Swim Drink Fish Blog
Read the latest updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, Artists for Water, and more.
The fix is on: federal government launches review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act after law gutted in 2012
The worst year in the history of Canadian environmental protection was 2012. That year, the federal government gutted every major environmental law. The Fisheries Act no longer protected most fish or fish habitat. The Navigable Waters Protection Act no longer protected “water.” And the process by which major projects are reviewed was slashed. Today, Waterkeeper Mark Mattson sent a short submission to the Government of Canada endorsing the launch of new process to review environmental decision-making. Here is his submission.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Public interest groups in court to appeal plan to refurbish aging nuclear reactors
Public interest groups are in the Federal Court of Appeal today to ensure that human health and environmental risks are carefully considered in a plan to refurbish four aging nuclear reactors at the Darlington site on the shores of Lake Ontario. This comes on the heels of the Toronto Executive Committee’s passing of a motion calling for a review of nuclear emergency plans.
Inside #DarlingtonNuclear, Part 4: Where do we go from here?
After 4 days and 79 interventions, the Darlington nuclear relicensing hearing came to a close last Thursday. Now able to take a step back from the marathon presentations, Hannah assesses what she witnessed. As an independent governing body, does the CNSC have the expertise and independence to make the necessary decisions?
Waterkeeper's presentation at the Day 2 Darlington Nuclear Relicensing Hearing
On November 2, 2015, represented by Pippa Feinstein, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper presented to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) at the Darlington Relicensing Day 2 Hearing in Courtice, Ontario. This is what we presented.
Inside #DarlingtonNuclear, Part 3: Disclosure of Information – Too Late, and Maybe Too Little?
More than half way through the Day 2 Darlington Relicensing hearing, the focus shifts to emergency planning. When it's made clear that important information is not distributed to the public in a timely manner, Tristan questions the accuracy of the claims made by OPG or the CNSC staff and the safety of the project.
Inside #DarlingtonNuclear, Part 2: Who to Trust?
After presenting and watching other members of the public present at the Darlington relicensing hearing, Tristan looks at the current process and asks: Why is it so difficult to obtain direct answers?
Inside #DarlingtonNuclear, Part 1: The importance of public participation
Yesterday, the four-day Day 2 relicensing hearing for the Darlington Nuclear Generation Station began. During the hearing members of the public, NGOs and community groups that applied to intervene will raise their concerns in front of Canada's nuclear regulator, the CNSC. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper law students, Tristan Willis and Hannah Gladstone will attend all four days providing daily insights on what happens in a CNSC hearing. Here, Hannah provides the first glimpse into this daunting process.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission: A Short History
Next week, our Articling Student will attend the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s Day 2 hearing for the relicensing of the Darlington Nuclear Plant. Since it will be Tristan's first time attending a CNSC hearing, his research has led him to ask two very important questions: What is the CNSC? And where did it come from?
Waterkeeper's submission to participate in Darlington's relicensing process
On September 28, 2015, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper submitted a request to intervene during the Day 2 Relicensing Hearing for the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station (DNGS). Tristan quickly summarizes Waterkeeper's five major concerns with the nuclear operation as well as our recommendations. Also, flip through the entire submission to see DNGS's stats and all of our findings.
Evidence and Experts: The need to reassess Darlington’s nuclear operation
Waterkeeper is currently preparing a submission to intervene in the Darlington nuclear refurbishment hearing in November 2015. Because there are many facets to the case, Mark defines and explains the significance behind experts to illustrate why this case continues to be so challenging.