Making Waves

Supreme Court ruling in Ernst fracking case poses threat to Charter rights

Making Waves — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 03:15:18 +0000

Today the Supreme Court of Canada rejected Alberta landowner Jessica Ernst's legal challenge to sue the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) for denying her right to freedom of expression under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court said that Ernst should have launched a judicial review of how the AER handled and defended the immunity clauses that shield government bodies from lawsuits.

In 2007, Ernst launched a multimillion-dollar suit against the regulator, Alberta Environment and Calgary-based energy company Encana for negligence that contaminated her well water. Similar to cases in Josh Fox's documentary Gasland, her well is so contaminated with methane that she can light the water on fire.

Why the Trudeau government must restore the Navigable Waters Protection Act

Making Waves — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 00:13:55 +0000

This morning I presented to the Standing Committee on Transport, Communities and Infrastructure via video conference at their last meeting to review the Navigation Protection Act (NPA), formerly the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA).

This is the act that was gutted by the former Harper government, leaving only 97 lakes, 62 rivers and 3 oceans protected under the act. The Trudeau government has committed to review environmental and freshwater legislation including the NPA, the Fisheries Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

Six ways to protect every lake and every river

Making Waves — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 15:45:34 +0000

UPDATE: The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities has extended the deadline for written comments to November 9, 2016.

You probably remember that the former Harper government gutted protections for 99 per cent of lakes and rivers under the Navigable Waters Protection Act in 2012.

Communities take action from coast to coast on World Water Day

Making Waves — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 15:45:59 +0000

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Council of Canadians lukewarm on water funding in federal budget

Making Waves — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 21:46:31 +0000

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Nestlé could take more water in the Great Lakes region: Have your say!

Making Waves — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 01:39:11 +0000

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Nestlé has made a conditional offer to purchase the Middlebrook Well in Elora, Ontario, formally owned by the Middlebrook Water Company. Nestlé wants to test the water first -- for up to 60 days over a two-year period -- for quantity and quality and has applied for a Permit to Take Water with the Ontario government.

Right to water, healthy environment must be immediate priorities for new government

Making Waves — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 02:57:05 +0000

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Debate on bulk water exports to U.S. resurfaces despite recent droughts in Canada

Making Waves — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:12:52 +0000

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H2O in #elxn42: Your guide to water and the federal election

Making Waves — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 23:22:03 +0000

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Defending the human right to water and sanitation at the United Nations

Making Waves — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 14:40:01 +0000

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Five years ago, the United Nations formally recognized the human right to water and sanitation by passing resolution 64/292. Social movements who campaigned for it saw the human right to water and sanitation as a tool in the fight against a global water crisis produced by abuse of the water commons, inequality and social exclusion.

Drinking from the river at the Unist'ot'en Camp

Making Waves — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 15:06:30 +0000

"We are determined to protect this land for future generations, and in the process do our bit to shut down the toxic fossil fuel infrastructure that threatens all forms of living life on this planet." - Unist'ot'en camp

I recently returned from the sixth annual Unist'ot'en Camp where a diversity of people came together to participate in and conduct workshops, continue the construction of the Healing Centre, and discuss how we could lend solidarity to the Unist'ot'en people fighting numerous oil and gas pipelines on their territory.

How to protect water in B.C. from Nestlé, fracking and misuse

Making Waves — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 18:19:22 +0000

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In B.C., public and media attention has been focused on water pricing and Nestlé's water takings. In February, the B.C. government released water rates which ranged from $0.02 to $2.25. The rates, which take effect January 1, 2016 when the new Water Sustainability Act comes into force, are the lowest across any of the provinces in Canada.

Caribou Legs visits rivers threatened by Ruddock Creek mine and hydro dams

Making Waves — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 14:19:20 +0000

Over 400 kilometres into his run to Ottawa, Caribou Legs spent the last few days in Chase, B.C. In a video posted on his Facebook page, Caribou Legs crosses the bridge where the Shuswap Lake forms into the South Thompson River and comments on the "beautiful water, a lot of recreation" and how the "town thrives around this water." In a Facebook posting, he talks about an elders dinner and Rattle making class at Adams Lake Resource centre he attended last week. He said, "Awesome groups! I heard a story about the "water people" of the Shuswap nation in the old days.

