Statement on Housing Minister Clark’s Resignation re: Breach of Integrity Rules

Statement from Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager at Environmental Defence, on Housing Minister Clark’s Resignation re: Breach of Integrity Rules

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – Phil Pothen, Environmental Defence’s Ontario Environment Program Manager, is available to provide insight following Housing Minister Clark’s resignation over the Ontario government’s Greenbelt scandal. His statement is as follows:

“The resignation of Minister Clark is a predictable attempt at damage control but that is no substitute for reversing the $8.3 billion Greenbelt giveaways in their entirety.

“Given the findings of the Auditor General and the Integrity Commissioner and the vast 350km2 supply of designated development land we had in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area alone (before this government took office), sprawling further outwards, let alone into the Greenbelt, cannot be justified and will only make things worse. Any Minister who persists in claiming otherwise, will only be implicating her or himself in what, going forward, they will know is a false story and disreputable, harmful policy initiative.

“It is clear that the Greenbelt removals are not about housing, therefore the Premier, Cabinet and PC MPPs need to immediately take the following actions:

Restore protection to every acre of land Minister Clark removed from the Greenbelt and prohibit any further removals
Reinstate the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act
Reverse the various boundary expansions and sprawl MZOs authorized by the Minister’s Office
Overhaul land use rules to slam the brakes on sprawl and focus development on adding compact, affordable homes to existing neighbourhoods and settlement areas

Interview availability today by Zoom and in Toronto with Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager

Background Information:

There are 59,000 hectares of land designated for development in the GTHA alone, without including the 3,000 hectares removed from the Greenbelt.
If some of the lands were developed at even the modest densities of Toronto’s Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood, only 15,000 hectares would be needed to house the population projected for the region by 2051. See more at: https://environmentaldefence.ca/the-big-sprawl-the-gtha-has-more-than-enough-land-designated-for-development/
Ontarians know that we can build homes in cities and towns where we already have services and where public transit and walkability lead to lower costs and higher quality of life. In fact, a new public opinion poll conducted by Environics for the Alliance for a Livable Ontario shows that 83 per cent of Ontario residents want homes built within cities and towns where services exist – and not on the Greenbelt.

About ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (www.environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

-30-

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Stephanie Kohls, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on Housing Minister Clark’s Resignation re: Breach of Integrity Rules appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

September 5, 2023

Hit in DNA Database Proves Leonard Mack’s Innocence After 47 Years of Wrongful Conviction

Unreliable witness identifications along with racial bias and tunnel vision led to Mr. Mack’s wrongful conviction, the longest to be vacated based on DNA evidence.

Breaking news
09.05.23
By Innocence Staff

Unreliable witness identifications along with racial bias and tunnel vision led to Mr. Mack’s wrongful conviction, the longest to be vacated based on DNA evidence.

Breaking news
09.05.23
By Innocence Staff

Leonard Mack in 2003.

Leonard Mack at Elmira Correctional Facility in 1978.

(September 5, 2023 — White Plains, NY) Leonard Mack was exonerated today nearly five decades after he was wrongfully convicted of rape and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in March 1976. New DNA testing of crime scene evidence found in a post-conviction investigation by the Innocence Project and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit proved Mr. Mack did not commit the crime. Mr. Mack’s wrongful conviction is the longest to be overturned based on new DNA evidence known to the Innocence Project. The DNA profile developed from the evidence was uploaded to the state and local DNA database and yielded a hit. The actual assailant identified by this search has since confessed to the crime.

This case contains virtually every common contributing factor in wrongful convictions. Eyewitness misidentification, the leading cause of wrongful convictions, played a central role, in addition to misleading forensic testimony presented by the State’s forensic analyst at trial, racial bias, and tunnel vision. Despite alibi witnesses and serological evidence from the victim’s underwear that excluded Mr. Mack in 1976, he spent seven-and-a-half years in prison and has since lived with this wrongful conviction for 41 years.

“Today, indisputable DNA evidence proves that Leonard Mack is innocent. Nearly five decades later, he finally has some measure of justice,” said Mary-Kathryn Smith, one of Mr. Mack’s Innocence Project attorneys. “Mr. Mack’s resilience and strength is why this day has finally come. We want to thank the Westchester County District Attorney and its Conviction Review Unit for their cooperation and commitment to search for the truth.”

“I want to first thank God for this day. Next, I want to thank the Innocence Project. Today has been a long time coming. I lost seven-and-a-half years of my life in prison for a crime I did not commit and I have lived with this injustice hanging over my head for almost 50 years. It changed the course of my life — everything from where I lived to my relationship with my family. I never lost hope that one day that I would be proven innocent. Now the truth has come to light and I can finally breathe. I am finally free.”

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah said, “Today we’re asking the courts to find Leonard Mack actually innocent for a rape he never committed; for which he unjustly served more than seven years in prison. We were able to prove Mr. Mack’s innocence, in large part, due to our independent Conviction Review Unit’s commitment and Mr. Mack’s unwavering strength fighting to clear his name for almost 50 years. This exoneration and the new DNA evidence confirm that wrongful convictions are not only harmful to the wrongly convicted but also make us all less safe.”

Leonard Mack in 1993.

Multiple Eyewitness Misidentifications

On May 22, 1975 at 3:00 p.m., two 12th-grade students from Woodland High School were walking home from school near a wooded area in Greenburgh, NY, when a man approached them and held them at gunpoint. He told them not to scream or he would kill them, and proceeded to use their belt and shreds of jacket to blindfold, gag, and restrain both girls’ wrists and ankles. He then raped one of the girls twice and threatened them again as he left the scene. The girl who was not raped broke free and ran to a nearby school where a teacher called the police. The second victim, who was raped, freed herself and ran home, where her sister also called the police, before being taken to the hospital where a rape kit was collected.

The Greenburgh Police Department issued a dispatch for officers to be on the lookout for a Black male suspect in his early 20s, close cropped hair, clean shaven with a medium build, wearing black pants, a tan jacket, a black hat with a white brim, and a gold earring in his left ear, and carrying a .22 or .32 caliber handgun.

Roughly two-and-a-half hours later, Officer James Fleming pulled over Mr. Mack, who was wearing a black fedora hat and had a gold earring in his left ear, on Harney Road. Officer Fleming told Mr. Mack he matched the profile of a rape suspect, although his clothing did not match the description the teenagers gave to police. Mr. Mack denied any involvement in the crime and explained he was with his girlfriend at the time of the attack, which she corroborated. Officer Fleming searched Mr. Mack’s vehicle and, finding a .22 revolver in the trunk, placed him under arrest. Both girls were then asked to identify him in a series of highly suggestive and problematic identification procedures.

One of the victims was brought to Harney Road, where Mr. Mack was in handcuffs and surrounded by Officer Fleming and six police cars. At first, unsure, the girl asked police to reposition him, at which point she identified Mr. Mack as the assailant. She was then taken to Greenburgh Police Station and presented with a photo array containing seven photos of Black men, including that of Mr. Mack. His was the only photo showing his face and clothing, along with a distinctive May 1975 calendar hanging in the background, clearly differentiating it from others. The girl selected Mr. Mack’s photograph.

In a third identification attempt, the same girl was taken to the Parkway police station later that evening where police conducted a show-up — when witnesses are presented with only one suspect for identification — through a one-way mirror. According to Officer Fleming’s testimony, it was not “feasible” to put together a line-up of Black males in the “basically white” Greenburgh area. Not surprisingly, the girl identified Mr. Mack, later describing him as the person she was supposed to identify. The girl later mentioned that Mr. Mack was wearing the wrong clothes, upon which police showed her clothing options allowing her to pick out the right clothes for Mr. Mack to wear. She again identified him as her assailant.

The same suggestive photo array was later shown to the other victim after she left the hospital and was taken to the Greenburgh police station. This girl was legally blind and had stated that she was unable to tell the gender of a person unless they were within 10 feet of her and could not see the color of someone’s clothing unless they were within five feet. She told detectives she recognized one man’s shirt, referring to Mr. Mack’s photo, but could not be sure of her identification.

She was then taken to the Parkway police headquarters, where she viewed Mr. Mack through a one-way mirror with the other victim, who told her, “That’s him.” The girl could not identify Mr. Mack, saying only, “It could be, I think so.” She said that Mr. Mack was the same “size, shape, and color” as the man who had attacked her. Given the limitations of her identification, she asked if she could hear Mr. Mack’s voice. At that point, police had Mr. Mack repeat what the attacker said to the girls through a door: “Don’t scream, don’t turn around or I’ll kill you.” Based on this, the girl identified Mr. Mack as the assailant.

Eyewitness misidentification, as in this case, is the leading contributing factor of wrongful convictions and has contributed to 64% of the Innocence Project’s 245 exonerations and releases. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, intentionally suggestive witness identifications occur twice as frequently in the cases of Black and Latinx exonerees as they do in the cases of white exonerees. In 2017, New York passed a law adopting standards and best practices, advocated for by the Innocence Project, around eyewitness identification procedures that law enforcement agencies were required to implement.

Flawed Forensic Testimony at Trial

At trial, the State’s case rested almost entirely on the victims’ identification of Mr. Mack. In addition to three alibi witnesses who accounted for Mr. Mack’s whereabouts the afternoon of the crime, the defense presented testimony from Dr. Alexander Wiener from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York City. Dr. Weiner testified that the State had confirmed there was sperm on the victim’s vaginal swab and that biological material found on her underwear, which had tested positive for acid phosphatase, a presumptive test for semen, had excluded Mr. Mack through serological testing. The basis for this exclusion was that the biological evidence indicated that the assailant was blood type A, which is not Mr. Mack’s blood type.

The State, which did not include any of the serology evidence in its case, presented testimony from an analyst from the forensic science lab for Westchester County in its rebuttal case. The analyst attempted to cast doubt on Dr. Wiener’s testimony by incorrectly suggesting that the victim may have been the source of the biological evidence. On March 29, 1976, Mr. Mack was found guilty of all three charges.

Missteps: Racial Bias and Tunnel Vision

Satisfied that they had their suspect, a Black male wearing a black hat and a gold earring in a predominantly white neighborhood, the State failed to search for the true assailant. Because of information based on little more than his race, Mr. Mack “fit the description” and his fate was sealed. Despite all the contradictory factors — Mr. Mack’s clothing not matching the original description, the unreliable identifications, and the exculpatory serology evidence — police made no efforts to investigate further. Such tunnel vision, fixing on a single theory or suspect, is a known consequence of implicit racial bias that contributes to the deep racial disparities evident in wrongful convictions. While just 13.6% of the American population identify as Black, they account for 53% of the 3,200 exonerations listed in the National Registry of Exonerations according to its 2022 report, Race and Wrongful Convictions in the United States. Based on exonerations, innocent Black Americans are seven times more likely than white Americans to be falsely convicted of serious crimes. Similarly, of the 245 people the Innocence Project has helped free or exonerate, 58% are Black.

