Senate Committee on Energy, Economy and Natural Resources renews mandate to investigate Canada’s energy future
Since beginning its investigation into the current and future status of Canada’s energy sector in the summer of 2009, the Senate’s Standing Committee on Energy, the Economy and Natural Resources has been an under-recognized wealth of information on the country’s energy supply and demand. Over the past two years the committee has heard testimony from […]
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
Canada poised to lead the world in water technologies
Social, economic and environmental factors are putting significant pressure on the world’s fresh water supply. This is leading to human health crises, food shortages, and shifts in populations. Conflicts over water resources are likely to become increasingly common in some regions of the world. Access to fresh water resources, and the quality of those resources, […]
Canada needs a comprehensive water policy, now
There will never be enough space, enough words to even scratch the surface of the ways in which water is at risk. In a brief essay, one can merely list the complex issues that face us. We are wasting potable water, polluting natural water, exporting virtual water, losing wetlands and forests that retain and purify […]
New Fisheries minister has opportunity to advance Canada’s leadership in ocean and coastal management
If stretched out as a single contiguous line, Canada’s coastline would circle the globe more than six times. Canada has the longest coastline of any nation on Earth, the second largest continental shelf area, and shares with the United States the largest freshwater coastal system in the world. Canada’s oceans and coasts constitute a rich […]
Feds still lack overarching federal sustainable development strategy that identifies clear, concrete actions supported by coordination among federal departments
Over the past two years, the world’s attention has been largely focused on the turbulence in the global economy. At the same time, evidence of the rapid deterioration of the planet’s environmental quality has continued to mount. Two examples illustrate the worrying global environmental trends. First, in this, the International Year of Biodiversity, several scientific […]
Prevention of oil spills is a government priority, says Transport Canada assistant deputy minister
Gerard McDonald, assistant deputy minister, Safety and Security, Department of Transport, delivered the following testimony before the House Environment Committee in December in response to Environment Commissioner Scott Vaughan’s fall report. I ‘m thankful for the opportunity to be here today to discuss ongoing improvements to environmental programs and policies that fall under my purview. […]
Environment Canada promises to improve criteria to assess water monitoring
Michael Keenan is assistant deputy minister, Strategic Policy Branch, Department of the Environment. The following is his testimony he delivered to the House Environment Committee last December in response to Environment Commissioner Scott Vaughan’s report on water and oceans. I would also thank the commissioner for his report. I welcome his input because it is […]
Coast Guard promises a national environmental response strategy in place by spring 2011
Jody Thomas is deputy commissioner, Operations, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The following is the testimony Jody Thomas delivered before the House Environment Committee in December in response to Environment Commissioner Scott Vaughan’s fall 2010 report. T hank you for the invitation to appear today to discuss the first chapter of the […]
Government to keep Canada as a leader in oceans management
Since its birth as a nation, Canada has looked to the three oceans that border our country as a source of food, commerce and transportation. With the world’s longest coastline, Canada has a vested interest in understanding the role the oceans play in our economy and our prosperity. They provide us with fresh fish and […]
