On May 15, Conservation Minister, the Hon. Oscar Lathlin paid us a visit to announce that the government is making an operating grant of $50,000 to the Manitoba Eco_Network. The grant is, for the Network, a culmination of many efforts over the years to persuade the provincial government that our work is a valuable service to the citizens and the environment of our province, and that it deserves to be supported.

In making the announcement, the Minister recognized this fact when he said, "As a grassroots environmental organization, the Manitoba Eco_Network plays an important role in fostering communications among various environmental organizations and contributes significantly to enhancing environmental education in our province."

Steering Committee members and staff are very excited about the possibilities that core funding creates. Outgoing Chairperson, Dennis Bayomi, said "it will be a great relief for future Steering Committee members not to have to worry where funding for core programs will be found _ this grant gives the Network more scope for educational project work".

Core programs that will be supported include: basic communications and networking amongst groups, provision of referrals and environmental information to the public, volunteer recruitment and placement, the Public Registry function, and Eco_Journal.

Over the past 15 or so years, the Network has received funding from a variety of sources. Environment Canada, through the Canadian Environmental Network, has provided a small annual contribution; memberships, subscriptions and advertising have been important; and private donations from numerous supportive individuals in our community have been instrumental

in ensuring that the bills get paid. In addition, we have taken on fee_for_service work, and of course have developed and implemented various projects which have received foundation funding. Despite this very diversified funding base, we have often struggled, like many of our sister

organizations in the environmental movement, to keep the doors open.

This grant will help provide stability for the Manitoba Eco_Network, and we are hopeful that its beneficial effect will be felt throughout the environmental community.

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NETWORK AGM - MANITOBA GROUPS IN ACTION

by Anne Lindsey

Manitoba Eco-Network’s 2001 Annual General Meeting was held on May 23 at the Eco-Centre. Four new representatives were welcomed to the Steering Committee: Glen Koroluk from Waterwatch, Joseph Prymak from Eco-MAFIA, Amanda Aziz from University of Manitoba Recycling and Environmental Group (UMREG), and Scott Kidd from Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Manitoba (CPAWS). John Sinclair of Resource Conservation Manitoba, Steve Rauh of Campaign for Pesticide Reduction! Winnipeg, and Pete Walker from Manitoba Federation of Labour are returning Steering Committee members. We thank outgoing members of the Steering Committee, particularly Dennis Bayomi, (Winnipeg Vegatarian Association), who has occupied the Chair for the past several years, and seen the Network through some very challenging times. Christina Waddle (UMREG), and Eb Scherer (Manitoba Naturalists Society) also are recognized for their service on the committee in the past year. Steve Rauh spoke of the contributions made by Jan Westlund to our organization during her time with us, and she was thanked warmly by the assembled members.

As usual, the go-round for updates of member group current activities was very stimulating, and gave a good overview of SOME of the environmental work underway in the NGO sector. Some highlights follow:

Time to Respect Earth’s Ecosystems (TREE) continues to participate in the Manitoba Model Forest and the TOLKO Advisory Committee. They are also actively engaged in Manitoba Hydro’s environmental group consultations with projects including conservation, Demand Side Management and Externalities.

Students for Sustainability comprises students from a variety of faculties at the University of Manitoba including arts, science, engineering and architecture. They’ve worked on a number of projects this year including workshops on the media and the FTAA, and supporting the City’s waste minimization proposals. SfS’ goal is to bring students to the community. To this end, they initiated an educational program on water quality with residents in LaSalle, Manitoba.

Campaign for Pesticide Reduction! Winnipeg is taking an active role on the City’s Weed Control Advisory Committee, and continuing to monitor the pesticide-free buffer zone around children’s play areas and registered day cares. Look for bus bench back advertising around the city this summer. CPR! Also participated in creating the Organic Lawn Care workshops being offered by the Eco-Network.

University initiatives

Representatives from the Environmental Science program reported on the continuing high interest in this multi-disciplinary program offered at the University of Manitoba - the oldest of its kind in Western Canada. It features a co-op education program with 4 to 8 month work placements for students in related workplaces.

UMREG runs the recycling program on campus at the U of M. This year it expanded the collection program and now has 9 staff people and a full-time co-ordinator. They organized environmental awareness week on campus, as well as a research project on making UMSU and its businesses more environmentally friendly.