DNA Identifies the True Perpetrator

In November 2022, the Innocence Project contacted the Westchester County District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit seeking its assistance and collaboration in finding and testing biological evidence in this case. Most of the crime scene evidence no longer existed, but the Conviction Review Unit did find the victim’s underwear cuttings that tested positive for semen along with Mr. Mack’s underwear. Using modern DNA testing methods, the Westchester County forensic lab excluded Mr. Mack as the source of the DNA on the victim’s underwear. The DNA evidence was then uploaded to the state and local DNA database. The search yielded a hit to to an individual who was convicted of a burglary and rape in Queens that occurred weeks after this crime. He also had a 2004 conviction for burglary and sexual assault of a woman in Westchester County.

Mr. Mack is a Vietnam War veteran and has lived with his wife in South Carolina for nearly 21 years.

Mr. Mack is represented by Susan Friedman, a senior staff attorney at the Innocence Project, and Post-conviction Litigation Fellow Mary-Kathryn Smith.

Statement on the Integrity Commissioner’s Findings that Ontario’s Housing Minister Breached Integrity Rules in Removing Land from the Greenbelt

Statement by Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager, Environmental Defence, on Integrity Commissioner’s Findings that Ontario’s Housing Minister Breached Integrity Rules in Removing Land from the Greenbelt

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – Today’s report by Integrity Commissioner David Wake revealed integrity breaches by Housing Minister Steve Clark, as well as political involvement by the Premier and key insiders. This reinforces the absolute necessity for the Ontario government to immediately reverse all Greenbelt removals.

For several years, Minister Clark has made rhetorical use of the very real housing crisis in Ontario while pursuing a push for sprawl that could never have done anything but make housing shortages worse. This push culminated in the removal of 7,400 acres of land from the Greenbelt last October. Today’s revelations by Commissioner Wake, and those of the Auditor General earlier this month, reveal the grave breaches of integrity rules and political backroom motivations that lay behind this.

Regardless of what personal consequences Minister Clark ultimately faces as a result of his integrity breaches, or the ongoing RCMP investigation, it remains clear that there is no path to restoring Ontario’s reputation that does not begin with reversing the $8.3 billion Greenbelt giveaways in their entirety.

In light of these reports, which leave no room to continue insisting that the Greenbelt removals are about housing, the Premier, Cabinet and PC MPPs need to immediately take the following actions:

Restore protection to every acre of land Minister Clark removed from the Greenbelt and prohibiting any further removals
Reinstate the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve Act
Reverse the various boundary expansions and sprawl MZOs authorized by the Minister’s Office
Overhaul land use rules to slam the brakes on sprawl and focus development on adding compact, affordable homes to existing neighbourhoods and settlement areas

About ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (www.environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

-30-

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Daniella Zanchi, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on the Integrity Commissioner’s Findings that Ontario’s Housing Minister Breached Integrity Rules in Removing Land from the Greenbelt appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

August 29, 2023

Statement on Premier Ford’s First Public Admission that Greenbelt Removals May be Reversed

Statement by Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager, Environmental Defence, on Premier Ford’s First Public Admission that Greenbelt Removals May Be Reversed

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewas and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation – This morning, after weeks of mounting public outrage about his $8.3 billion giveaway of public rights to land speculators, Premier Ford admitted clearly, for the first time, that his government might restore protection to some areas of the Greenbelt.

While Premier Ford’s public musings about restoring protection were focused primarily on two particular Greenbelt parcels, we are optimistic that this is just a tentative, face-saving first step on the path to a complete reversal of the Greenbelt removals. After the Auditor General’s report, a reversal of the removals in their entirety is certainly this government’s only plausible way out of this scandal.

We are troubled to see the government still attempting to preserve its reputation by provoking land speculators into bulldozing Greenbelt land before 2025. Diverting scarce construction labour and equipment to prioritize building mansions on the Greenbelt would not be ‘progress.’ It would mean that vast numbers of more affordable and more efficient non-Greenbelt sites already designated for housing go unbuilt. It would be the worst possible outcome for housing supply, as well as for the environment.

Background Information:

There are 59,000 hectares (590 square kilometers) of land designated for development in the GTHA alone, without including the 3,000 hectares removed from the Greenbelt. If some of the lands were developed at even the modest densities of Toronto’s Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood, only 15,000 hectares would be needed to house the population projected for the region by 2051. See more at: https://environmentaldefence.ca/the-big-sprawl-the-gtha-has-more-than-enough-land-designated-for-development/
Ontarians know that building homes in cities and towns where we already have services and infrastructure, and where increasing density actually improves walkability, will lead to lower costs and higher quality of life. In fact, a new public opinion poll conducted by Environics for the Alliance for a Livable Ontario shows that 83 per cent of Ontario residents want homes built within cities and towns where services exist – and not on the Greenbelt. They also do not find the Ontario government credible on the issue of land supply and housing.
Read more in our statement: https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/08/09/statement-on-the-auditor-generals-report-that-the-ontario-government-colluded-with-developers-to-remove-lands-from-the-greenbelt/

About ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (www.environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

-30-

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Daniella Zanchi, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on Premier Ford’s First Public Admission that Greenbelt Removals May be Reversed appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

August 24, 2023

Marcellus Williams, Facing Execution Despite DNA Evidence of His Innocence, Sues Missouri Governor and Attorney General for Dissolving Board of Inquiry Examining the Case and Moving to Set an Execution Date

Gov. Mike Parson violated the law when he dissolved board without a report.

Press Release 08.24.23 By Innocence Staff

Marcellus Williams. (Image: Courtesy of Marcellus Williams’ legal team)

(August 24 – Jefferson City, MO) Marcellus Williams, who faces execution in Missouri despite DNA evidence proving his innocence, has filed a civil lawsuit against Gov. Mike Parson for dissolving the board of inquiry that had been investigating his innocence claim before it could produce a report and recommendation, and against Attorney General Andrew Bailey for moving to set an execution date after the governor had illegally dissolved the board. The suit, filed in Missouri’s 19th Circuit Court, asks the court to invalidate Gov. Parson’s June 30 executive order dissolving the board and lifting Mr. Williams’ stay of execution, arguing that the governor violated Mr. Williams’ rights and the law when he dissolved the board without a report and recommendation.

In an unprecedented move earlier this summer, Gov. Parson rescinded an executive order issued by his predecessor, effectively lifting Mr. Williams’ stay of execution and terminating a board of five former judges appointed by previous Gov. Eric Greitens to examine the new DNA evidence — which no court has ever reviewed. Gov. Greitens issued the executive order pursuant to Missouri Revised Statutes section 552.070, a law passed in 1963 designed to protect innocent people from being wrongfully executed. The statute permits the governor to empanel a board of inquiry to review evidence of innocence in a death penalty case, an action taken only three times by Missouri governors since its passage. Gov. Greitens’ 2017 executive order required the board to provide him with a report and recommendation about Mr. Williams’ claims of innocence and application for clemency. The lawsuit alleges that Gov. Parsons never received such a report or recommendation from the board before he dissolved it.

“The dissolution of the board of inquiry before a report or recommendation could be issued means that, to date, no judge has ruled on the full evidence of Mr. William’s innocence,” said Tricia Rojo Bushnell, executive director of the Midwest Innocence Project, which represents Mr. Williams. “Knowing that, the state of Missouri still seeks to execute him. That is not justice.”

“The board of inquiry statute was created so that an independent group of retired judges had an opportunity to review all the evidence in a death penalty case, without any procedural or political obstructions, to make sure an innocent man or woman is not executed. It’s a unique, fail-safe protection. By aborting the process before this distinguished group of jurists issued a report, Gov. Parson violated Mr. Williams’ due process rights under the state and federal constitutions to life and liberty,” said Barry C. Scheck, co-founder of the Innocence Project.

Who Is Marcellus Williams: Man Facing Execution in Missouri Despite DNA Evidence Supporting Innocence

Mr. Williams has spent 24 years of his life on death row for the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle, a former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter who was stabbed 43 times in her home. Although no physical evidence or crime scene evidence connected him to the crime, his conviction primarily relied upon the testimonies of two incentivized witnesses, whose statements were inconsistent with the crime scene evidence, with their own prior statements, and with each other.

In 2016, post-conviction DNA testing conducted on the handle of the knife lodged in Ms. Gayle’s neck detected the presence of male DNA and definitively excluded Mr. Williams as the source. That evidence has been reviewed and analyzed by three renowned DNA experts, all of whom concluded that Mr. Williams is not the source of the DNA. Furthermore, Mr. Williams was excluded as the source of the hairs found near Ms. Gayle’s body and as the source of bloody footprints found inside the house near the body.

Based on this new DNA evidence, Gov. Greitens stayed Mr. Williams’ execution in 2017, and formed the board of inquiry to examine it. When Gov. Parson dissolved the board without receiving its report and recommendation about Mr. Williams’ case, he violated the statute, defied the executive order, exceeded his authority, and undermined Mr. Williams’ rights.

“There is clear and convincing evidence that Marcellus Williams did not murder Ms. Gayle. It would be a terrible tragedy for the state to execute Mr. Williams before the board of inquiry completed its commission to make a report and recommendation to the governor as to whether or not Mr. Williams should be executed,” said Charles Weiss, a partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, which represents Mr. Williams.

Mr. Williams is represented in this filing by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (Charles Weiss), the Midwest Innocence Project (Tricia Rojo Bushnell, Rachel Wester, Blair Johnson, Leigh Ann Carroll); and the Innocence Project (Adnan Sultan, Barry Scheck, Tim Gumkowski, Hannah Freedman, and Cecily Burge).

About the Midwest Innocence Project: The Midwest Innocence Project is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to representing people convicted of crimes they did not commit in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, and Nebraska; supporting and empowering freed and exonerated people post-release; and changing the system to prevent wrongful convictions in the first place. The MIP is a member of the Innocence Network, an affiliation of 72 similar organizations around the world, and is a distinct and separate organization from the Innocence Project in New York. For more information, please visit www.themip.org.

About the Innocence Project: The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. Founded in 1992 by Barry C.Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, the organization is now an independent nonprofit. Its work is guided by science and grounded in anti-racism.

Tagged

Marcellus Williams Missouri

Media Advisory/Interview Opportunity: Environmental and Land-Use Planning Expert Available to Comment re: RCMP Investigation into Greenbelt

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewas and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation – Phil Pothen, Environmental Defence’s Ontario Environment Program Manager, is available to provide insight into the RCMP investigation into Greenbelt land removals.

“It’s encouraging to see that the Greenbelt investigation has been transferred to the RCMP,” said Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager at Environmental Defence. “However, we must not wait around for a criminal process that could take years. The independent Auditor General’s report has already provided all the answers Ontarians need to conclude that the government’s only path to redemption starts with reversing the Greenbelt removals,” Pothen continued. “That’s the only way to fix an effective transfer of $8.3 billion in public value to sprawl developers that the Auditor General showed was never even meant to increase the housing supply.”

“The GTHA has already designated around four times the amount of land needed to deliver the next three decades of affordable housing. Building on the Greenbelt would only divert construction away from lower-cost housing in existing cities and towns.”

