Groundwire 2012 Environmental year in Review
Produced at CJLY, on Sinixt Traditional Territory in Nelson, BC. Groundwire looks back at some important environmental stories we covered in 2012, and we look ahead to 2013.
Bill C-38: The 400-plus page Omnibus Budget Bill, C-38, was passed into law in June 2012. The Bill will have a huge effect on environmental regulations across the country, especially as regards fish and fish habitat.
Groundwire looks back at three stories we covered this year related to Bill C-38 and fish habitat.
From April 2012: Catherine Fisher (CJLY, Nelson BC) spoke with spokesperson for Sinixt Nation in Canada, Marilyn James about what SHOULD be considered in any legislation that would effectively protect fish and fish habitat.
From Sept 2012, Nick Pannu (CJSF, Burnaby, BC) spoke with musician OSTWELVE at the Burrard Inlet Fish Festival in Port Moody, BC.
From November 2012: Vanessa Vyvial (CKUT, Montreal, Qc) spoke with Torrance Coste, a Vancouver campaigner with the Wilderness Committee, about the Cohen inquiry and report, and about how Parliament's approval of Bill C-38 will make the implementation of Cohen's recommendations to increase protection for Sockeye Salmon very difficult.
Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Project: More than 130 First Nations and First Nations political organizations that have publicly declared their opposition to the Enbridge tankers and pipelines project. Many of the Environmental regulations weakened by the passing of Bill C-38 were passed with projects like the Northern Gateway in mind.
Groundwire covered various aspects of the proposed pipeline, Joint Review Process and the many protests against the project throughout 2012.
From January 2012, Ed Von Aderkas (CHRW, London, On) Groundwire spoke with Council of Canadians Energy and Climate Change Officer Andrea Harden-Donahue about Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Natural Resource Minister Joe Oliver's comments attributing opposition to the NG pipeline to "foreign-backed extremists".
From June 2012: Michael Welch (CKUW, Winnipeg, Mb) spoke with Vice-President of Haida Nation, April Churchill during the Freedom Train against Enbridge stop in Winnipeg.
From July 2012, Lorraine Chisholm of the Redeye Collective (CFRO, Vancouver, BC) spoke with Art Sterritt, Executive Director of Coastal First Nations about Enbridge's misleading claims of broad support from First Nations for the Northern Gateway Project.
AbitibiBowater was Canada's third-largest pulp and paper company. It filed for insolvency protection in 2009, leaving behind sites contaminated by the company's mining, shipping, and pulp and paper operations in Newfoundland and Labrador.
From December 2012 Groundwire: Erin Hudson (CKUT, Montreal, Qc) spoke with Beatrice Olivasty, CEO of the environmental organization "Friends of the Earth" about the Supreme Court's ruling that the Province of Newfoundland should pick up the tab.
Bill C-45 and Idle No More: 'Idle No More' was initiated by four women who started organizing 'teach-ins' in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert to bring greater public awareness to Bill C 45 an omnibus bill containing changes to many current laws, including the Fisheries Act, the Indian Act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Navigable Waters Protection Act and the Employment Insurance Act.
From December 2012: Erin Hunter (CKUT, Montreal, Qc) reported on Bill C-45 and Idle No More. With files from the Halifax Media Coop.
Music by Buffy St. Marie, Rylan Kewen and Pauline Lamb