Reminder: The P.E.I. Climate Change Hub is holding its official launch today, Friday November 1st, at 3:30 PM at the Civic Centre. All are welcome to attend.
In the news during the week of ... October 26 to November 1, 2002 1. Local 1.1 P.E.I. Considers Septic System Laws 1.2 Environment to Top Legislative Agenda 1.3 Lobster Plan Under Microscope 1.4 Wood Stove Owners Pay More Insurance 1.5 Businesses Hit with Waste Watch Surcharge 1.6 Binns Urges PM to Reconsider 1.7 Cabbies Say Bus Service Isn't Fair 2. National 2.1 Kyoto Agreements Met in Halifax 2.2 Ontario Promises 'Safest Drinking Water in the World' 2.3 Chrétien Won't Meet First Ministers Before Ratifying Kyoto 2.4 Energy Union Offers Support for Kyoto 3. International 4. Noticeboard ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Local 1.1 P.E.I. Considers Septic System Laws - There soon may be a provincial law requiring people to properly decommission septic systems. Environment Minister Chester Gillan says old septic systems are part of the reason for E. coli and coliform contamination in well water. When a home moves from a septic system to a community sewerage service, the homeowner is supposed to pump out the old tank and fill it in. The environment department had to order some residents of Stratford to properly decommission their septic systems last week. That community has seen a number of private wells contaminated with E. coli and put under boil water orders. "Just because something is no longer in use, it should be drained properly," explains Gillan. "It may leak at some time, so I think that is something that we definitely want to look at." Environment officials say it will be hard to determine how many septic tanks across the province have not been shut down properly. (http://www.pei.cbc.ca October 28, 2002) 1.2 Environment to Top Legislative Agenda - Tory blue will shade to green when Prince Edward Island's Conservative premier calls the legislature into session next month. Pat Binns said earlier this week, that the session will focus on environmental issues, especially protecting the water supply. "We need a combination of things. We need a high level of inspection. We do need in some cases even tougher regulations. In other cases we might have to be more vigilant in terms of enforcement," Binns said. Prince Edward Island has been beset by water problems in recent years, ranging from fish kills in rivers tainted by pesticide-laced runoff to contaminated wells in schools and homes. "There have been disturbing signals out there as to difficulties, and they're all the way from fish kills to drinking water quality," said Environment Minister Chester Gillan. "And those are the issues not only at the top of the public's mind, but of the government's mind." Binns did not give many details on his environmental agenda; those will come when the legislature opens Nov. 14. Gillan said the funding decisions are still being made. "From the buffer zones, the fish kill difficulties, water purity, and we have our water strategy that we're working on as well. So, all of those are in the mix. Now how they tumble out and which get funding and how much, that is yet to be determined," he said. (http://www.pei.cbc.ca October 30, 2002) 1.3 Lobster Plan Under Microscope - Lobster fishermen met this week to discuss Fisheries and Oceans proposals for managing lobster stocks. The department is proposing a five-year plan which it says will sustain the lobster business. It has organized a series of meetings to gather input. Fishermen say they have to be involved in the discussions. "We can either work on this or we can just sit back and let DFO do it," says Ronnie Campbell of the Island's lobster advisory board. "I firmly believe that these meetings are well worthwhile." Campbell says the fishermen hope to put together committees to represent areas of the Island. (http://www.pei.cbc.ca 30 October, 2002) 1.4 Wood Stove Owners Pay More Insurance - An Island environmentalist says she should not have to pay extra for insurance because she burns wood to heat her home. Sharon Labchuk is being charged an extra 10 per cent on her home insurance bill. Labchuk's home is heated by a combination of solar power and wood. She says she burns less than a cord of wood every year. Until now, based on the amount of wood she burned, Labchuk was exempt from the premium insurance companies charge people who have a wood stove. However, this year, the insurance companies are charging anyone who burns any amount of wood the extra money. Labchuk says her stove is one of the safest on the market, designed to burn off any of the gases which cause chimney fires. She wonders why the insurance companies can't rate stoves the same way they rate cars, based on their safety record. The insurance companies argue they can't rate every wood stove on the market, and do not have the research necessary to vary the rates. "You only have so many resources to go and do the research, so as an insurance company, we try to come up with the most common denominator," says Terry Shea of the P.E.I. Mutual Insurance Company. That common denominator in this case is to tag every customer with the premium. In the case of P.E.I. Mutual customers, it