Current Problems: Environment

Exploring Theme: "Environmental Impacts"

Updates on this page: 16 (Filtered by Stakeholder "Alberta")
 

October 30, 2024


Keepers of the Water take message to COP16 that Canada’s largest river basin needs to be protected

The Deh Cho, also known as the Mackenzie River, is downstream from Alberta oilsands CBC Indigenous – A group advocating for the protection of Canada’s largest river basin attended the latest United Nations biodiversity conference to raise awareness about the need to protect its freshwater. Keepers of the Water is a coalition of First Nations,...

August 23, 2024


Leaders in Fort Chipewyan, Alta., urge people to avoid Lake Athabasca over contamination concerns

‘It’s nothing new,’ says elder in Fort Chipewyan CBC Indigenous: Community leaders in Fort Chipewyan, Alta., are asking residents there to stay away from Lake Athabasca, citing concerns about the water quality and possible contamination. Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam and Fort Chipewyan Métis president Kendrick Cardinal have both posted messages on social media recently,...

June 21, 2024


A new law aims to crack down on environmental racism in Canada

Legislation will track how communities are affected and ‘hold government’s feet to the fire,’ professor says CBC News: For years, researchers, activists, community leaders have shown how Indigenous, Black and other racialized groups have been disproportionately affected by polluting industries. Now, a new law will require the federal government to better track this injustice, and...

February 29, 2024


The protection of wetlands is tied to Indigenous and human rights 

Despite their ecological, social, cultural and economic importance, over the past two centuries wetlands have been systematically destroyed for industrial, commercial and residential development.  First Peoples Law Report: Rabble.ca, David Suzuki – In his 1972 non-fiction book No Name in the Street, James Baldwin asked, “Does the law exist for the purpose of furthering the ambitions...

July 5, 2023


UNESCO report on Wood Buffalo National Park shows urgent need to fix problems, First Nation says

Document reaffirms threats from dams, oilsands development and climate change. But of 14 objectives for the park, UNESCO says only two are improving, with five stable and seven deteriorating. CBC News: A report from a United Nations body on environmental threats to Canada’s largest national park shows the urgency of the problems, says a spokesperson...

January 26, 2023


First Nations say Alberta’s oil sands mine security reform unlikely to fix problems

The Globe and Mail: Alberta is preparing to change how it ensures oil sands companies are able to pay for the mammoth job of cleaning up their operations, but critics fear a year of consultations hasn’t been enough to avoid repeating past mistakes. “There’s no signal to me from this government that they are going...

January 4, 2023


The Sacred Balance: Learning from Indigenous Peoples

We are no more removed from nature than any other creature, even in the midst of a large city. Our animal nature dictates our essential needs: clean air, clean water, clean soil, clean energy. NationTalk: Rabble.ca. David Suzikii The following is adapted from the prologue to the 25th anniversary edition of The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering Our...

September 6, 2022


First Nation suing Alberta government over cumulative environmental effects

Toronto Star: EDMONTON – A northern Alberta First Nation has filed what experts say is the province’s first lawsuit claiming cumulative effects from industry, agriculture and settlement are so pervasive, they violate the band’s treaty rights.  Duncan’s First Nation, southwest of Peace River, alleges the province has permitted so much activity and sold off so...

August 17, 2022


UNESCO team in Alberta to judge if Wood Buffalo Park should go on endangered list

CityNews Everywhere Ottawa: A United Nations body that monitors some of the world’s greatest natural glories is in Canada again to assess government responses to ongoing threats to the country’s largest national park, including plans to release treated oilsands tailiBob Weber, The Canadian Press a day ago EDMONTON — A United Nations body that monitors some...

December 14, 2021


Tailings Pond release in Athabaska River

Fort McMurray Today – First Nation, Métis leaders raise concerns about plans to release treated tailings into Athabasca River. The federal government is developing protocols for when treated tailings water can be released into the Athabasca River. A first draft is scheduled to be finished by 2024 and a final draft will be published in...

June 5, 2020


Suspension of Environmental Monitoring in Oil Sands

Three First Nations in northeast Alberta – Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Fort McKay First Nation and Mikisew Cree First Nation – have jointly filed an appeal related to recent Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) decisions to suspend key aspects of environmental monitoring in the oil sands. The First Nations were not consulted on decisions that clearly impact...

April 6, 2020


Suspension of Environmental Monitoring in Oil Sands

Canadian Manufacturing – The Alberta Government has suspended all environmental reporting requirements for industry under emergency powers the province has enacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The move effectively suspends environmental regulation in the province. Later, on May 6, 2020, the Alberta Energy Regulator suspended a wide array of environmental monitoring requirements for oil sands...

January 31, 2019


Redwater Energy avoids liability for orphaned wells

Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) – Supreme Court of Canada decision 2019 SCC 5 ruled in favour of the AER and Orphan Well Association’s (OWA’s) appeal of the Redwater decision. From the May 2016 Redwater decision until January 30, 2019, receivers and trustees involved in 28 insolvencies renounced their interest in more than 10 000 AER-licensed...

December 30, 2018


Redwater Energy avoids liability for orphaned wells

Macleans -Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act: requires owners of contaminated land – including oil and gas sites – seeking remediation certificates to report “new information” as well as meet specific timelines and instructions to remediate land and prevent future adverse effects....

December 1, 2018


Failure to protect Woodland Cariboo

Government of Canada – “Progress Report on Steps Taken to Protect Critical Habitat for the Woodland Caribou” indicates little progress is being made toward conservation. Meanwhile, provinces continue to issue permits for energy and forestry developments that do not comply with Species At Risk Act (SARA) , placing caribou at even greater risk. (David Suzuki...

July 4, 2017


Redwater Energy avoids liability for orphaned wells

Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) – The May 19, 2016, decision by the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in the matter of Redwater Energy Corp. allows receivers and trustees to disclaim Alberta Energy Regulator licensed assets and avoid their abandonment and reclamation obligations. Disclaiming unprofitable sites allows a company to reap the benefits of producing...