Ontario Taking Action to Reduce Pollinator Losses
Ontario is seeking public feedback on a draft action plan to improve pollinator health and reduce pollinator losses.
Pollinators, including honey bees, are essential to Ontario's agricultural sector and contribute approximately $992 million worth of economic activity annually to the economy. The province became the first jurisdiction in North America to protect bees and other pollinators through new rules introduced on July 1, 2015, to reduce the number of acres planted with neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seeds by 80 per cent by 2017.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) is preparing a plan that could transform Ottawa, and we need your help to steer them in the right direction.
As Canada prepares for our 150th anniversary in 2017, Ottawa is gaining a lot of attention. The NCC has announced that they are preparing a 50-year plan for Canada’s capital region that will be launched in 2017 and they want to identify 17 major initiatives that will transform Ottawa.
***SUBMISSION PERIOD NOW OVER. A big thank you to those of you who showed your support!***
As we approach 2017, Canada’s 150th anniversary as a country, the National Capital Commission is looking for your ideas to help transform Ottawa. They are planning to launch seventeen major initiatives that will change the face of this city over the next 50 years.
Friday, February 25, 2016 at Nottawasaga Inn, Alliston (1 hour north of Toronto), Forests Ontario will be holding their annual conference.
The regeneration of our forests depends on our ability to engage future generations of environmental leaders. How do we address the many challenges threatening sustainability and mobilize an environmentally engaged society to support our forests? Are we ready for tomorrow?
On February 16 an important motion comes before the City of Ottawa’s Environment Committee.
The motion proposes five things:
- That the City strenghten its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target to match the more ambitious Ontario provincial target
- That Mayor Jim Watson join an international climate initiative called “the Compact of Mayors”
- That David Chernushenko work with multiple city departments and outside groups to generate an implementation plan to reach the more ambitious targets
As a resident of the City of Ottawa you have the right to express your opinions to your city government. Aside from phone calls and emails citizens have the opportunity to speak directly to elected decision makers at certain city meetings that are open to the public. Here’s how it works:
Decisions at Ottawa City Hall are made official by being approved by City Council but there are several stages to a decision before it gets to that final vote.
Volunteer opportunity – Complete Streets Team Member (Active City Campaign)
Do you care about better cycling and pedestrian infrastructure for all ages and abilities? Our Active City Campaign needs your help! Ottawa need to increase the number of streets that are walkable and favors the use of active transportation. An important focus of the Active City Campaign is to encourage the City of Ottawa to move towards implementing complete streets that are designed to support all modes of transportation (cyclists, pedestrians, public transit, cars, etc.).
OPERI Announces the Screening of Beyond Measure
Beyond Measure is being screened at the St. Paul University Amphitheatre on the evening of January 28th. Parents of young children are particularly urged to attend because they have time to help affect change in time for their children to benefit. School councils are also urged to send representatives who will report back to help ensure that parents are kept informed of promising options.
As tropical forests take over abandoned agricultural land, scientists expect these new forests to mop up industrial quantities of atmospheric carbon. However, the growing population of liana may be hindering the carbon absorption of the trees. This invasive vine is more drought-tolerant than most other trees, allowing the vine to flourish in times of disparity. Read More at Science Daily.
At a press conference this morning, the Communauté Métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), representing 82 municipalities, announced their official opposition to the Energy East Pipeline. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, president of the CMM, was joined by the Mayors of Laval, Longueuil, Repentigny and Candiac to make the announcement.
Coderre has called the Energy East Pipeline risky in the past, and this morning expressed doubts that the project presents any significant economic benefits to the City of Montreal.
Green Streets! Workshop on green infrastructure in road rights-of-way
On 1 March, 2016, Green Communities Canada and Credit Valley Conservation are hosting a workshop Roads and Runoff: implementing green streets in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (Clarke Memorial Hall, 9-4pm. $40 entrance fee includes lunch and refreshments). See agenda and register.The workshop is targeted at decision-makers, practitioners, and others with an interest in the potential for managing urban rainfall in rights-of-way. It will feature keynote speaker Robert Goo of the USEPA, and other speakers from City of Mississauga, City of Toronto, Region of Peel and the Town of Halton Hills.