means an extra surprise this year for 20,000 Islanders who burn wood. (http://www.pei.cbc.ca October 30, 2002) 1.4 Minister Announces Changes to Environmental Advisory Council - Minister of Environment Chester Gillan has announced some changes to the Environmental Advisory Council. The council is appointed under the Environmental Protection Act to advise the minister on issues of environmental concern. Minister Gillan announced that Leslie Hartling of Stratford has been appointed to the council for a three-year term. A graduate student at the University of Prince Edward Island, Ms. Hartling is working to obtain a Masters of Science degree in the Department of Biology. Minister Gillan noted that Kevin MacAdam of Morell has been re-appointed as chair of the Environmental Advisory Council. Mr. MacAdam is the vice-principal of Rollo Bay Consolidated School. He has been a member of the council since 1997 and was appointed chair in 2001. Ron Perry of Summerside, a member of the council for the past year, has been appointed as vice-chair. Mr. Perry teaches at Elm Street Elementary School in Summerside. The membership of the Environmental Advisory Council is geographically representative and includes various interests related to natural resource management. Other council members are: UPEI biology professor Dr. Donna Giberson; Emmerson McMillan of Ascension, an agricultural lime sales representative; Stan Campbell, President of the Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities; Summerside lawyer Sherra Profit; Dr. Pierre-Yves Daoust, professor at the Atlantic Veterinary College; teacher Rudy Croken of Kensington; West Cape farmer Lorne MacNeill; fisher Johnny Flynn of Souris; Barry Cudmore, a Brackley farmer; and conservationist Terry Perry of Millvale. (http://www.pei.cbc.ca October 29, 2002) 1.5 Businesses Hit with Waste Watch Surcharge - Charlottetown businesses that ignore the WasteWatch program are paying the price. Twenty five companies are paying a surcharge for not properly separating their garbage. The Island Waste Management Corporation put the fees in place at the start of October. When a business fails to separate compost from waste and recyclables it is charged an additional $190 a tonne. "A lot of the time all it takes is one surcharge for them to realize it's probably a lot easier just to set up properly to be able to sort," says Heather Chowen of the IWMC. (http://www.pei.cbc.ca November 1, 2002) 1.6 Binns Urges PM to Reconsider - Premier Pat Binns is urging the Prime Minister to reconsider his decision not to hold a first ministers meeting on the Kyoto Protocol. The provinces called for such a meeting at a federal-provincial conference in Halifax this week, but Chretien rejected it on grounds that it could delay his plan to ratify the accord before the end of the year. "I still agree that such a meeting would not only be helpful, I think it's important. It's important because we, the provinces, have to incur many of the costs," Binns said. "We are the ones who are going to be on the front lines, if you like, in terms of implementation," he added. Binns is a strong supporter of Kyoto, the international accord that calls for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, because Prince Edward Island is extremely vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Binns' comments add weight to a push being led by British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell. "I think to take a country like Canada and not bring together the provinces who want to work to deal with climate change in a constructive and positive way and simply turn your back on the premiers makes no sense whatsoever," he said. (http://www.pei.cbc.ca November 1, 2002) 1.7 Cabbies Say Bus Service Isn't Fair - Charlottetown's cab drivers say asking them to play a part in a public transit system will put them out of work. The proposal suggests using taxis to shuttle people to three bus depots in the city. Cab drivers at a public meeting about the proposed transit system on Wednesday night say the system will encourage the public to choose the bus over taking a cab across town. "We're estimating upwards of 20 per cent or greater of our ridership would go down," says Neil Harpham, who owns Yellow Cab. "We can't take that kind of hit." Under the plan, a cab would be dispatched to pick up people in areas outside of walking distance of the three bus depots. The cab would deliver them to the bus and the City of Charlottetown would pay for the fare. Mayor George MacDonald says the subsidy will make up for any loss of business because new people will call taxis to ride the bus system. MacDonald says money will likely be set aside in next year's budget to deal with the transit issue. (http://www.pei.cbc.ca November 1, 2002) 2. National 2.1 Kyoto Agreements Met in Halifax - Environment Minister Chester Gillan says his colleagues have developed a plan to cut greenhouse gases and help Canada meet the Kyoto Protocol. Gillan says his colleagues have reached agreement on 12 points to help clean the air. "Provinces and ministers had to back down from their original stances," says Gillan. He says many of the proposals are general in nature which made