Who: Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager

When: August 23, 2023 onwards

Where: Toronto, Ontario and available remotely

Background Information:

There are 59,000 hectares of land designated for development in the GTHA alone, without including the 3,000 hectares removed from the Greenbelt. If some of the lands were developed at even the modest densities of Toronto’s Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood, only 15,000 hectares would be needed to house the population projected for the region by 2051. See more at: https://environmentaldefence.ca/the-big-sprawl-the-gtha-has-more-than-enough-land-designated-for-development/
Ontarians know that we can build homes in cities and towns where we already have services and where public transit and walkability lead to lower costs and higher quality of life. In fact, a new public opinion poll conducted by Environics for the Alliance for a Livable Ontario shows that 83 per cent of Ontario residents want homes built within cities and towns where services exist – and not on the Greenbelt. They also do not find the Ontario government credible on the issue of land supply and housing.
Read more in our statement: https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/08/09/statement-on-the-auditor-generals-report-that-the-ontario-government-colluded-with-developers-to-remove-lands-from-the-greenbelt/

About ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (www.environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

-30-

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Brittany Harris, bharris@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Media Advisory/Interview Opportunity: Environmental and Land-Use Planning Expert Available to Comment re: RCMP Investigation into Greenbelt appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

August 17, 2023

Statement on the City of Toronto’s Call for a New Fiscal Framework

Statement by Nate Wallace, Clean Transportation Program Manager, Environmental Defence

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – The City of Toronto’s updated Long Term Financial Plan and an accompanying staff report released today indicate that the city faces an unprecedented financial crisis. Toronto’s Executive Council will meet on August 24th to consider informing the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario that they plan to pause negotiations on Provincial Priority Transit Projects and future provincial transit expansion projects, unless there is funding from both the federal and provincial governments to support the operating costs of the country’s largest public transit system.

Environmental Defence supports the call from the City of Toronto for all levels of government to increase funding support for the TTC through new revenue tools and fiscal transfers. It is crucial for the federal and provincial governments to strike a ‘new deal’ and contribute towards funding the operating costs of Canada’s largest public transit system, which carries one out of every four transit riders in Canada. Preventing drastic TTC service cuts is crucial to stopping a downward spiral and meeting Canada’s climate goals. Reliable public transit is also needed to increase the supply of housing in cities rather than furthering sprawl. We call on all levels of government to work together to continue expanding public transit to fight climate change.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact: Allen Braude, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on the City of Toronto’s Call for a New Fiscal Framework appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

August 16, 2023

“Compostable” Checkout Bags Are Still Plastic and Should Not Be Exempted from the Federal Single-Use Plastic Bans

Statement from Karen Wirsig on Calgary Co-op’s campaign to exempt its checkout bags from single-use plastic bans

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – We are deeply concerned that the Calgary Co-op grocery store is undermining the federal ban on plastic checkout bags by seeking an exemption for their so-called “compostable” bags. The manufacturer has reported that the bags are made of PLA (polylactic acid, a plastic polymer made from plant-based starch) and PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate, a plastic polymer made from fossil-based feedstocks). It is therefore false to say they “contain no plastic.”

Whether they’re made from oil and gas, plants or other organic material, all plastics have a similar chemical structure. Once these products end up in the environment, it makes no difference what the original feedstock was.

Single-use checkout bags are one of the most commonly littered items in Canada. No matter what type of plastic they’re made from, checkout bags pose a risk to animals and their habitat.

Even if the Calgary Co-op bags are certified as “compostable plastic,” they only compost under specific industrial conditions that are rare in Canada. Further, the certification doesn’t require the bags to break down fully. It allows small pieces of plastic—up to 2 millimeters—to remain at the end of the composting process, which means the resulting compost can be a source of microplastic pollution.

The federal government is right to include this type of bag in the ban on single-use plastic checkout bags. This is good policy that reduces the hazard that single-use plastics pose to the environment.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Lauren Thomas, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post “Compostable” Checkout Bags Are Still Plastic and Should Not Be Exempted from the Federal Single-Use Plastic Bans appeared first on Environmental Defence.

August 10, 2023

Statement on the federal government’s draft Clean Electricity Regulations

Statement by Keith Brooks, Programs Director, Environmental Defence

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – We applaud the federal government for moving forward with its commitment to clean electricity. The first draft of the Clean Electricity Regulations, released today, will deliver significant emissions reductions.

Clean electricity is an essential element of any strategy to decarbonize Canada’s economy and is key to an affordable and safe future. Electric cars, heat pumps and other opportunities for electrification all depend on clean electricity.

The good news is that a 100 per cent renewable electricity grid is achievable, affordable and reliable. Wind and solar power are now the cheapest forms of new electricity generation. Battery and other storage technology have come a long way in recent years and can be counted on to balance out supply and demand and Canada has a solid base of hydro generation to build upon.

However, these regulations, as currently drafted, will not deliver on the promise of a net-zero grid by 2035. They are also unlikely to achieve the level of emissions reductions forecast in Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan, putting Canada’s climate targets in jeopardy.

Climate change has hit home in Canada this year in a big way. Lives have been lost and this is just a preview of what we should expect in a warmer world. There is an urgent need for Canada to rapidly reduce emissions across the economy.

Premiers across Canada should take notice that fossil-fueled electricity will be all but phased out in 2035 and, rather than attempting to get new gas plants built, provinces should focus on building wind and solar power. We hope these regulations motivate Alberta, Ontario, and other provinces to revisit their plans.

We urge the federal government to be firm in the face of opposition that will surely come from the fossil fuel industry and some provinces. To deliver on the commitment to a net-zero grid, Canada must strengthen the draft Clean Electricity Regulations to:

Include interim targets that ratchet down over time to spur the power sector to move toward net-zero before 2035.
Ensure that no fossil fuel power plants are able to operate after 2035 except for in real emergencies.
Remove the loopholes allowing for fossil gas plants with carbon capture (“abated” gas). To date, the use of carbon capture in the power sector has resulted in expensive failures. There are no existing commercial gas plants with carbon capture anywhere in the world. Carbon capture for the power sector is a dead end – and a license to pollute. Canada should reject this pathway.
Make it clear that power plants will pay the full carbon price for every tonne of CO2 released beginning in 2030.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on the federal government’s draft Clean Electricity Regulations appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

August 10, 2023

Media Advisory: Ontario Residents Raise Voices for Lake Erie on #WeAreLakeErie on August 16, 2023

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – Lake Erie is experiencing persistent and frequently harmful algal blooms every year. Residents of Ontario are responding to a call for action on social media to raise awareness and demand urgent action to protect the lake and drinking water for millions of people and many complex ecosystems.

August 16, 2023, is the 7th annual #WeAreLakeErie Day – an event to highlight people’s support for Lake Erie. Throughout the day, social media users will share their Lake Erie stories and photos online using the hashtag #WeAreLakeErie to help create a virtual wave of support for the lake. The event is a chance to demonstrate to decision-makers the important role the lake plays in the lives of so many people.

Earlier this summer, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced its 2023 Lake Erie algae bloom forecast. This summer’s bloom was initially forecast to be mild, but heavy July rainfall and record-high temperatures have meant the bloom is already moderate and could still grow in severity before the end of the season.

Regardless of size, a toxic algae bloom is bad news for the lake and the people and animals that rely on it. That’s why Canada and Ontario must work together to protect Lake Erie, and address the root causes of these algal blooms, including actions to reduce nutrient pollution from agricultural and urban sources.

EVENT DETAILS:

WHAT: The 7th annual #WeAreLakeErie Day hosted by Environmental Defence Canada.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 16, 2023, All day.

WHERE: Online. People will participate by sharing their Lake Erie stories and photos on social media with the hashtag #WeAreLakeErie.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Paula Gray, Environmental Defence Canada, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Media Advisory: Ontario Residents Raise Voices for Lake Erie on #WeAreLakeErie on August 16, 2023 appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

August 9, 2023

Statement on the Auditor General’s Report that the Ontario Government Colluded with Developers to Remove Lands from the Greenbelt

Statement by Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence

Lands must now be returned to the Greenbelt and legislation introduced to protect it from future attacks, as well as to protect other farms and forests from speculative developers

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – Today, the Ontario Auditor General released a report that concludes that the political level of the Ontario government directed its civil service staff to remove land owned by particular developers from the Greenbelt. As a result of those actions, the decision to remove these lands should be revisited.

The Auditor General’s report confirms that lands were removed from the Greenbelt as a favour to particular sprawl developers to enable them to make up to $8.3 billion in windfall profits by building on land meant to be protected forever. Shockingly, this occurred despite clear and abundant evidence that lands in the Greenbelt are not required to meet Ontario’s housing supply needs.

There are 59,000 hectares of land designated for development in the GTAH alone, without including the 3,000 hectares removed from the Greenbelt. If some of the lands were developed at even the modest densities of Toronto’s Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood, only 15,000 hectares would be needed to house the population projected for the region by 2051.

(See more at: https://environmentaldefence.ca/the-big-sprawl-the-gtha-has-more-than-enough-land-designated-for-development/.)

There are also fixed supplies of materials and labour available for home building. Focusing them on creating low density sprawl means less can be made available to build the communities we need inside of our towns and cities.

Ontarians know that we can build homes in cities and towns where we already have services and where public transit and walkability lead to lower costs and higher quality of life. In fact a new public opinion poll conducted by Environics for the Alliance for a Livable Ontario shows that 83 per cent of Ontario residents want homes built within cities and towns where services exist – and not on the Greenbelt. They also do not find the Ontario government credible on the issue of land supply and housing.

The Ontario government is on the wrong side of the views of almost all Ontarians except for its developer friends. It needs to stop pushing forward senseless environmental destruction and focus on getting homes built where they are needed, and at prices people can afford.

Now that Ontarians can see the full picture of what has occurred with the Greenbelt, immediate actions are necessary. These include:

Full investigation of the relationship between the provincial government and development industry by the OPP
Lands removed from the Greenbelt must be returned immediately and the Greenbelt boundary legislatively protected
The Duffins Rouge Agricultural Reserve Act must be reinstated
The Ontario government’s pro-sprawl agenda must be reversed. Homes should be built in existing towns and cities, not on farmland, forests and the Greenbelt
The Greenbelt should be expanded to protect much more of southern Ontario’s farmland
City and town boundary expansion should only be permitted after it can be proven that there are no more opportunities for building within the existing boundaries
The Ontario and the federal governments must get back into the business of directly creating affordable housing

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Allen Braude, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on the Auditor General’s Report that the Ontario Government Colluded with Developers to Remove Lands from the Greenbelt appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

August 9, 2023

Pollution prevention plan for grocery stores is a welcome development in the fight against plastic packaging waste

Proposed federal plan for major Canadian grocery chains is essential to eliminate plastic waste and pollution

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – The federal government has launched an important public consultation on how to eliminate single-use plastic food packaging in Canada’s major grocery chains. The move follows a report from Environmental Defence that showed that nearly two-thirds of items on key supermarket shelves are packaged in plastics, including baby food and produce.

“Single-use plastic food packaging is bad for the environment and a risk to human health,” said Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager for Plastics at Environmental Defence. “Eliminating packaging where it isn’t necessary – for example on fruits and vegetables that have sturdy peels that act as a natural wrapper – and shifting to refillable packaging is good environmental policy and definitely the right move for grocery stores.”

