CELA’s February Bulletin
Join Us in Celebrating 50 Years of Environmental Protection!
SAVE THE DATE!
When: Wednesday December 2, 6:00pm-9:00pm
Where: Northern Maverick Brewery – 115 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON
For more than 50 years, CELA has been on the front lines, fighting to make our environment cleaner, healthier and safer for everyone. We need your support to continue this work for another 50 years.
Click here for more details and to download the event brochure.
For information regarding sponsorship opportunities and donations, please contact Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director.
Stay tuned for information about purchasing tickets!
Take Action
ACTION ALERT – Conservation Authorities Act at Risk
The Ontario government has recently released an online survey seeking input on the role of Conservation Authorities with a response deadline of March 13, 2020. Now is the time for increased public investment in the province’s conservation authorities; not to limit their scope. For more information about the current consultation process and helpful information for filling out the survey, read CELA’s full blog post.
CONTACT YOUR MP – Tell the Federal Government to Fund Climate Action and Nature in Budget 2020
We face a climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. Canadians are already experiencing floods, fires, and ecological disruption. As our planet continues to warm, our collective well-being is deeply under threat. There is still time to chart a course to a safe future for all – but we won’t be able to stop this crisis without federal investments in climate action, nature conservation and biodiversity protection.
The government needs to commit sufficient funding in the upcoming federal budget, or risk losing critical time in the race for our planet’s health. You can help. Contact your MP and ask that the federal government put money where our priorities are – by funding climate action and nature. More details in the Green Budget Coalition Recommendations for Budget 2020 are available here.
Deep Dive – Impacts of Air Quality on Your Health
Outdoor Air Quality
CELA’s work to ensure high standards for air quality focuses on protecting low-income communities from coming into contact with air pollution. A variety of systemic conditions including economic and legal constraints, location of industrial polluters and lack of access to knowledge prevent those living on low income from attaining environmental justice.
In this look at the impacts of threats to air quality, we look at cumulative impact assessment, updates to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and Right-to-Know legislation.
Deep Dive – CELA’s Work in Northern Ontario
Northern Services Project Brings Community Concerns to Ottawa
In 2018, CELA began consulting with communities, community groups and existing legal clinics in Northern Ontario as part of a Northern Services pilot project to see if there was a need for specialty environmental legal services in the region. The answer, according to Northern Services Counsel Kerrie Blaise, was “a resounding yes.”
Read the full blog post here.
Photo credit: Kerrie Blaise
Upcoming Events
Debate: Is the Carbon Tax Unconstitutional
Saturday February 29, 3:45pm EST
February 28-29 Law and Freedom Runnymede Society Conference 2020 will include multiple speakers on various topics.
On Saturday February 29th at 3:45 P.M. CELA’s Executive Director Theresa McClenaghan will participate in the Debate: Is the Carbon Tax Unconstitutional? Fellow panelists include Aaron Wudrick, Dwight Newman, and Elizabeth May.
Location: Hart House, University of Toronto. Download full schedule here: 2020-schedule.
Public Legal Education Event
Wednesday March 25, 12:00pm EST
CELA is co-hosting a public legal education event with EnvironmentNorth. Speakers include Adam De Luca talking about nuclear storage in Northern Ontario, and Petri Bailey on plastic pollution in Lake Superior.
Great Lakes Lessons from the Past Webinar
Wednesday April 8, 12:30pm-2:00pm EST
Registration is required.
CELA will be hosting a webinar with presenters John Jackson, Tim Eder, Joyce McLean and Paul Muldoon, discussing how current Great Lakes advocates can learn from past efforts. More details coming soon; register now to reserve your spot!
Engaging with Indigenous Communities – A 3-part Webinar Series
CELA is hosting a 3-part webinar series with Gary Pritchard, Manager of Environment and Climate Change with Cambium Aboriginal, talking about how to work effectively and meaningfully with Indigenous communities. Full details about each webinar are on our website; register now to save your spot!
How To Work With Indigenous Peoples
Thursday April 30, 1:00pm-2:00pm EST
Achieving Effective and Meaningful Engagement with Indigenous Communities
Thursday May 7, 1:00pm-2:00pm EST
Treaties 101
Thursday May 14, 1:00pm-2:00pm EST
Canadian Policy 101
Thursday April 9, 10:00am-11:00am EST
CELA Special Projects Counsel Healthy Great Lakes Anastasia Lintner will be presenting a webinar talking about the water policy framework in Canada.
Registration is not required for this meeting. Join by clicking here or calling (647) 558-0588. The meeting ID is 261 486 690.
Series of Webinars on Toxics
As part of CELA’s work to protect human health and the environment from toxic chemicals through a preventive strategy, CELA hosted 3 webinars on a variety of topics relating to management of chemicals in Canada. All the recordings are now available on our website.
The Growing Threat of PFAS, the Forever Chemicals
Informed Substitution of Toxic Chemicals
Where Science Meets the Law
On The Blog
Faces of CELA – A Conversation with Rachel Arsenault
What is your role and how long have you been involved with CELA?
CELA contacted me in the summer of 2019 and asked me to be a part of their healthy Great Lakes initiative. My Masters research focused on water insecurity in First Nations and the impacts of the First Nation water crisis on communities. There are many First Nations located along the shores of the Great Lakes, and the community I’m from, Wiikwemkoong, is part of Manitoulin Island which situated in the northeast part of Lake Huron. My role is to provide advice and guidance to CELA based on my experiences and knowledge as an Anishinabek Kwe.
Read the rest of our conversation with Rachel on our blog.
