The Alberta Wilderness Association has posted their letter to Premier Kenney requesting that the provincial government reinstate Alberta's Coal Policy. The text of the letter is copied below.
Read more about Letter to Premier Kenny: Reinstate Alberta’s Coal Policy
The Canadian Wilderness Stewardship Program (CWSP) is an educational experience designed to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards in Canada by connecting youth to nature and their local communities. Participants of the 2019-2020 program hailed from New Brunswick, the National Capital Region, Northern Manitoba, and Nunavut.
The three core components of the program are: Read more about Youth Volunteer Opportunity: The Canadian Wilderness Stewardship Program
Edmonton – A new bill was proposed by the provincial government on June 11, 2020, which takes aim at removing “red tape” to reduce costs, speed up approvals, and eliminate regulations the government deems unnecessary. The new Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020, was proposed by the provincial government on June 11, 2020. The omnibus bill includes 14 changes across six ministries that would affect land use activities within our protected parks, oil sands project approvals, and energy efficiency–among other concerning environmental issues. Read more about New Bill 22 proposes changes to series of environmental tools in the name of “red tape reduction”
Edmonton – The following letter was submitted on behalf of a joint group including: Fort Chipewyan Métis Association, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Smith’s Landing First Nation, the Hamlet of Fort Resolution, Keepers of the Athabasca Watershed Society Organization, Alberta Wilderness Association, CPAWS Northern Alberta, CPAWS Northwest Territories, Ecology North, Alternatives North, and Council of Canadians – Edmonton and Northwest Territories Chapters. The letter to the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change outlines the substantial risks to downstream communities and ecosystems due to the Alberta Energy Regulator’s decision to suspend environmental monitoring for oil & gas projects. The health of Wood Buffalo National Park and the success of its federal Action Plan is undermined by these suspensions. Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada’s largest national park, and continued ecological degradation would be grounds to list as a World Heritage Site “in Danger”.
Download the full letter on the CPAWS website Read more about Groups across Alberta and the Northwest Territories warn the federal government of impacts of monitoring suspensions on Wood Buffalo National Park
The Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) is seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to lead our 50-year-old ENGO. The successful candidate will have experience working with First Nations and other levels of government, and communities. Ideally, this experience was gathered working North of 60. The candidate will need to have a strong advocacy for conservation. They will have a track record of successful staff and volunteer management, fund-raising experience, and knowledge of environmental issues, particularly those relevant to the Yukon. Read more about Job Opportunity: Executive Director, Yukon Conservation Society
From the CPAWS Southern Alberta Facebook page:
Join us on June 10 for a conversation on the importance of Indigenous ways of knowing. Tune in by simply heading to our Facebook Page on June 10 at 11 am. Read more about Q & A: Importance of Indigenous Knowledge for Conservation
From the Friends of the Helen Schuler Nature Centre:
"Avian Summer" is a locally-produced wildlife documentary by Rick Andrews
Discover the variety of birds that migrate into Southern Alberta each spring, where they come to find a mate & raise the next generation, before migrating south again the the fall.
Available for online rental or digital download. All proceeds benefit Helen Schuler Nature Centre. Read more about Avian Summer: Online Premiere and Q&A
From the Miistatkis Institute:
What does biodiversity conservation mean? We can define biodiversity, and we can catalogue the conservation mechanisms (parks, laws, education, research, advocacy, etc.), but how do we assess if a specific activity will conserve biodiversity. Join us a for a panel discussion about a proposed way of describing biodiversity conservation, and whether this is even needed.
Our panelists are: Read more about Miistakis Monday: Do We Need a Definition of Biodiversity Conservation?
Calgary – The Government of Alberta has rescinded A Coal Development Policy for Alberta (1976; the Coal Policy). CPAWS Southern Alberta is concerned about the impacts this will have on Alberta’s treasured mountains and foothills along the eastern slopes of the Rockies. “There are currently no other land use plans or policies that directly replace the environmental zoning and restrictions under the Coal Policy” says Katie Morrison, Conservation Director for CPAWS Southern Alberta. “This leaves sensitive headwaters regions and treasured landscapes that provide habitat for species like grizzly bear, elk, and threatened native trout, at risk to the disturbances that come with surface coal mining and increased exploration.”
Since 1976, the Coal Policy has provided important land use zoning frameworks which have informed management and development of coal mines along the eastern slopes region of Alberta.
The Coal Policy’s Land Classification System prevented coal development on Category 1 lands and restricted development to underground or in-situ mining under Category 2 lands along the eastern slopes. The Coal Policy Category 2 covers 1,458,000 ha of the headwaters areas that provide the majority of drinking water to downstream communities in Alberta and across the prairies. With the removal of the coal policy, open-pit coal mines will now be permitted on these sensitive lands. Read more about Rescinding the Alberta Coal Policy opens headwaters in the eastern slopes of the Rockies to open-pit coal mining
