addressing the full range of environmental impacts. In addition, the new guidelines will reduce public participation, and the transparency of decision making.
Lake Superior’s Pristine Coastline in Jeopardy
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 12 February 2009 18:48
Wawa, Ontario - Local environmental advocates have been fighting a proposed quarry on the north eastern shore of Lake Superior for nearly a decade. The quarry, which will provide no more than 15 seasonal jobs to local citizens, will decimate a section of Superior’s coast that is part of a 300 km stretch of untouched coastline. The proponent of the project, a Michigan-based construction company, hopes to send material from the quarry across the great lake to provide highway building material. This section of coastline provides essential habitat to the endangered Peregrine Falcon, and refuge for threatened Woodland Caribou.
Government's Definition of Oak Ridges Moraine Protection Remains Dangerously Ambiguous
- Details
- Created on Wednesday, 11 February 2009 15:41
Concerned residents of Aurora, lawyer Rod Northey, and the environmental community have been seeking a consolidated hearing, bringing together the Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) and the OMB. Having a consolidated hearing would increase the chances of seeing environmental considerations streamlined into planning decisions. A consolidated hearing is important in bringing all three approval layers together (Planning Act approval, Water Resources Act approval and Environmental Assessment approval). Furthermore, the presence of the ERT would be an incredibly valuable asset during the hearings, as this would mean that there would be a greater understanding and sensitivity to the preserving ecological and hydrological integrity.
Environmental Organizations Band Together to Appeal Algonquin Sustainable Forest Certification
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 05 February 2009 21:48
Earthroots joined Wildlands League, Forest Ethics, Greenpeace and Ontario Nature in retaining Ecojustice to appeal the Canadian Standards Association Sustainable Forest Management certification of Algonquin Forest Authority (AFA) operations.
Currently, only 22% of Algonquin Park is protected. The Ontario Parks Board has recommended the expansion of protected areas from 22% to 54% of the park. And even the Algonquin Forest Authority has recommended that an increase from 22% to 49% is completely possible!
In 1978, the Ministry of Natural Resources made the decision to ban commercial logging in most classes of Ontario’s parks (except for Algonquin). This move implies that the government believes this practice is not acceptable, and is unsustainable within our protected areas. Commercial forestry is completely at odds with the fundamental principles of Ontario’s parks and the recently enacted Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act.
More Articles...
- 10 years of culling cormorants and deer proposed for Presqu'ile Provincial Park
- New Threats to the Kawartha Highlands
- Ontario Allowing Extinction of Caribou in the Province
- Earthroots Joins the Green Prosperity Coalition
- Northern forests at risk
- Golf Courses in Southern Ontario: A Strain on the Moraine and Our Water Resources