February 2020 Bulletin
CELA’s February Bulletin
Join Us in Celebrating 50 Years of Environmental Protection!
SAVE THE DATE!
When: Wednesday December 2, 6:00pm-9:00pm
Where: Northern Maverick Brewery – 115 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON
For more than 50 years, CELA has been on the front lines, fighting to make our environment cleaner, healthier and safer for everyone. We need your support to continue this work for another 50 years.
Click here for more details and to download the event brochure.
For information regarding sponsorship opportunities and donations, please contact Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director.
Stay tuned for information about purchasing tickets!
Take Action
ACTION ALERT – Conservation Authorities Act at Risk
The Ontario government has recently released an online survey seeking input on the role of Conservation Authorities with a response deadline of March 13, 2020. Now is the time for increased public investment in the province’s conservation authorities; not to limit their scope. For more information about the current consultation process and helpful information for filling out the survey, read CELA’s full blog post.
CONTACT YOUR MP – Tell the Federal Government to Fund Climate Action and Nature in Budget 2020
We face a climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. Canadians are already experiencing floods, fires, and ecological disruption. As our planet continues to warm, our collective well-being is deeply under threat. There is still time to chart a course to a safe future for all – but we won’t be able to stop this crisis without federal investments in climate action, nature conservation and biodiversity protection.
The government needs to commit sufficient funding in the upcoming federal budget, or risk losing critical time in the race for our planet’s health. You can help. Contact your MP and ask that the federal government put money where our priorities are – by funding climate action and nature. More details in the Green Budget Coalition Recommendations for Budget 2020 are available here.
Deep Dive – Impacts of Air Quality on Your Health
Outdoor Air Quality
CELA’s work to ensure high standards for air quality focuses on protecting low-income communities from coming into contact with air pollution. A variety of systemic conditions including economic and legal constraints, location of industrial polluters and lack of access to knowledge prevent those living on low income from attaining environmental justice.
In this look at the impacts of threats to air quality, we look at cumulative impact assessment, updates to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and Right-to-Know legislation.
Deep Dive – CELA’s Work in Northern Ontario
Northern Services Project Brings Community Concerns to Ottawa
In 2018, CELA began consulting with communities, community groups and existing legal clinics in Northern Ontario as part of a Northern Services pilot project to see if there was a need for specialty environmental legal services in the region. The answer, according to Northern Services Counsel Kerrie Blaise, was “a resounding yes.”
Read the full blog post here.
Photo credit: Kerrie Blaise
Upcoming Events
Debate: Is the Carbon Tax Unconstitutional
Saturday February 29, 3:45pm EST
February 28-29 Law and Freedom Runnymede Society Conference 2020 will include multiple speakers on various topics.
On Saturday February 29th at 3:45 P.M. CELA’s Executive Director Theresa McClenaghan will participate in the Debate: Is the Carbon Tax Unconstitutional? Fellow panelists include Aaron Wudrick, Dwight Newman, and Elizabeth May.
Location: Hart House, University of Toronto. Download full schedule here: 2020-schedule.
Public Legal Education Event
Wednesday March 25, 12:00pm EST
CELA is co-hosting a public legal education event with EnvironmentNorth. Speakers include Adam De Luca talking about nuclear storage in Northern Ontario, and Petri Bailey on plastic pollution in Lake Superior.
Great Lakes Lessons from the Past Webinar
Wednesday April 8, 12:30pm-2:00pm EST
Registration is required.
CELA will be hosting a webinar with presenters John Jackson, Tim Eder, Joyce McLean and Paul Muldoon, discussing how current Great Lakes advocates can learn from past efforts. More details coming soon; register now to reserve your spot!
Engaging with Indigenous Communities – A 3-part Webinar Series
CELA is hosting a 3-part webinar series with Gary Pritchard, Manager of Environment and Climate Change with Cambium Aboriginal, talking about how to work effectively and meaningfully with Indigenous communities. Full details about each webinar are on our website; register now to save your spot!
How To Work With Indigenous Peoples
Thursday April 30, 1:00pm-2:00pm EST
Achieving Effective and Meaningful Engagement with Indigenous Communities
Thursday May 7, 1:00pm-2:00pm EST
Treaties 101
Thursday May 14, 1:00pm-2:00pm EST
Canadian Policy 101
Thursday April 9, 10:00am-11:00am EST
CELA Special Projects Counsel Healthy Great Lakes Anastasia Lintner will be presenting a webinar talking about the water policy framework in Canada.
Registration is not required for this meeting. Join by clicking here or calling (647) 558-0588. The meeting ID is 261 486 690.
Series of Webinars on Toxics
As part of CELA’s work to protect human health and the environment from toxic chemicals through a preventive strategy, CELA hosted 3 webinars on a variety of topics relating to management of chemicals in Canada. All the recordings are now available on our website.
The Growing Threat of PFAS, the Forever Chemicals
Informed Substitution of Toxic Chemicals
Where Science Meets the Law
On The Blog
Faces of CELA – A Conversation with Rachel Arsenault
What is your role and how long have you been involved with CELA?
CELA contacted me in the summer of 2019 and asked me to be a part of their healthy Great Lakes initiative. My Masters research focused on water insecurity in First Nations and the impacts of the First Nation water crisis on communities. There are many First Nations located along the shores of the Great Lakes, and the community I’m from, Wiikwemkoong, is part of Manitoulin Island which situated in the northeast part of Lake Huron. My role is to provide advice and guidance to CELA based on my experiences and knowledge as an Anishinabek Kwe.
Read the rest of our conversation with Rachel on our blog.
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