Text Box: Text Box: Friends of the Earth Says Canada Violating Kyoto Law

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Protecting the Earth for Tomorrow

October 2009-Issue 28

Friends of the Earth CANADA E-Newsletter

Friends of the Earth Canada

260 St. Patrick Street, Suite 300                 Ottawa, ON K1N 5K5

(613) 241-0085       www.foecanada.org

October 15 2009— Friends of the Earth, represented by Ecojustice and Paliare Roland Barristers, argue before the Federal Court of Appeal that Canada’s Minister of the Environment and the Governor in Council are in violation of the Canadian law that requires Canada to take action to meet binding international commitments to fight climate change.  The Court

previously ruled that the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act (KPIA) is not justiciable—meaning not an issue the Courts can resolve. FOE asks the Court to set aside this ruling.

“It’s an embarrassment that our government has said it won’t even try to honour its legally binding commitments nor has it taken the honourable step to negotiate compliance penalties,” says Beatrice Olivastri, Chief Executive Officer, FOE Canada. “Canada is acting out like a bad boy on the world stage of climate negotiations while ignoring its domestic law requiring climate action. FOE Canada is continuing its mission to insist on enforcement of our climate law.”

“The case targets the fundamental question of whether the government is above the law,” says Ecojustice lawyer Hugh Wilkins.  “The law states that Canada must take strong actions to address climate change but the government has explicitly failed to do so.”   read more

Friends of the Earth Board member Stephen Barg and Beatrice Olivastri met RBC President & CEO Gord Nixon to receive the RBC Blue Water Leadership Grant of $100,000.  This award supports FOE’s work in Manitoba with the Department of Water Stewardship and the Pembina Valley Conservation District (PVCD) to deliver an intensive water soft path planning process with

WATER SOFT PATHS ON THE ROAD

Halifax, Nova Scotia was the next stop in early October for the Water Soft Path Municipal Workshop supported by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and delivered by FOE staff Scientific Advisor Dr. Sheila Forsyth and Senior Advisor—Fresh Water Dr. David Brooks. 

Coming up October 23, Manitoba Eco-Network  hosts a multi-stakeholder water soft path workshop in Portage la Prairie. Contact sacha@mbeconetwork.org for info. Support provided by Manitoba Water Stewardship and the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation.

Chris Palaire, Beatrice Olivastri, Andrew Lokan

PVCD member municipalities.  In early September, FOE kick started this process in Winkler Manitoba with representatives of Winkler, Morden and the Rural Municipality of Stanley in attendance. Manitoba Water Stewardship provided funding and participation in this first event which was co-hosted by PVCD staff.