October 2015 Bulletin

Groups send health-focused Radon Policy Challenge to provinces

Along with the Canadian Lung Association, the David Suzuki Foundation, and the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment, CELA has sent a Radon Policy Challenge to all Provincial and Territorial Premiers and their respective Health Ministers. In time for Radon Action Month in November, the Policy Challenge draws upon CELA’s comprehensive review of radon law and policy across Canada, published during Radon Action Month last year. Exposure to radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, contributing to over 16 per cent of lung cancer deaths among Canadians – on average, over eight lung cancer deaths every day. The Radon Policy Challenge sets out key facts about radon and makes nine recommendations. We will work with local organizations across Canada to track progress at the provincial level, where most jurisdiction lies to address this preventable threat to public health.

Ontario passes Great Lakes Protection Act

Along with an alliance of environmental groups, CELA applauded the Ontario government’s decision to pass the Great Lakes Protection Act. The Great Lakes are the source of drinking water for 80 per cent of Ontario residents. The new legislation will become law once it receives Royal Assent and will protect and restore watersheds, wetlands, beaches, shorelines and coastal areas of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin.

CELA expresses concerns about about TPP agreement

CELA expressed our concerns about the secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and its potential effects on Canada’s environment and environmental policies. Our letter to the Minister of International Trade, pointed out the inclusion of an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provision in the agreement that could impede the ability of sovereign governments to make decisions in the public interest.

CELA makes submission on OPG’s application

CELA made an extensive 30-page submission to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission detailing our concerns about the application by Ontario Power Generation for a 13-year license to operate a site at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station in Clarington, Ontario. We outlined the importance of emergency planning for the proposed nuclear plant in the event of a large-scale incident.

EVENT: CELA Executive Director to give talk on October 30

CELA’s Executive Director, Theresa McClenaghan will give a free public talk on Friday, October 30, 2015 on the perils of Ontario Power Generation‘s proposal to construct a deep geological repository (DGR) to store at least 200,000 cubic metres of low and medium-level nuclear waste at Bruce Power‘s nuclear generation plant near Kincardine, Ontario, on the shore of Lake Huron. WHEN: 12:30-1:30 pm on Friday, October 30 WHERE: Room 141 of the Health, Nursing and Environmental Studies Building at York University For more information: http://ejsclinic.info.yorku.ca/2015/10/celas-theresa-mccleneghan-speaks-on-deep-geological-storage-of-nuclear-waste/