Once the plan requirement is finalized, the major grocery chains will need to show how they are reducing single-use plastics and contributing to ending plastic pollution. They will be expected to aim to substantially increase convenient refill systems for bulk and unpackaged options for shoppers.

“Our recent audit of major grocery stores in Canada revealed just how severe the plastic packaging problem has become. The public response to this report showed us that Canadians very much share our frustration with the amount of throwaway plastic they face at the grocery store,” added Wirsig. “Grocery chains must plan to shift their operations to rely much less on single-use plastics. Waste-free options will end up being cheaper in the long run – in both financial and environmental terms. The false narrative of ‘it’s either affordability or sustainability’ must end. The reality is that we can and should have both. We’re counting on these profitable grocery chains, who control 80 per cent of retail grocery sales, to figure this out without gouging Canadians in the process.”

Environmental Defence will submit comments to the federal government on the proposed Pollution Prevention Plan and encourages Canadians concerned about single-use plastic in the grocery store to have their say. The deadline for comment is August 30th.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

Alex Ross, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Pollution prevention plan for grocery stores is a welcome development in the fight against plastic packaging waste appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

August 7, 2023

Rosa Jimenez Is Exonerated of a Crime That Never Took Place After 20 Years

08.07.23

Rosa Jimenez in downtown Austin, Texas, on March 4, 2021.

(Aug. 7, 2023 — Austin, TX) Rosa Jimenez was exonerated today after the Travis County District Attorney moved to dismiss a 2003 murder charge against her, based on testimony from leading pediatric airway experts that affirmed the death at the center of the case was a tragic accident and not murder.

Ms. Jimenez, who has always maintained her innocence, was convicted of murder after a 21-month-old child she was babysitting choked on paper towels and suffered a severe brain injury due to oxygen deprivation. He passed away three months later.

Prior to today’s dismissal, Ms. Jimenez was released from prison in 2021 after Judge Karen Sage of the 299th Criminal District Court in Austin, Texas recommended that Ms. Jimenez’s habeas petition be granted, finding that, “There was no crime committed here … Ms. Jimenez is innocent.” The decision came after the Travis County District Attorney’s Office conducted an in-depth review of the evidence through its trial division, special victims unit, and conviction integrity unit. The evidence included reports and testimony of numerous pediatric airway experts who unanimously concluded that the choking incident was the result of a tragic accident. At Ms. Jimenez’s original trial, the State presented faulty testimony stating it would have been physically impossible for the child to have accidentally choked. In May 2023, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned her 2005 conviction, ruling that the State had used false and misleading testimony to obtain her conviction. Support for Ms. Jimenez’s innocence has been widespread, particularly among Travis County state legislators. Over the years, four Texas judges who have reviewed her case in federal and state courts have all concluded that Ms. Jimenez is likely innocent and the child’s death was an accident.

“Rosa was the mom to a one-year-old girl and seven months pregnant when this ordeal began. She was forced to give birth to her son in jail, shackled, while awaiting trial. For the past 20 years, she has fought for this day, her freedom, and to be reunited with her children.” said Vanessa Potkin, director of special litigation and Ms. Jimenez’s attorney. “Her wrongful conviction was not grounded in medical science, but faulty medical assumptions that turned a tragedy into a crime — with her own attorney doing virtually nothing to defend her. I wish we could say that what happened to Rosa was an isolated occurrence, but we have a real, pervasive problem in our country when it comes to how the criminal legal system treats the caregivers of children who are hurt or die. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent caregivers and parents in prison today based on faulty, unscientific medical testimony misclassifying accidents or illness as abuse.”

A decade into her incarceration at 33 years old, Ms. Jimenez was diagnosed with kidney disease, which progressed to end-stage during her wrongful incarceration. Months after her release in 2021, she began dialysis and is now in need of a life-saving kidney transplant. “Just when Rosa can finally close the chapter on her 20-year fight to prove her innocence, she has to take on a new battle — the fight for her life,” Ms. Potkin said. Ms. Jimenez is being evaluated by Weill Cornell hospital for a kidney transplant and is hoping to find a living donor.

Help save Rosa’s life

Ms. Jimenez’s case has garnered attention from local and national leaders, including San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich. “I’ve been following Rosa’s case since she was released two years ago and moved to San Antonio,” Coach Popovich said. “It’s heartbreaking — a tragic miscarriage of justice. DA Garza and his team deserve great credit for helping the Innocence Project establish Rosa’s innocence with new scientific evidence. Rosa is just 41, endured nearly 20 years wrongly incarcerated, and desperately needs a live donor so she can get a kidney transplant. Please check out the micro site Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York has established for kidney donors Kidney4Rosa.com. Help save her life.”

“Just when Rosa can finally close the chapter on her 20-year fight to prove her innocence, she has to take on a new battle — the fight for her life.”

Vanessa Potkin
Director of Special Litigation and Ms. Jimenez’s attorney

Rosa Jimenez holding her daughter Brenda. (Image: Courtesy of Rosa Jimenez)

A Crime That Never Occurred

In January 2003, Ms. Jimenez was caring for her 1-year-old daughter Brenda and the 21-month-old year-old boy, whom she regularly babysat, when the toddler approached her choking. She immediately tried to remove the blockage, but, when she was unable to do so, she rushed to a neighbor’s house for help and they called 911. The child was resuscitated by paramedics, but the lack of oxygen resulted in severe brain damage, and he died three months later.

After the accident, Ms. Jimenez, who was pregnant with her second child and did not speak much English, was questioned for over five hours by an allegedly bilingual police officer whom Ms. Jimenez described as barely able to speak Spanish. While trained interpreters are provided at trials, an interpreter is not constitutionally guaranteed during a law enforcement interrogation. Although Ms. Jimenez had difficulty understanding the officers, she consistently maintained her innocence and repeatedly explained that the child had accidentally choked. Ms. Jimenez, who regularly cared for children in her community, had no criminal record, and there was no history or evidence of abuse in the child’s death. Despite this, she was arrested and charged later that night. Ms. Jimenez’s situation is not uncommon among wrongly convicted women. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, 40% of female exoneres were wrongly convicted of harming children or other loved ones in their care.

Rosa Jimenez holding her daughter Brenda. (Image: Courtesy of Rosa Jimenez)

“I wish we could say that what happened to Rosa
was an isolated occurrence,
but we have a real, pervasive problem in our country
when it comes to how the criminal legal system
treats the caregivers of children who are hurt or die.”

Vanessa Potkin
Director of Special Litigation and Ms. Jimenez’s attorney

Rosa Jimenez (left) who was released from prison after serving 17 years for a crime she did not commit is hugged by her attorney Vanessa Potkin.

The Danger of Faulty Medical Evidence

At trial, the State relied on faulty medical testimony contending that it was impossible for the toddler to have accidentally choked on the paper towels, which he’d put in his own mouth, and that Ms. Jimenez must have forced them into his mouth. Ms. Jimenez’s appointed attorney never presented any credible expert witnesses to rebut the State’s faulty claims, and she was convicted and sentenced to 99 years in prison.

After the Innocence Project took on Ms. Jimenez as a client, her lawyers sought out top medical airway experts to evaluate the case evidence. Four top pediatric airways specialists from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Stanford University Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital independently reviewed the case and issued a consensus report concluding that all the medical evidence indicated that the child accidentally choked, and that Ms. Jimenez had been wrongly convicted of a crime that never occurred.

Nearly 71% of female exonerees were convicted of crimes that never took place. As with Ms. Jimenez, such “crimes” include incidents later determined to be accidents according to the National Registry of Exonerations.

A Woefully Inadequate Defense

At her 2005 trial, Ms. Jimenez’s court-appointed attorney failed to present a meaningful defense in response to the State’s unfounded medical testimony. The principal issue addressed at trial was whether this was an accidental choking. Ms. Jimenez’s trial counsel failed to present qualified experts to counter the State’s false testimony that it was impossible for this to have been an accident.

Ms. Jimenez’s attorney called only one expert who was fully discredited on cross-examination, who went on an explosive and harmful rant, and, at one point, yelled expletives at the prosecution. A state court habeas judge in 2010 who first recommended that Ms. Jimenez receive a new trial noted that in his “30 years as a licensed attorney, [and] 20 years in the judiciary, [he had] never seen such unprofessional and biased conduct from any witness, much less a purported expert,” adding that the expert had left Ms. Jimenez’s case in greater jeopardy than before he testified.

In September 2018, a federal district court also ruled that Ms. Jimenez’s conviction should be vacated because she was denied her constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel. That ruling was under appeal by the Texas Attorney General’s office, and, at that time, the Travis County District Attorney’s Office initiated a review of the new medical evidence.

“As prosecutors, we have an obligation to ensure the integrity of convictions and to seek justice,“ said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “In the case against Rosa Jimenez, it is clear that false medical testimony was used to obtain her conviction, and without that testimony under the law, she would not have been convicted. Dismissing Ms. Jimenez’s case is the right thing to do.”Our hearts also continue to break for the Gutierrez family. In this case, our criminal justice system failed them, and it also failed Rosa Jimenez. Our hope is that by our actions today, by exposing the truth that Ms. Jimenez did not commit the crime for which she was accused, we can give some sense of closure and peace to both families.”

40%

of female exoneres were wrongly convicted of harming children or other loved ones in their care.

71%

of female exonerees were convicted of crimes that never took place.

Rosa Jimenez and her son Aiden. (Image: Vanessa Potkin)

A Family Reunites

Ms. Jimenez was seven months pregnant at the time of her arrest. She gave birth to her son Emmanuel in jail while awaiting trial. She held him for a total of five hours before he was taken from her and placed in foster care along with her daughter. During Ms. Jimenez’s incarceration, her children grew into young adults. Although they visited her over the years in prison, Ms. Jimenez was never allowed to hold or make physical contact with them because she had been convicted of harming a child. Upon her release in 2021, Ms. Jimenez reconnected with both Emmanuel (who now goes by Aiden) and Brenda, whose wedding Ms. Jimenez was able to attend shortly thereafter. She now looks forward to becoming a grandparent in August.

Ms. Jimenez now faces another fight: to find a kidney donor and receive a life saving transplant. “The past 20 years, I have been fighting for my freedom, my innocence, and my children. Now I have a second fight,” said Ms. Jimenez. ”I want to have a long, healthy life with my family, who I waited so long to be with again. I want to see my grandchildren grow up. I have come so far, and I will keep fighting for as long as it takes.”Ms. Jimenez is represented by Vanessa Potkin at the Innocence Project; current and former Foley & Lardner LLP trial lawyers Rachel O’Neil, Sara Brown, Sadie Butler, and Joanne Early and Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Tagged

children mothers murder Texas women wrongful conviction

Statement on the Government of Alberta’s Moratorium on Renewable Energy Projects

Statement by Keith Brooks, Programs Director, Environmental Defence

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – At a time when over 100 wildfires are burning through Alberta, the provincial government’s moratorium on renewable energy is another attack on climate action. This moratorium on renewable energy is bad for business, bad for the environment and bad for Albertans.

Scaling up renewable energy is essential to addressing the climate crisis. Alberta has been Canada’s leading province for building renewable energy. Stopping now makes no sense. Albertans are already reaping the benefits of renewable energy: the creation of thousands of new jobs in communities across the province, billions of dollars in investments, and revenues for municipalities which are struggling with unpaid oil and gas taxes. This latest move threatens all of this.

