Swim Drink Fish Blog
Read the latest updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, Artists for Water, and more.
Waterkeeper submits formal comment on Toronto Island Airport Expansion
Waterkeeper recommends that the City of Toronto defer its decision to approve the airport expansion. Without environmental assessment, permits, proof that environmental harm will not occur, and adequate public consultation, the City’s permission is premature. The consequences of making a rushed decision are significant and potentially irreversible harm to public resources; those consequences outweigh any perceived private benefits of the project.
Island Airport Expansion is premature, Waterkeeper tells city
Two City of Toronto committees are meeting to review Porter Airline’s island airport expansion proposal. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is appearing before both committees to caution the city against hasty decision-making when the stakes - the future of our waterfront - are so high. Here is the text of our oral submission to the Subcommittee to Review Billy Bishop Airport Consultants Reports.
Our main conclusion is this: decisions made in the name of “convenience” alone can cost the city millions of dollars and significant lost opportunity. Therefore, a decision on the airport expansion requires legal oversight through Environmental Assessments and permit applications. And this is a good thing: following legal processes now can avoid political headaches and costly mistakes later.
Need a Source? Waterkeeper can help you cover the Great Lakes Protection Act hearings
If Queen’s Park is your beat then you know the Great Lakes Protection Act (GLPA) subcommittee hearing happened today. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is enthusiastic about the GLPA and its mission of “drinkable, swimmable, fishable” water. Read Mark Mattson’s full presentation to the Standing Committee.
Great Lakes Protection Act hearing, presentation by Waterkeeper
Mark Mattson offers three reasons why the proposed law will be good for the Great Lakes, including this one: the Great Lakes need all the help they can get.
3 lessons from the Supreme Court of Canada’s Castonguay decision
The Castonguay case comes at an important time. It’s been a tough few years for environmental law. Three national laws that offered Canadians some of their most valuable environmental protections were stripped and defanged - the Fisheries Act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and the Navigable Waters Protection Act. At the same time, the people responsible for giving meaning and force to the law (scientists and staff at places like the Department of Fisheries and Oceans) were systematically silenced, defunded, and fired. Provincially, government is shifting to a “self-regulation” process that means fewer officials looking out for you.
In the face of all these rollbacks, the Environmental Protection Act is more important than ever before. We’re honoured to have had an opportunity to be part of this historic case. Our counsel at CELA deserve much credit for their effort. And we thank our generous donors whose donations make our work possible.
Enbridge submits final Line9B arguments in writing
On Friday afternoon, Enbridge submitted its final written reply arguments to the Board. Below you'll find a summary of of the written arguments.On Friday afternoon, Enbridge submitted its final written reply arguments to the Board. Here's a summary of of the written arguments.
Inaugural swim race in Toronto a huge success!
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper partnered with the Toronto Island Lake Swim to help raise awareness about the importance of protecting our public swimming areas.Lake Ontario Waterkeeper partnered with the Toronto Island Lake Swim to help raise awareness about the importance of protecting our public swimming areas.
Confirmed: Toronto dumped 1-billion litres of sewage after July storm
It will take years to fix Toronto’s infrastructure problems. We know that. We also know that public health should be protected in the meantime. One of the first steps is better public reporting. We think it’s outrageous that you aren’t informed about sewage spills so that you can take steps to protect your health. Cities like Kingston have started alerting the public. Toronto, the biggest city in the country, should be able to do the same.