Run to Ottawa puts spotlight on B.C. coal industry, drinking water advisories

Making Waves — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 13:30:50 +0000

Ultra-marathoner Caribou Legs is now in Revelstoke, B.C. On his Facebook page, Caribou Legs posted a video of a train shipment of coal that he saw just after Sicamous -- 72 kilometres from Revelstoke -- on the bridge overpass. The Council of Canadians has highlighted that British Columbia has roughly 10 active coal mines and many more in development.

CBC has reported, "The Coal Association of Canada says 90 per cent of Canada's coal deposits are located in western provinces, and about 80 per cent of Canada's coal exports are shipped through B.C."

Message to MPs: We need meaningful action on fracking

Making Waves — Thu, 14 May 2015 12:55:22 +0000

Tuesday morning Indigenous lawyer Caleb Behn, pediatrician Dr. Kathleen Nolan and I presented to members of Parliament and senators urging meaningful action from the federal government on fracking.

Fracking in the Yukon? Kaska and community groups say no way!

Making Waves — Thu, 07 May 2015 12:48:32 +0000

Opposition to fracking has been brewing in the Yukon for a number of years. The Yukon Party government's recent decision to allow fracking in the Liard basin in southeast Yukon has reignited resolve in the territory to protect the lakes and rivers from fracking, a practice that was recently found to contaminate drinking water in Pennsylvania.

Members of the Liard First Nation are concerned that the Yukon Party are making deals behind closed doors with their Chief and Council which will have adverse affects on community's drinking water and health as well as the wildlife which they rely on for food.

Water funding in federal budget a mirage

Making Waves — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:49:44 +0000

On the eve of Earth Day, the Conservative government tabled what they boasted to be a balanced budget, even naming the budget Strong Leadership: A Balanced Budget, Low-Tax Plan for Jobs, Growth and Security.

Yet the budget has been criticized as a "vote-buying" budget that dips into the contingency fund to just barely balance the books. The budget fails to adequately allocate funding needed for environmental protections, First Nations and sustainable jobs.

Documentary 'Fractured Land' premieres next week

Making Waves — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:46:39 +0000

"Anyone who can throw a hatchet and sue you is a force to be reckoned with." This is how author and environmental activist Bill McKibben describes Caleb Behn, a young Indigenous lawyer from northern British Columbia and subject of the upcoming fracking documentary, Fractured Land.

Fractured Land tells the story of Caleb Behn, who is Eh Cho Dene and Dunne-Za from Treaty 8 Territory, and his struggle in defending his territory from fracking operations.

Take action: Tell Detroit to turn the water back on

Making Waves — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 12:18:59 +0000

In May 2015, the city of Detroit will start shutting off water to 28,000 people.

Last summer, the Blue Planet Project worked with the Detroit People's Water Board and Food and Water Watch to sound the alarm on the city's plans to shut off water to thousands of Detroiters. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Board's shameful strategy of punishing poor people who could not afford exorbitant water rates by shutting off their water garnered media attention throughout the U.S. and around the world. UN experts declared it to be a violation of the fundamental rights of people living in Detroit. As a result of public pressure within the city and solidarity from people around the world, the water shut-offs stopped temporarily and the city promised plans to address the needs of the poor.

Protecting water on Bottled Water Free Day and World Water Day

Making Waves — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 13:31:37 +0000

On Bottled Water Free Day, communities are promoting public water services and calling for governments to implement the human right to water. Since 2010, the Coalition for Bottled Water-Free Communities has spearheaded Bottled Water Free Day, a Canada-wide and international day of action to challenge the bottled water industry and encourage clean and strong public water systems.

In Canada, there are over 90 municipalities, nearly a dozen school boards and almost 30 campuses that have committed to taking action on bottled water in their sectors.

Communities 3, fracking industry 0: Celebrating victories against fracking

Making Waves — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 14:24:38 +0000

Communities are celebrating three victories against fracking this week. Quebec, New York and New Brunswick all rejected fracking after years of opposition from communities calling for the protection of community health and the environment.

The Montreal Gazette reported, "Premier Philippe Couillard closed the door on shale gas development in Quebec after an environmental review said its risks outweighed the economic benefits."

What's missing in the Great Lakes Commission's Draft report on transport of crude oil?