Renewable energy is the cheapest source of new electricity generation. These new rules risk driving up the cost of energy bills at a time when Albertans are struggling with the cost of living crisis caused by dependence on fossil fuels.

While renewable energy projects already undergo extensive community consultations and must meet environmental requirements, the oil and gas industry faces very little accountability. The fossil fuel industry has disrupted close to 900 square kilometers and left tens of thousands of inactive and orphan wells. The price tag to clean up that mess is at least $120 billion – and mounting. Yet the Government of Alberta has shown no urgency in addressing these mounting environmental liabilities, beyond subsidizing the same companies responsible for the mess.

As provinces like Alberta continue to threaten Canada’s ability to meet its climate commitments, it is more important than ever that the federal government step in and deliver strong rules on clean electricity.

But Alberta cannot be let off the hook. The climate crisis is already harming communities and killing people across Alberta and the rest of Canada. Every province must do its part to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, at the pace and scale dictated by science.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Allen Braude, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca, 416-356-2587

The post Statement on the Government of Alberta’s Moratorium on Renewable Energy Projects appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

August 1, 2023

New Study Finds Low Awareness Among Ontarians About Eco-friendly Technologies that can Cut Energy Bills

Two heat pumps installed outside a brick house

Statement from Keith Brooks, Programs Director

Eighty per cent of Ontarians believe the province should be powered by clean energy, while 74 per cent believe the province should ramp up clean electricity investments

#MyGreenFlag campaign educates the public about accessible green energy solutions and helps identify unsustainable #RedFlags that harm the environment

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – A new Abacus poll, released today, shows that Ontario residents want clean energy advancements, believe it offers competitive economic advantages, and want it adopted immediately, but when it comes to their own homes energy needs, there is low awareness of eco-friendly technologies.

To increase awareness in Ontario about eco-friendly solutions like heat pumps, electric stoves, solar panels and more, Environmental Defence is launching #MyGreenFlags. Using cheeky and inviting language, the campaign leans into the popular social media trend where people share what they want in a relationship (#GreenFlags) and what they don’t want (#RedFlags). Like a long-term relationship, home energy retrofits take commitment and spotting those green and red flags before taking the plunge is crucial to maximizing efficiency and cost-savings while minimizing environmental impact. The website GreenFlags.ca links Ontario residents to information about government programs that offer financial incentives for residential retrofits.

Different levels of government, including municipalities like the City of Toronto and the City of Ottawa as well as the federal government, offer grants and loans to encourage residents to purchase eco-friendly solutions like heat pumps or EV chargers. Despite being readily available, the poll found 50 per cent of Ontarians are unaware of federal programs that offer financial incentives for retrofits.

Similarly, awareness of eco-friendly options is also low. Just 34 per cent of Ontarians have heard about electric heat pumps and know what they do. Heat pumps, a simple but effective technology, use electricity to remove heat from inside your home to cool it in the summer and pull heat in from outside to heat your home in the winter. Far more energy efficient than a gas furnace, using a heat pump can provide significant energy bill savings, while offering protection from volatile gas prices, which can fluctuate wildly depending on global markets. And, kicking gas out of your home is good for your health and the climate. Gas is made mostly of methane – a climate-damaging fossil fuel that is over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

According to the International Energy Agency, heat pump sales growth nearly doubled in Europe in 2022, largely driven by rising gas prices. Last year, three million heat pumps were sold in Europe, bringing the region’s total to 20 million, with Europe aiming to double that to over 45 million by 2030.

In Canada, heat pump adoption has been relatively slow by comparison. Between 2005–2019, heat pump use increased by just one per cent, from four to five per cent of Canadian homes. Stats Canada’s most recent statistics report that just six per cent of Canadian homes relied on heat pumps in 2021. Still, research shows heat pump adoption must increase to 10 per cent for Canada to reach its 2030 climate goal.

The Abacus poll also found just two per cent of Ontarians report owning a heat pump. With Ontario’s population of 14.53 million, that works out to under 300,000 Ontarians.

While sustainable technologies like heat pumps can save residents money and reduce a home’s carbon footprint, system-wide changes like cleaning up Canada’s gas-powered electricity grid, are essential for Canada to meet its goals of 2030 emissions reduction targets and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The federal government has promised to deliver 100 per cent clean power across Canada by 2050. A strong majority of Ontario residents, 80 per cent, believe that’s the right thing to do.

But, after cancelling 750 renewable energy contracts, Ontario is now attempting to take advantage of a loophole in the draft regulations that permits new gas plants to be built before 2025 and operate beyond 2035.

“The federal government must stop Ontario and other provinces from building new gas infrastructure. The science is clear that we need to stop building new fossil fuel projects. With Ontarians already suffering from climate impacts including record-breaking heat waves and wildfires, Ontario should be ramping up renewable energy projects, not polluting ‘natural’ gas power plants,” says Keith Brooks, Environmental Defence’s Programs Director.

Ontario residents clearly want more clean electricity, and quickly. Eighty-one per cent of Ontarians believe clean electricity offers a competitive advantage for the economy, while 73 per cent believe Canada must invest in clean electricity or risk falling behind the United States. And 74 per cent of Ontarians believe the province can’t move fast enough to ramp up clean electricity – which positions the province’s plan completely opposite to public opinion and interest.

Yet, Ontario’s electricity operator recently announced contracts for two new gas plants in Windsor and St. Clair Township as well as capacity expansions and contract extensions for plants in Toronto, Brampton, Halton Hills, Thorold, St. Clair, and King. The electricity operator’s numbers show that ramping up gas generation will increase harmful emissions by over 400 per cent by 2023, and by almost 800 per cent by 2040.

“Phasing out gas generation in Ontario is completely feasible if the province were to choose clean solutions like solar and wind, paired with battery storage, which allows the energy to be used when needed. A recent report found that 64 wind farms on the Great Lakes alone could produce enough electricity to meet all of Ontario’s needs, which would be substantially better for consumers’ budgets and our climate,” Brooks says.

Visit GreenFlags.ca for information on government incentives and eco-friendly solutions for your home.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post New Study Finds Low Awareness Among Ontarians About Eco-friendly Technologies that can Cut Energy Bills appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

July 24, 2023

Queen’s Park and Ottawa Must Stop Passing the Buck and Save the TTC

Statement by Nate Wallace, Clean Transportation Program Manager, Environmental Defence

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – Toronto’s budget shortfall is tied to the TTC’s over-reliance on fare revenues – a situation created by federal and provincial policy. It is the responsibility of higher orders of government to step in and do their fair share.

Premier Ford’s government has continued to keep the TTC as one of the least publicly supported transit agencies in North America, and the TTC’s over-reliance on fare revenues have left it uniquely vulnerable to ridership-reducing economic shocks like the pandemic.

The federal government’s policy of funding transit capital investments but not operations has only compounded this problem and left the city unable to pay to put that new infrastructure into service. The TTC has 551 buses, 81 streetcars and 40 subway trains that could be in service, but are instead sitting idle.

Canada’s population recently passed 40 million. As our country grows, we cannot continue with the status quo of abandoning people who live in the growing suburbs to expensive and unhealthy car-dependency and grind our urban cores to a halt with gridlock. But unless transit is supported, we risk going down this path.

One in four trips on public transit in Canada occurs on the TTC, making the agency a very important contributor to reducing transportation emissions for the entire country.

We are calling for Queen’s Park and Ottawa to stop passing the buck, recognize their responsibility to fight climate change and work together to save the TTC from a downward spiral of service cuts and fare hikes.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Alex Ross, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Queen’s Park and Ottawa Must Stop Passing the Buck and Save the TTC appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

July 24, 2023

Statement on the Government of Canada’s New Policy Ending Subsidies to the Fossil Fuel Industry

Statement from Julia Levin, Associate Director, National Climate

Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – Environmental Defence welcomes the Government of Canada’s new Inefficient Fossil Fuel Subsidies Assessment Framework and Guidelines, which delivers on a longstanding commitment to end inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. If applied with integrity, these new rules for government spending will effectively shut the door on the creation of new handouts of public money to the companies most responsible for the climate disasters being experienced today – and free up billions for climate solutions.

As countries around the world grapple with eliminating their own fossil fuel subsidies, Canada has set a strong global precedent. Fossil fuels are causing the climate crisis and any spending which leads to expansion of the oil and gas sector, or locks in current levels of fossil fuel production, will make it harder to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Furthermore, fossil fuel subsidies divert public spending away from investments in climate solutions – including renewable energy, electrification and energy efficiency – which would set Canada up to thrive as the world moves beyond oil and gas.

The new rules, which apply across government departments – contain problematic loopholes for fossil gas as well as dangerous distractions – including carbon capture and storage (CCS) – which only serve to prolong our dependence on fossil fuels without delivering meaningful emissions reductions. The inclusion of these loopholes demonstrates the ongoing influence of Canada’s most polluting sector on government decision making in developing climate policy.

Fortunately, to justify new fossil fuel subsidies, federal departments must prove that any new spending doesn’t hinder the transition to renewable energy and aligns with a pathway consistent with limiting global heating to 1.5°C. This would rule out any spending on new oil, gas or coal projects.

These new rules have a glaring omission: they won’t apply to public financing funded through Export Development Canada and other crown corporations. This is alarming given that Canada is one of the largest providers of fossil fuel financing in the G20. The government made a commitment to eliminate this outsized support back in 2021 and we welcome today’s announcement of a timeline for that promise. In order to have eliminated all public financing for fossil fuels by Fall 2024, the government must release a plan by the end of this year. With mounting climate disasters, there is no room for delay.

Missing from today’s announcement were any details on how these new rules will be implemented, monitored and enforced. This must be done in a rigorous way, with full public transparency. We look forward to the Government of Canada quickly addressing these matters to ensure the new rules have teeth.

Across Canada, people are struggling and dying from the impacts of climate disasters as well as a cost of living crisis sparked by our dependence on fossil fuels. Government spending – in all its forms – must move us towards a truly renewable energy system – one that will deliver lower bills, cleaner air and more energy security.

The Government of Canada must quickly take the final step and end all fossil financing – without any loopholes for fossil gas, fossil hydrogen or CCS. There is no justification for continuing to transfer public money to the very companies and executives whose search for profit has fueled the climate crisis. It’s time to turn off the financial taps to Canada’s most polluting industry.

