Monday, June 30, 2025
ADVT 
National

Some highlights from the fall 2014 report of Canada's environment commissioner

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Oct, 2014 11:13 AM

    OTTAWA - Highlights from the fall 2014 report of Canada's environment and sustainable development commissioner, released Tuesday:

    — Canada lacks a coherent plan mapping out how it intends to meet its stated target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 17 per cent below 2005 levels by the year 2020. Existing measures will have little impact on emissions, and there is strong evidence that the target will be missed;

    — Greenhouse-gas regulations for Canada's oil and gas sector, where emissions are growing the fastest, are still not in place eight years after they were initially promised;

    — Efforts to monitor the environmental impact of oilsands development in Alberta should be better integrated, along with traditional ecological knowledge and the input of aboriginal stakeholders, to properly understand the cumulative impact;

    — Marine traffic in the Arctic is on the increase, but higher-risk areas remain poorly surveyed and charted, including maps that are badly outdated — some are more than 40 years old, and most were produced with antiquated technology;

    — The Canadian Coast Guard is unable to properly meet growing demand for new and improved fixed navigational aids, such as beacons and shore lights;

    — Despite growth in traffic and a shipping season that continues to get longer, icebreakers are spending less time in the Arctic and the coast guard does not have the resources to respond to an increasing demand for icebreaking services; plans to refit some in the fleet and decommission others mean a maximum of five icebreakers will be available through 2021;

    — Canada lacks a long-term national vision or co-ordinated departmental strategy to support safe Arctic marine navigation, and the coast guard does not know if its services are meeting the needs of users, nor has it adequately assessed the level of risk posed by its reduced presence in the Arctic;

    — The rationale used to determine whether projects should be subject to an environmental assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act remains unclear, posing a risk that their environmental impacts aren't properly evaluated;

    — Many public groups and stakeholders, including Aboriginal Peoples, are unable to participate fully and meaningfully in the environmental assessment process.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Canada Contributing To Telescope Involved In Search For Extraterrestrials

    Canada Contributing To Telescope Involved In Search For Extraterrestrials
    MONTREAL - Canada is contributing to a new space telescope that one scientist says may help in the search for signs of extraterrestrial life.

    Canada Contributing To Telescope Involved In Search For Extraterrestrials

    Canada deploying 2nd mobile lab in battle against Ebola outbreak in West Africa

    Canada deploying 2nd mobile lab in battle against Ebola outbreak in West Africa
    Canada is sending a second mobile laboratory and the team to run it to West Africa in an effort to battle the Ebola outbreak, Health Minister Rona Ambrose announced Saturday.

    Canada deploying 2nd mobile lab in battle against Ebola outbreak in West Africa

    Toronto patient tests negative for Ebola infection

    Toronto patient tests negative for Ebola infection
    A spokeswoman for the University Health Network, which consists of four hospitals, announced the tests results late Friday night.

    Toronto patient tests negative for Ebola infection

    New Brunswick Recounts confirming election night results

    New Brunswick Recounts confirming election night results
    Three recounts have confirmed the voting results on election night in New Brunswick, nearly two weeks after the polls closed.

    New Brunswick Recounts confirming election night results

    Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne touts good-jobs goal at work summit

    Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne touts good-jobs goal at work summit
    TORONTO - Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says her government shares the labour movement's goal of creating good jobs, while cautioning the two sides may have some differences of opinion about how to get there.

    Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne touts good-jobs goal at work summit

    Former insurance CEO returns money from contract

    Former insurance CEO returns money from contract
    WINNIPEG - Manitoba Public Insurance says its former CEO has returned money she received from a "transitional contract" she signed earlier this year.

    Former insurance CEO returns money from contract