Ontario Greens say government failing in climate change driven water protection and conservation

Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller. The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario is the province’s independent environmental watchdog. Appointed by the Legislative Assembly, the ECO is tasked with monitoring and reporting on compliance with the Environmental Bill of Rights, and the government’s success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and in achieving greater energy conservation in Ontario.

Queen’s Park – The McGuinty Liberals have consistently failed to deliver simple policies and programs to protect and conserve our environment. These failures negatively affect our economy, communities and well being.

A [Sept 25,2012] report from the Environment Commissioner of Ontario cites many examples of how the government has failed to provide adequate water protection programs, monitor wild life populations and protect public health from industrial dust pollution. Ontario needs water protection and conservation programs to deal with the more extreme weather events caused by climate change.

We saw the importance of this first hand with this summer’s drought. Not having proper water supply affects our ability to grow food, our health and the productivity of industry.

The government’s failure to invest a relatively small amount in monitoring wildlife threatens forestry, one of Ontario’s most important industries. It is short sighted and irresponsible to not have a functioning wildlife monitoring program in place.

The government’s failure to provide responsible environmental protection directly affects our health. One of the most obvious examples is the government’s inaction on complaints related to industrial dust pollution. Ontario can do better. We must do better. Getting back in touch with environmental issues is important for our health, economy and quality of life. For the Silo by the Green Party of Ontario

Supplemental- http://www.eco.on.ca/ 

 

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One response to “Ontario Greens say government failing in climate change driven water protection and conservation”

  1. Bobbi Ann Dwornikiewicz Avatar
    Bobbi Ann Dwornikiewicz

    Simcoe – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett hopes government listens to
    its environmental commissioner regarding new thinking on placement of
    wind turbines.

    In the 2011/2012 annual report of the Environmental Commissioner of
    Ontario (ECO), titled Losing Our Touch, Gord Miller indicates, “we need
    to be smarter about where we place wind power facilities.”

    “Coupled with a recent study reflecting decreasing property values near
    wind towers, Mr. Miller’s call for consideration of wind power impact on
    bird and bat habitats strengthens the case for rethinking provincial
    wind strategy,” Barrett noted. “There’s certainly strong support in our
    area for a rethink before we see the 200 planned wind towers march
    across our Counties.”

    Specifically, the ECO annual report advises government to, “put
    additional areas of the province off-limits to wind power projects to
    safeguard birds, bats and their habitats.”

    “I am concerned that the current guidelines do not go far enough to
    ensure that wind power development is compatible with Ontarians’
    objective of protecting wildlife,” Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner
    said. “Given the importance of selecting sites that minimize the harm to
    birds and bats, it just makes sense to avoid building wind energy
    projects in these species’ most ecologically sensitive locations.”

    The Environmental Commissioner’s report can be read at: http://www.eco.on.ca.

    For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: (416)325-8404,
    519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629

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