More Information:

In May, over 100 organizations across Canada and around the world sent a letter to the federal government demanding a robust policy in line with Canada’s climate commitments.
This policy does not address the support being provided by crown corporations, especially Export Development Canada, for domestic oil and gas companies. Canada ranks among the worst in the G20 for providing fossil fuels public financing. By comparison, Canada’s support for clean energy is relatively meager. From 2019 to 2021, Canada supported an annual average of CAD 11.1 billion in public finance to fossil fuels. This was more than 11 times its support to clean energy ($1 billion), compared to the G20 average of 4:1 fossil finance to clean energy. Despite a government commitment to eliminate this public finance back in 2021, no progress has been made. Today’s announcement was a missed opportunity to show Canadians the plan to tackle this enormous source of fossil financing. In 2022, the federal government gave more than $20 billion in subsidies and financial support to fossil fuel companies. Of this, $19.8 billion was financing provided through Export Development Canada.
These new rules build off the Guidelines for Canada’s International Support for the Clean Energy Transition, a policy passed in December 2022 ending public finance being provided by the government, including crown corporations, for international oil and gas projects.
The Government of Canada has recently introduced new subsidies and public financing for CCS and fossil hydrogen, including the CCUS investment tax credit which was introduced against the recommendations from over 400 of Canada’s leading academics and energy transition experts and the hydrogen investment tax credit which similarly ignored recommendations from over 100 scientists and academics, as well as 55 civil society organisations. CCS relies on the flawed premise that we can continue burning fuels indefinitely by capturing some of the carbon emissions from polluting facilities before they escape into the atmosphere. However, CCS does not address downstream emissions (emissions created when fossil fuels are burned, for transportation or heating) which constitutes 80-90 per cent of the emissions from oil and gas. Despite decades of research and investment, CCS is neither economically sound nor proven at scale, with a terrible track record and limited potential to deliver significant, cost-effective emissions reductions.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Alex Ross, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on the Government of Canada’s New Policy Ending Subsidies to the Fossil Fuel Industry appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

July 12, 2023

Statement on Federal Government’s Intent to Label Hazardous Substances in Consumer Products

Statement by Cassie Barker, Toxics Senior Program Manager, Environmental Defence

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – We are pleased to see the announcement that the federal government intends to label hazards in products. This positive move comes after years of civil society efforts to encourage the federal government to follow through on its election promise to label harmful ingredients in consumer products.

Providing people with the safety information they need to avoid hazardous chemicals would be an important win for our right to know what we’re using on our bodies, in our homes, and in contact with our food.

While labelling hazards is an important measure, it is only part of the solution to getting toxics out of products. Carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxicants, and other hazards need to be prohibited in our consumer products, particularly those targeted at children. However, the first step is requiring companies to disclose the presence of these substances in their products. Experience in other jurisdictions shows that most manufacturers will reformulate their products to avoid having to add a warning label to their packaging. We look forward to a greener marketplace with less hazardous products on our store shelves.

Background information:

Health Canada announced that it is “seeking comments on a proposed regulatory initiative that would introduce requirements for certain human health hazards of concern (HHHOCs) in consumer chemical products under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA).”

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Paula Gray, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on Federal Government’s Intent to Label Hazardous Substances in Consumer Products appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

July 11, 2023

Statement on the Powering Ontario’s Growth plan

Statement from Lana Goldberg, Ontario Climate Program Manager

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – It is generous to call this document a plan – it doesn’t include forecasts for how Ontario will meet rising electricity demand, doesn’t specify what the planned supply mix might look like, and doesn’t provide emissions projections or cost estimations. This document is little more than a belated attempt to rationalize the government’s recent announcements for new nuclear and gas facilities.

It is certainly not a plan for clean energy generation – it’s a plan to keep critics at bay while the province keeps polluting and using antiquated and dangerous technologies. No matter how many wind and solar options are promised for some point in the distant future, building new polluting gas plants and new nuclear facilities now is unacceptable.

Numerous studies have shown that Ontario can meet its growing electricity demand with wind and solar, which can easily be combined with storage technologies to deliver power when needed. They are also cheaper and quicker to build, and offer lower electricity rates for the end consumer. There really is no reason to build new gas plants or nuclear power projects when we have cleaner, cheaper, and safer alternatives.

Despite language around Ontario having a clean energy advantage, this government is making the electricity grid dirtier. It just contracted two new gas plants in Windsor and St.Clair Township and is hoping to contract more in the coming year, likely next to existing facilities across Southern Ontario. Residents and council members should be on alert.

Background information:

On May 16, 2023, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) announced contracts for gas-fired electricity generation projects including two new facilities in Windsor and St. Clair Township as well as expansion of facilities and extension of contracts in Toronto, Brampton, Halton Hills, and Thorold.
On June 27th, 2023, the IESO announced capacity expansions and contract extensions for gas plants in St.Clair Township and King Township.
The IESO plans to offer additional contracts for new gas plants (900 megawatt goal) as part of its long-term RFP procurement process, with announcements expected in the first or second quarter of 2024.
The IESO projects greenhouse gas emissions from Ontario’s gas plants will increase by over 400 per cent by 2030 and almost 800 per cent by 2040 (compared to the 2017 level).
On December 23, 2022, the Minister of Energy sent a letter to the IESO requiring new gas projects receive municipal resolutions in support.
34 Ontario municipalities have passed motions opposing the expansion of gas-fired electricity in Ontario.
Wind and solar are now the cheapest form of new electricity generation and offer cheaper electricity rates than fossil gas and nuclear.
A recent study from Clean Energy Canada shows that electricity from wind and solar is already cost-competitive with fossil gas generation in Ontario. When the current carbon price is taken into account, wind and solar are much cheaper than fossil gas.

Find out more about Ontario’s gas problem at NoMoreGasPlants.ca

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on the Powering Ontario’s Growth plan appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

July 11, 2023

New Report: Canada’s Oil and Gas Companies Can Cover Cleanup Costs but Prioritize Corporate Profits Instead

Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – A new report released today by Environmental Defence, Past Due: Tallying the Costs of Oil and Gas Cleanup in Canada, finds that oil and gas companies could use their profits to cover the costs of environmental cleanup – which are currently estimated at $123 billion but could increase up to $220 billion – but must be forced by governments to do so.

“Oil and gas companies have profited for decades from the destruction of the land,” said Julia Levin, Associate Director of National Climate at Environmental Defence. “Despite promising to clean up after themselves, they’ve used their massive profits to line the pockets of their executives and shareholders – hoping that no one will hold them accountable for the environmental damage they have created.”

To get a sense of the scale of Canada’s fossil fuel industry’s current and future liabilities, and what governments should do about them while companies are still producing oil and gas, Environmental Defence Canada commissioned the Parkland Institute to explore three questions:

How much Canadian oil and gas production is remaining within climate-safe temperature limits?
What are the current and future costs of cleaning up the damages left behind by fossil fuel companies?
How much profit will oil and gas companies generate?

“In light of Canada’s climate commitments, we wanted to find out the balance between how much Canada’s oil and gas industry has left to profit compared to the growing cost to clean up its mess,” said report author, Megan Egler, Parkland Institute. “There is a real lack of transparency around environmental liabilities in the industry, but all three scenarios we modelled tell us that companies need to be putting a lot more money toward cleanup.”

The report examines three different scenarios for remaining levels of oil and gas production. (Realistically, production will need to be phased out rather than coming to a full halt at the end of the given time periods. However, these three scenarios serve as discussion points.) For each scenario, the report authors estimate both future liabilities and future profits.

A “Fair Share” scenario, with Canada’s oil and gas production ending almost immediately, by the end of 2023. This scenario is not politically realistic, but is the only scenario which aligns with global equity, considering Canada’s historical emissions and ability to transition.
An “Economically Efficient” scenario, with current production levels continuing for six years. This considers the allowable cumulative greenhouse gas emissions from 2022 to 2050 while staying within the 1.5°C goal. Canada’s capacity to reduce emissions is taken into account, but it does not consider Canada’s historical emissions.
A “Business As Usual” scenario, with current production levels maintained until 2040. This scenario ignores global equity.

Key Findings

Current oil and gas industry environmental liabilities: at least $123 billion, which include the costs of cleaning up oil and gas wells, oil sands mines and tailings ponds. (Due to a lack of available data, pipelines and facilities such as refineries are not included in this report’s estimates.)
Under the “Economically Efficient” scenario, at least 37 per cent of industry profits must go to paying for the cleanup of the oil and gas sector’s environmental liabilities. Even with longer phaseout timelines in the “Business As Usual” scenario, nearly 20 per cent of profits must go to environmental cleanup.
Oil and gas corporate profits can cover cleanup costs. Public funding for the cleanup of environmental liabilities is unnecessary and would be an inefficient subsidy to oil and gas corporations.

“Oil and gas companies have a few years of profitable production left before they will need to phase out,” said Alienor Rougeot, Climate and Energy Program Manager, Environmental Defence. “There is no time to waste. Governments must take immediate action to ensure oil and gas company profits go towards cleaning up the industry’s massive environmental liabilities – instead of enriching shareholders.”

The full report is available here.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Allen Braude, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post New Report: Canada’s Oil and Gas Companies Can Cover Cleanup Costs but Prioritize Corporate Profits Instead appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

June 29, 2023

Statement on NOAA’s 2023 Harmful Algae Bloom Forecast

Statement from Michelle Woodhouse, Water Program Manager, Environmental Defence

NOAA forecasts small algae bloom for Lake Erie which is still cause for concern and intensive July rainfalls could potentially increase bloom severity

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – Despite NOAA’s forecast of a small algae bloom this summer, a bloom of any size is unacceptable and poses a threat to human and animal health. In fact, smaller blooms can be more toxic than larger blooms due to higher concentrations of microcystin (a potent liver toxin and possible human carcinogen).

The root causes of these harmful algae blooms, namely agricultural runoff and rising lake temperatures, must be addressed. NOAA scientists made it clear today that despite a mild 2023 forecast, there is still an urgent need for action to address all sources of phosphorus losses and runoff on both sides of the border. A changing climate is already leading to heavier-than-normal rainfall in the Great Lakes basin during the spring and summer months.

Climate models predict this will only increase. A wetter spring and summer will result in more phosphorus runoff from the land and into Lake Erie, causing more severe algae blooms. Severe blooms suffocate the lake, creating a “dead zone” due to a lack of oxygen in the water, which can decimate fisheries. The presence of microcystin can also threaten drinking water and be fatal to animals.

Canada and Ontario have committed to reducing the amount of phosphorus entering the lake by 40 per cent by 2025. However, to date, neither have provided an update on the progress towards that goal. We need greater accountability for how the agricultural food sector is being adequately supported, but also held to account in reducing its role in the problem. Recent government funding commitments for the Great Lakes should be used to help support the greater implementation of agricultural best management practices. This is sorely needed for the sector and greatly needed for larger-scale and heavily industrialized operations.

The provincial and federal governments must work together to tackle current agricultural practices that often lead to overapplication rates on crops, in addition to very poor manure management systems for animals being raised for food. As a society, certain unsustainable agricultural production practices must be addressed.

Furthermore, they must also work together to implement policies, such as Canada’s anticipated Sustainable Agriculture Strategy, to encourage efficient and restrained use of fertilizers. Overapplication of manure from animal agriculture is also a notable problem, and one that is costly for farmers and the environment, and should be addressed through more stringent storage and application practices.