them easier to accept. "What we tried to steer away from were those that were too focused, too specific, or just meant for two or three provinces," says Gillan. Federal Environment Minister David Anderson says his government will accept some of the provincial recommendations. He'll be gathering the ministers again on Nov. 21. (http://www.cbc.ca October 30, 2002) 2.2 Ontario Promises 'Safest Drinking Water in the World' - The Ontario government has promised it will take steps to make certain there are no more incidents of water contamination like the one that struck the town of Walkerton in May 2000. The Safe Drinking Water Act, introduced in the legislature on Tuesday afternoon of this week, "will ensure that Ontarioans have the cleanest and safest drinking water in the world," said Premier Ernie Eves. (http://www.cbc.ca October 30, 2002) 2.3 Chrétien Won't Meet First Ministers Before Ratifying Kyoto - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien is refusing to meet with the premiers before the federal government moves to ratify the Kyoto accord. Last week, Ottawa released its plan for implementing the global pact to cut greenhouse gases. Some of the premiers criticized the plan, saying it would hurt their economies. Provincial officials met Monday in Halifax and came up with their own proposals to cut greenhouse gases. They also called for a first ministers meeting before ratification. But Chrétien says there is no need for that. “I think that some people have only one goal in mind, that is to make it virtually impossible, to postpone and postpone and postpone. I'm telling you it is not what we said to Canadians in the speech from the throne. We made a clear commitment that there will be ratification before Christmas." Alberta's environment minister quickly reacted to the prime minister's statement. Lorne Taylor accused Chrétien of showing arrogance by refusing to hold a first ministers meeting before ratifying the accord. (http://www.cbc.ca October 30, 2002) 2.4 Energy Union Offers Support for Kyoto - Canada's biggest energy union says provincial premiers should do the right thing for the environment and endorse ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, representing more than 35,000 energy sector workers, say they're concerned about potential job losses. While some estimates have been as high as 240,000, union representatives add they've seen no evidence the numbers will be that high. Besides, says Cecil Makowski, the union's Ontario vice-president, Kyoto represents larger environmental issues. "We are here to look out for the interests of our members but one has to remember as well as being workers, they are citizens and inhabitants of this planet. And our planet is in jeopardy if we don't act," said Makowski. Makowski says an internal union report indicates 1.8 million jobs will be created if Canada ratifies and implements Kyoto. But he says union support for the accord is hinged on government support for union members. The union wants to see the creation of a transition fund to help workers retrain and relocate for newly created jobs. "There will be job opportunities and it will be important for us to develop a strategy around how we transition from the old way of producing energy to the new ways of producing energy," said Makowski. (http://www.cbc.ca October 28, 2002) 4. Noticeboard Effectively Working With Results Based Management Results Based Management (RBM) is a management philosophy and approach which emphasizes a clear statement of results (what is to be accomplished) at each stage of the project cycle. An RBM approach allows all participants to be aware of and understand what they are accountable for at each stage of the project. By having clearly defined indicators, participants can keep track of how the project is progressing and make in-course adjustments as required to achieve the ultimate development impact. With this approach there are no surprises as each has agreed on their contribution at the planning stage. Where: Fredericton, NB Monseignor Boyd Family Centre (across from the SMT bus station downtown) 120 Regent Street, (506) 444-6000 When: Monday, November 18, 2002, from 9:30 am - 5:00 pm Lunch will be included in the registration fee. Cost: Free for one representative from each ACIC member organization. All other NGOs are only $100 per person, including lunch. Please register by November 12, 2002. CUSO Openings Statistics Lecturer, Takoradi Polytechnic - Ghana Project Officer with Fisheries Association - Ghana GIS Development Officer - Jamaica GIS Internet Mapping Service Officer - Jamaica Credit Union Trainer - Belize Gender Analyst - Belize Local Economic Development Officer - Bolivia Project Knowledge Management - Costa Rica Research & Policy Advisor - Costa Rica Inquire to: Marian White Atlantic Cooperant Program Officer cuso@pei.sympatico.ca www.cuso.orgPEIEN E-News is a weekly compilation of environmental news headlines. It is sent electronically to PEIEN members every Friday to update them on issues of interest in the environmental field. If you have any comments or suggestions about this or upcoming editions, please contact the PEIEN office at 566-4170 or by email at peien@isn.net.