Making Waves — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 15:01:16 +0000

At the end of September, the Great Lakes Commission released its Draft report on transport of crude oil in Great Lakes region, which provides an overview of the increase of crude oil transportation in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River region. The Commission gave stakeholders 60 days to provide comment on the Draft report. The final report will be formally released at the Commission's 2015 semiannual meeting on February 24-25, 2015 in Washington, D.C. Thirty organizations signed a collective submission to the Great Lakes Commission outlining gaps in the draft report including:

Federal government missing in fracking wastewater debate

Making Waves — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:46:20 +0000

Communities in Atlantic Canada are currently dealing with the fallout of fracking projects that occurred prior to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia's moratoriums. There are two New Brunswick communities, Saint John and Dieppe, that are exploring plans to treat fracking wastewater in their municipal wastewater treatment plants and to discharge the waste in local rivers connected to the Bay of Fundy. This summer, Atlantic Industrial Services (AIS) pitched a proposal that would see the town of Dieppe treat 30 million litres of "treated" fracking wastewater into its sewer system.

What kind of water future would we have with Justin Trudeau?

Making Waves — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 14:17:24 +0000

Earlier in November, Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau gave a speech to the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships where he promoted Public-Private Partnership (P3s) as a solution to infrastructure needs. The Harper government has also been promoting P3s in infrastructure projects such as water and wastewater and transportation through the P3 Canada Fund.

Testing the human right to water in Detroit

Making Waves — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 17:08:56 +0000

In March, the beleaguered—some would say besieged—city of Detroit, Michigan announced it would begin shutting off water services to between 1,500 and 3,000 households every week. It seemed impossible at the time but officials quickly made good on the promise. Detroit, the former industrial powerhouse of one of the world’s richest countries, has seen better days. But water is an essential social service, a necessity of life, and the city lies in the middle of the Great Lakes, the world’s largest body of freshwater. How could the taps possibly run dry?

Suncor sneaks tar sands tankers into St. Lawrence and Great Lakes

Making Waves — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 16:27:27 +0000

Suncor is setting a precedent around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin with its new shipments of bitumen on the St. Lawrence River. On September 24, the first ever tanker to ship bitumen on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin left the port of Sorel-Tracey in Quebec. The tanker, the Minerva-Gloria, carried an estimated 700,000 barrels of bitumen to Sardinia, Italy which arrived on Tuesday at 4:22 p.m. local time.

Canadian convoy delivers water, solidarity to Detroit

Making Waves — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 17:29:44 +0000

Detroit's water crisis has drawn international attention in recent weeks putting a spotlight on the water cut-off program being pursued by the city. Organizations on the ground have been calling for an end to the cut-offs since March when the city announced it would begin shutting off water services to 1,500 to 3,000 households every week. Following a report to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation submitted by the Blue Planet Project/Council of Canadians and Detroit groups, Special Rapporteur Catarina de Albuquerque warned that the mass water shut-offs were a violation of human rights.

Five myths about the 'fracking jobs versus environment' debate

Making Waves — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 20:54:23 +0000

So often we hear governments and the oil and gas industry promoting fracking as a way to create jobs. Job creation and fracking -- and other fossil fuel projects -- are often pitted against water, environmental and public health concerns. The debate is framed as a black and white issue: If you oppose fracking, you are "anti-jobs" and you cannot possibly be an environmentalist that supports job creation.

Here are five points that debunk these myths. The reality is we have different options and we need to get our governments to start talking about them.

Jobs! jobs! jobs!

Prime minister hopefuls Justin Trudeau and Thomas Mulcair on fracking, extreme energy and water

Making Waves — Tue, 20 May 2014 20:36:09 +0000

You may remember on World Water Day the Council of Canadians sent prime minister hopefuls Justin Trudeau and Thomas Mulcair letters asking them their positions on key water issues along with some reading materials. The Council sent three reports, including Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow's new report Liquid Pipeline: Extreme energy’s threat to the Great Lakes and the St.

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Glaring info gaps a strong reason to stop fracking

Making Waves — Sat, 03 May 2014 01:21:10 +0000

Late Wednesday evening, the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) released its long-awaited report Environmental Impacts of Shale Gas Extraction in Canada. In September 2011, former Environment Minister Peter Kent tasked the CCA to address the following questions:

What is the state of knowledge of potential environmental impacts from the exploration, extraction, and development of Canada’s shale gas resources, and what is the state of knowledge of associated mitigation options?

If there is a consistent message throughout the report, it is this: we do not know enough about fracking.

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