Background information:

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced its 2023 Lake Erie algae bloom forecast. This year’s bloom is expected to be small at a severity of 3 on a scale of 10.
July rainfall plays an important role in how the bloom can develop while the temperatures are also increasing in the lake. Intensive heavy rainfalls that could end up persisting over the month of July this summer may cause the bloom to grow to a moderate severity of 4.5.
Ontario and Canada signed the Canada-Ontario Lake Erie Action Plan in 2018 as part of the binational efforts to address Lake Erie’s algae blooms and keep them from spiralling out of control.
In 2014 nearly 500,000 residents in Toledo, Ohio and Pelee, Ontario were left without access to safe drinking water for days due to a severe bloom.
Every year, there are incidents of dogs that die from swimming in water near algae blooms due to the presence of microcystin.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Paula Gray, Environmental Defence, pgray@environmentaldefence.ca, 705-435-8611

The post Statement on NOAA’s 2023 Harmful Algae Bloom Forecast appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

June 28, 2023

Ontario’s Step Towards Deposit Return for All Beverage Containers Is a Welcome Development for the Environment

Statement from Senior Program Manager for Plastics, Karen Wirsig

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – We are pleased to hear that the provincial government is taking an active role in designing a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic drink containers as the beverage industry takes over responsibility for its packaging waste in Ontario.

Under provincial regulations, beverage companies in Ontario are required to collect and recycle or refill 75 per cent of their non-alcoholic empties by 2026 and 80 per cent by 2030. But the industry’s “Recycle Everywhere” program (slated to begin on July 1) will not be up to the task of meeting these targets, mainly because it doesn’t include any significant changes to the existing recycling bin program.

Right now, less than 50 per cent of non-alcoholic beverage containers are collected in recycling bins. This compares to nearly 80 per cent of Beer Store packaging in Ontario and 84 per cent of all beverage containers in Alberta, which are both covered by successful deposit-return programs.

A deposit-return program for all beverage containers is the best way to prevent litter and keep empties out of landfill and incinerators. It is also more cost-effective than the recycling bin system proposed by the industry. We applaud this move towards deposit return from the provincial government and urge the beverage industry to get on board. In order to rein in plastic pollution, we must transition to deposit return for all beverage containers in Ontario as soon as possible.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Lauren Thomas, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Ontario’s Step Towards Deposit Return for All Beverage Containers Is a Welcome Development for the Environment appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

June 27, 2023

Statement on IESO’s Continued Push for Polluting Gas Power

Statement from Lana Goldberg, Ontario Climate Program Manager

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – As wildfires continue to burn across the country and air quality has become an urgent concern in Ontario, the province’s recent gas plant expansions and extensions are utterly irresponsible. Ontario does not need any more fossil gas, it can easily meet its growing electricity demand with clean sources like wind and solar power, which would be less expensive for residents too.

While Ontario’s Energy Minister indicated that new gas projects would require municipal resolutions in support, that doesn’t seem to be the case. The recent capacity expansions have gone ahead without such support and likely any consultation at all. Both Toronto and Brampton City Councils seem to have been caught off guard by the announcements and are rightly concerned about the impact these new contracts will have on their ability to meet emissions reduction targets. Instead of supporting municipalities in meeting their targets, the province is steamrolling them by expanding the lifespan of polluting gas projects that they don’t want or need.

The good news is that the Ontario government’s interest in new gas plants appears to be encountering some hurdles. The IESO was only able to drum up proposals to meet half of its intended new gas generation capacity during its expedited contract process. This may be due to the anticipated Federal government’s Clean Electricity Regulations that will likely require grids across Canada achieve net zero emissions by 2035. The province needs to face the reality that the only way forward is to focus on building clean electricity projects like wind and solar.

Background information:

Today the IESO announced capacity expansions and contract extensions for St. Clair Energy Centre in St.Clair Township and for York Energy Centre in King Township, close to Newmarket.
The IESO’s previous announcement included contracts for new gas plants in Windsor and St. Clair Township as well as expansion of facilities in Toronto, Brampton, Halton Hills, and Thorold.
The IESO’s Expedited LT1 procurement process was seeking to offer contracts for up to 600 MW of new gas generation. It has only offered contracts for 318.5 MW of new generation to date.
Additional contracts for new gas plants are planned and are scheduled to be announced in the first or second quarters of 2024.
On December 23, 2022, the Minister of Energy sent a letter to the IESO requiring new gas projects receive municipal resolutions in support.
The IESO projects emissions from the electricity sector will increase over 400 per cent by 2030 and by almost 800 per cent by 2040 (compared to the 2017 level).
In response to the IESO’s previous contract announcement in May, Toronto City Council passed a motion asking the Federal government to strengthen its forthcoming Clean Electricity Regulations to ensure Toronto’s Portlands gas plant could not be expanded.
Toronto council members expressed concern to the media about the expansion at the Portlands plant on Toronto’s eastern waterfront, after it passed a motion committing to stop gas expansions in the city.
Brampton City Council also passed a motion following the IESO’s May announcement asking staff to investigate what the impact of the Goreway plant’s capacity expansion and contract extension would have on the city’s climate targets.
34 municipalities have passed motions calling on the province to phase out gas-generated electricity.
The Royal Bank of Canada’s recent report concluded Ontario can avoid the need for new gas plants by making smart investments.

Find out more about Ontario’s gas problem at NoMoreGasPlants.ca

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on IESO’s Continued Push for Polluting Gas Power appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

June 20, 2023

Federal Government Signals Its Willingness to Get Serious on Pesticides

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION, ECOJUSTICE, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH CANADA, PREVENT CANCER NOW

Reducing pesticide risk and use must be a priority to protect human health and biodiversity, say environmental groups

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – Environmental groups welcome today’s announcement from the federal government stating its intention to end the cosmetic use of pesticides on federal lands and strengthen regulation of pesticides. The David Suzuki Foundation, Environmental Defence, Wilderness Committee, Ecojustice, Friends of the Earth and Prevent Cancer Now say the changes announced today are a positive first step towards more robust regulation of pesticides.

However, the groups caution that legal changes, if adopted, will need to be properly implemented and adequately resourced in order to better protect human health and the environment from pesticide risks. Furthermore, additional action to reduce pesticide use and risk will be needed if Canada is to meet its commitments under the Convention on Biodiversity to reduce the risks from pesticides by half by 2030.

The federal government also indicated it will not immediately approve proposed increases to the amount of glyphosate permitted on imported foods. This is a temporary victory for environmental and health groups, who reiterate their call for the government to reject the proposed increases. The groups welcome further review of Canada’s flawed system for limiting pesticide residues on food. A comprehensive approach is needed to reduce — not increase — exposures to hazardous herbicides linked to cancer in humans, like glyphosate.

Ashley Wallis, Environmental Defence said:

“Today’s announcement signals that the federal government is considering actions to reduce pesticide risk. If we are going to achieve significant pesticide risk reduction by 2030, which Canada committed to at COP15 in Montreal last December, we need urgent action and leadership from this government. It’s long past time to end the overuse of under-regulated pest products.”

Laura Bowman, Ecojustice lawyer said:

“Canada urgently needs to reverse the trend of rapidly increasing pesticide use, and close regulatory loopholes that allow extremely dangerous products — banned in other countries — to continue to be heavily used even when there are no pest or weed outbreaks. Worker protections from pesticides in Canada continue to be well behind those in other countries.”

Charlotte Dawe, Wilderness Committee said: The harm that pesticides cause not only to the environment and biodiversity but to human health are widely known. Banning the cosmetic use on federal land is a good step forward but these toxic pesticides are still sprayed over non-federal land for logging and agricultural uses in this country, and that needs to stop too.

Lisa Gue, David Suzuki Foundation said:

“We’re encouraged the government is taking first steps towards reducing pesticide risks. Ending the cosmetic use of pesticides on federal lands will eliminate needless risks to human health and the environment, while the proposed changes to federal pesticide regulation would be welcome improvements to the pesticide assessment process. Let’s hope this signals a new direction in Canada – one centered on protecting human health and the environment and prioritizing Canada’s international biodiversity commitments.”

Beatrice Olivastri, Friends of the Earth Canada said:

“The Government of Canada manages some 41,240,072 hectares of land area – we are very happy to hear that cosmetic pesticides will be banned on this federal land from coast to coast to coast. We look forward to visiting federal buildings across Canada where pollinators will be able to flourish safe from bee toxic neonicotinoids and glyphosate to name just a few of the pesticides to be banned. This must be a start, not a finish, to banning harmful pesticides in Canada.

Meg Sears, Prevent Cancer Now said:

“Turning the corner on biodiversity losses requires urgent reduction in pesticide products and their use. This is a great first step, to inspire provinces and municipalities across the country. As well, a proposed regulatory change for meaningful access to and re-analysis of test data is welcomed by scientists who see major omissions in pesticides assessments.”

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Paula Gray, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca, 705-435-8611

Venetia Jones, communications manager, Ecojustice
613 903 5898 ext. 714, vjones@ecojustice.ca

Stephanie O’Neill, communications specialist, the David Suzuki Foundation
780 964 1192, soneill@davidsuzuki.org

Beatrice Olivastri, CEO, Friends of the Earth Canada
613-724-8690, beatrice@foecanada.org

Meg Sears PhD., Chair, Prevent Cancer Now
613-297-6042, meg@preventcancernow.ca

The post Federal Government Signals Its Willingness to Get Serious on Pesticides appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

June 20, 2023

Statement on the Canada Energy Regulator’s Energy Futures 2023 Report, Which Includes Net-Zero Modelling

Statement by Aly Hyder Ali, Oil and Gas Program Manager, Environmental Defence

Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – While we are pleased to see that the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) has finally admitted that Canada’s oil and gas production must decline dramatically to avoid climate catastrophes, we are also disappointed in the continued overreliance on speculative technologies to achieve Canada’s climate commitments.

For the first time ever, the CER, an independent energy regulatory agency, has modelled a net-zero scenario in their Energy Futures 2023 report – and what they found is no surprise. To keep global average temperature to 1.5 degrees, we must quickly transition off of fossil fuels. Canadian oil production must decline by 76 per cent and gas production by 68 per cent by 2050, from current levels. Global markets are moving away from fossil fuels, and Canada must do the same.

However, as the CER finds in its report, Canada’s current suite of policies are not strong enough to avoid catastrophic climate impacts. With current policies in place, it is predicted that there will only be a 13 per cent decline in Canada’s emissions from today’s levels to 2050 – a far cry from what is needed to achieve a 1.5 aligned future.

Climate action in Canada needs to increase in pace and in its ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With upcoming federal policies such as the oil and gas emissions cap and the clean electricity regulations, the Government of Canada has an opportunity to do just that, but only if those policies are ambitious enough. Without massive emissions reductions from the oil and gas industry, approximately 90 per cent by 2050 from current levels, it is impossible to achieve Canada’s climate targets.

It is disappointing to note that in Energy Futures 2023 there is still a vast overreliance on speculative, unproven technologies, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), as well as direct air capture (DAC). Despite decades of trying, CCS has yet to make any significant contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The best shot at avoiding further climate catastrophe is to phase out fossil fuels and immediately move towards cleaner, renewable energy sources. And now is the best time to do it.

CER clearly shows that renewable energy and electricity are becoming the new backbone of Canada’s energy systems. With the backdrop of raging wildfires that have burned through hundreds of communities and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, it is imperative that Canada moves full steam ahead in phasing out fossil fuels and investing in clean energy sources.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Allen Braude, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on the Canada Energy Regulator’s Energy Futures 2023 Report, Which Includes Net-Zero Modelling appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

June 20, 2023

Statement on Federal Government Considering Release of Tar Sands Tailings Ponds Into Athabasca River

Statement from Aliénor Rougeot, Program Manager, Climate and Energy

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – Oil companies’ irresponsible behaviour is now forcing Indigenous communities downstream of the site to consider a risky proposal: accepting the release of toxic industrial wastewater into the Athabasca River and its tributaries.

This is a shameful example of environmental racism in Canada. Successive federal and provincial governments have approved every project in the tar sands for decades without any regard for how it would affect the Indigenous communities downstream. Now that the problem has grown to an overwhelming 1.4 trillion litres of toxic waste, it is impossible to ignore. Yet, the burden of finding safe solutions is being unfairly placed on the affected communities.

Today’s update comes mere weeks after a massive leak from Imperial Oil’s toxic tailings posed a significant threat to the water and food supplies of several downstream communities. It is worrisome that there is still no credible plan to deal with the toxic tailings problem. Flushing the water down the Athabasca River isn’t the only way to deal with the toxic tailings, but it is the cheapest one, which is why the industry has been pushing for it.

The option of release must be taken off the table, and the oil industry should not be allowed to pump more toxic waste into the tailings until they have proved they have a safe solution to clean them up.

Background information:

Oil companies in the tar sands created massive lakes of toxic sludge, known as tailings ponds, without a plan for how they would clean them up.
Downstream communities have repeatedly publicly opposed the idea, as there is no evidence that release is safe for their health and for the environment.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Paula Gray, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca, 705-435-8611

The post Statement on Federal Government Considering Release of Tar Sands Tailings Ponds Into Athabasca River appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

June 15, 2023

Statement on the Tabling of Bill C-50: The Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act

Statement from Aliénor Rougeout, Program Manager, Climate and Energy

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – We are encouraged by the proposed sustainable jobs legislation. With this act, the federal government is making a credible commitment to include affected workers and communities in the preparation for the energy transition.

However, Members of Parliament will need to work together in the coming months to strengthen the legislation and avoid dangerous pitfalls such as greenwashing, ignoring obligations towards Indigenous peoples, and taking a one-size-fits-all approach to the transition.

The legislation proposes a dedicated body, the Sustainable Jobs Secretariat, set up to anticipate disruptions and deliver programming throughout the transition. This will allow Canada to seize the opportunities of the shift while proactively supporting those at risk of being negatively impacted.

Similar bodies were key elements to successful fair transitions in other jurisdictions – alongside independent advisory bodies like the proposed Partnership Council, which will allow those affected by the transition to guide the government’s policies and ensure their needs are met.

The legislation fails to meet the urgency of the climate crisis, at a time when communities across Canada are experiencing its devastating impacts. We can not afford to direct workers and resources towards dead-end sectors like carbon capture for increased oil production.

It would be more strategic and compassionate to link the definition of “sustainable jobs” to effective climate solutions such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation and other low-carbon industries.

Finally, Canada will not succeed with a one-size-fits-all approach to the transition. The legislation is missing a nation-to-nation transition mechanism that allows Indigenous communities to have sovereignty over their economic diversification plans. It also fails to provide a guarantee of federal support for local plans that align with a nationwide strategy.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Alex Ross, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on the Tabling of Bill C-50: The Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

June 12, 2023

Industry’s “Recycle Everywhere” Program Would Cost Twice as Much and Deliver Far Less than Deposit Return

Proposed plan for beverage containers relies on ineffective recycling bin system and will cost $44 million more than a quality deposit-return program

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – The beverage industry’s plan to manage beverage containers in Ontario will cost approximately $44 million more than a deposit-return program and is very unlikely to deliver significant improvement to the collection of empties for recycling or reuse. The industry will take over full responsibility for managing containers for beverages such as juice, milk, water and pop starting next month.

“The industry’s so-called ‘Recycle Everywhere’ program will cost retailers and consumers a lot of money for little more than greenwashing,” said Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager for Plastics at Environmental Defence. “We’re at a loss for why the government is allowing the industry to go ahead with this plan. It would be far more effective and far less expensive to establish a deposit-return system similar to the Beer Store program.”

The blue bin recycling system only collects and recycles about 43 per cent of non-alcoholic beverage containers in Ontario. In comparison, the Beer Store’s successful deposit-return program collects 80 per cent of beer containers and packaging. Alberta and Saskatchewan both have deposit return for all beverage containers. These two provinces consistently achieve more than 80 per cent returns, which is the target Ontario’s non-alcoholic beverage producers will be required to meet by 2030.

The Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association (CBCRA), which designed Recycle Everywhere on behalf of the industry, released a budget earlier this year that includes collecting $84 million annually in fees on every container sold in Ontario. According to the association’s plan, that money would go to pay for collection of containers in household blue bins, new bins for public spaces, and a PR campaign to remind Ontarians to recycle beverage containers. The association has not laid out a viable path to achieve the 80-per-cent target by 2030.

By contrast, a study prepared before the new Blue Box rules were finalized outlined how a high-quality deposit-return program targeting a 90 per cent return rate could be implemented in Ontario. The 2019 study estimated that a program with nearly 3,000 return locations across the province would cost less than one cent per redeemed container, for an annual total of less than $35 million. Even factoring in inflation since 2019, a deposit-return system like this would cost less than half the CBCRA’s proposed $84 million program.

“If the province and the beverage industry let Recycle Everywhere go ahead, consumers and retailers will be on the hook to pay for an expensive program that doesn’t work,” added Wirsig. “We estimate that some 1.7 billion plastic bottles alone are thrown into garbage bins or littered in Ontario every year because of the ineffectiveness of the recycling bin system. We must stop this half-baked plan. Deposit return works. It’s past time to act on it in Ontario.”

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Lauren Thomas, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Industry’s “Recycle Everywhere” Program Would Cost Twice as Much and Deliver Far Less than Deposit Return appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

June 8, 2023

Statement on the Climate Aligned Finance Act advancing one step closer to becoming law

Statement from Julie Segal, Senior Program Manager, Climate Finance

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – The Climate Aligned Finance Act (CAFA) advanced one step closer to becoming law, and if passed, it would be the most thorough piece of climate finance legislation in the world. Bringing CAFA into law would better protect our economy, people’s savings, and our shared climate. Over $100bn of Canadian investments are at risk of nose diving in value because of climate-related risks, and a significant amount of Canadian assets remain allocated to polluting industries instead of the green economy. When it comes to financing clean energy, our banks rank in the bottom third globally but they lead in oil and gas investments. CAFA would fix this.

Our financial markets need to cut emissions and address climate risks, and voluntary commitments to “net-zero” from individual groups will never be sufficient. The market needs rules like CAFA which guarantee that banks and pensions set credible climate plans and are held accountable to deliver on them. With GFANZ membership floundering, policy would turn promises into action.

With wildfires causing severe damage across the country, the Senate Banking Committee must act quickly to call climate experts to testify about the policies required to build a safe climate and a stable financial system. Policymakers in the Senate must quickly drive forward this important piece of financial legislation.

Background: The climate-aligned finance act was tabled in the Canadian Senate on March 24. 2022. Senator Galvez convened a group of expert advisors when drafting the bill including Environmental Defence’s Julie Segal. Today, the Senate advanced the Bill to the next stage of study in the Senate by calling the bill to committee.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Alex Ross, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on the Climate Aligned Finance Act advancing one step closer to becoming law appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

June 2, 2023

Statement on new research that shows PFAS companies suppressed decades of toxic data

Statement from Cassie Barker, Toxics Senior Program Manager, Environmental Defence

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – PFAS manufacturers must be held accountable for the widespread harm and contamination they have inflicted on people and the environment. They knew about the dangers, and now they need to know there’s a price to pay.

We strongly condemn the chemical industry for being aware of the toxicity of PFAS since the 1970s, but keeping this information from the public for decades. Chemical companies get away with this because they are allowed to operate behind a wall of confidentiality. We aren’t allowed to know what hazards live behind that wall and are unleashed into our products, bodies, and ecosystems. This needs to end.

The damage caused can never be properly compensated, but these companies can start by providing drinking water systems with the necessary technology and support to clean up their toxic mess.

Canada has been complicit in this harm with decades of weak toxics laws. We urge the government to protect everyone living in Canada from PFAS and other toxic and hazardous substances. The government must develop tough new laws that protect us from companies profiting from “forever chemicals.” It must demonstrate urgent and comprehensive regulatory action on PFAS to address these corporate harms.

Background information:

Researchers have stated that the “lack of transparency in industry-driven research on industrial chemicals has significant legal, political and public health consequences.” This research can be found here.
PFAS impacts health by damaging our organs, such as the kidneys and liver, as well as our immune, reproductive, metabolism and hormonal systems.
Long-range movement of PFAS contaminants are disproportionately impacting the health of Northern Indigenous communities.
Canada has recently recognized that PFAS are toxic, and is currently outlining its plan for regulatory action on this class of chemicals – but this plan is limited to restricting PFAS in firefighting foam.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

– 30 –

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Paula Gray, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca

The post Statement on new research that shows PFAS companies suppressed decades of toxic data appeared first on Environmental Defence.

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence.

Category: Press Release

Hit in DNA Database Proves Leonard Mack’s Innocence After 47 Years of Wrongful Conviction

Leave a Reply

Related News

Hit in DNA Database Proves Leonard Mack’s Innocence After 47 Years of Wrongful Conviction

Marcellus Williams, Facing Execution Despite DNA Evidence of His Innocence, Sues Missouri Governor and Attorney General for Dissolving Board of Inquiry Examining the Case and Moving to Set an Execution Date

Basketball Was His Escape During His Wrongful Conviction. Now, Norberto Peets Is Free At Last.

Marcellus Williams, Facing Execution Despite DNA Evidence of His Innocence, Sues Missouri Governor and Attorney General for Dissolving Board of Inquiry Examining the Case and Moving to Set an Execution Date

Who Is Marcellus Williams: Man Facing Execution in Missouri Despite DNA Evidence Supporting Innocence

Tagged

Leave a Reply

Related News

Marcellus Williams, Facing Execution Despite DNA Evidence of His Innocence, Sues Missouri Governor and Attorney General for Dissolving Board of Inquiry Examining the Case and Moving to Set an Execution Date

Basketball Was His Escape During His Wrongful Conviction. Now, Norberto Peets Is Free At Last.

Who Is Marcellus Williams: Man Facing Execution in Missouri Despite DNA Evidence Supporting Innocence

Rosa Jimenez Is Exonerated of a Crime That Never Took Place After 20 Years

Help save Rosa’s life

A Crime That Never Occurred

The Danger of Faulty Medical Evidence

A Woefully Inadequate Defense

40%

of female exoneres were wrongly convicted of harming children or other loved ones in their care.

71%

of female exonerees were convicted of crimes that never took place.

A Family Reunites

Tagged

Leave a Reply

Related News

Rosa Jimenez Is Exonerated of a Crime That Never Took Place After 20 Years

Morton Johnson Has Spent More Than Half His Life in Prison for a Crime New DNA Evidence Shows He Didn’t Commit

Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Have a Disability and Are Questioned by Police