Compost, classrooms and climate

Resource Conservation Manitoba reported on their work just beginning to expand the Compost Action Project to the rest of the Province with a tool box and workshops offered in municipalities. Meanwhile, the Compost Project is burgeoning in Winnipeg, with hundreds of residents signing up for workshops, and three summer students on board. RCM has also been continuing with its classroom-based presentations on a range of issues through the Environmental Speakers Bureau, with a record number of schools requesting speakers this year. The Green Commuting Initiatives project has continued to educate about the benefits of climate-friendly transportation and at time of writing is in the midst of the Commuter Challenge, with a huge expansion of Green Commuters from last year’s effort. RCM is also active on the policy front, presenting often to City committees and council, and being involved with the Environmental Assessement and Planning Caucus of the Canadian Environmental Network.

International Institute for Sustainable Development representatives spoke about two different community-based projects they are involved with: the video, Inuit Observations on Climate Change, with the people of Sachs Harbour, on Banks Island, and an educational project with Manitoba’s Skownan First Nation, which also plans to make videos for use in focus groups to encourage awareness of aboriginal values.

Riding Mountain National Park

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society is involved in 5 campaigns currently, including the Land Use planning initiative on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg; promotion of the proposed Manitoba Lowlands National Park; establishment of a Parks Watch organization of citizen’s groups in the vicinities of our provincial parks; and the new Save Riding Mountain from Attack campaign, aimed at ending the provincial government’s use of bait to lure bears, elk and other wildlife outside of the Park boundaries where they become easy prey for sport hunters, mainly Americans who are enticed to the area by the prospect of a sure kill.

ECO-Mafia reported on their activities on the University of Winnipeg campus which include participation in a waste audit for the University, co-sponsorship of the Organic Agriculture Conference, and ongoing work with Citizens Organizing for Responsible Energy in support of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation’s efforts to have the Northern Flood Agreement honoured.

Manigotagan River protection

Western Canada Wilderness Committee continues with its campaign to stop logging in Manitoba’s Provincial Parks. Their door-to-door canvass contacted some 10,000 Manitoba households over the past year with information about this and other wilderness related issues. WCWC is also working on Endangered Species, and the upgrading of protection for the Manigotagan River, which is presently in Park Reserve Status. They are currently planning a documentary video about the Whiteshell Provincial Park.

Coalition to Save the Elms has undergone some administrative changes and has a new director at the helm. Planning sessions call for the group to broaden its activities to all of the urban forest, and to the urban environment in general. Their tree-banding program continues to be successful, and they hope to expand it to more community-based groups in the future. The Coalition has been organizing public workshops on a number of tree-care related topics.

Last but not least, we heard from the Council of Women of Winnipeg - not a member group, but one with whom we network quite often - reminding the assembled folks that the provincial government has made a commitment to review and strengthen its land use policies. Since these have many environmental impacts and resource use implications, we were urged to become involved and active in these discussions.

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FAREWELL TO JAN WESTLUND

With this edition of Eco-Journal, we bid farewell to Jan Westlund, Eco-Network co-ordinator, who is returning to British Columbia with her family.

Jan came on board with the Network in 1984 to co-ordinate our Volunteer Effectiveness Program. At that time a fairly recent arrival in the Province, Jan brought with her the experience of working for the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, an environmental NGO in the Lower Mainland. Here in Manitoba, Jan became involved as a volunteer with the Recycling Council (now Resource Conservation Manitoba) and with the City's Waste Minimization Advisory Committee, representing her community. Jan's work with RCM led to Board membership, and eventually to the Presidency of that organization, in which capacity she served for a two-year term and was instrumental in reshaping its mandate to the multidisciplinary environmental group that it is today.

Sense of humour

Jan did an excellent job with the Eco-Network’s volunteer program, and with the conclusion of the formal project, stayed on with us as co-ordinator. In that role, she tackled a vast variety of tasks and projects, always with determination, creativity, attention to detail, and a sense of humour. She has been at the "nerve centre" of our growing electronic communications, ensured that our events were carried off with polish, written informative and eloquent articles for Eco-Journal, represented the Network on numerous committees, written project proposals, welcomed and nurtured volunteers, seen to it that mailings go where they are supposed to go, negotiated with landlords, organized conferences, not to mention gaining and imparting a vast amount of knowledge about the environmental scene in Manitoba and Canada. And, not least of all, Jan has been the caretaker of the oft-remarked-on healthy plants in our office. (Please send us watering reminders, Jan!) - AND the creator of those gorgeous cardigans that all the "Eco-toddlers" in Winnipeg may be seen wearing.

In short, Jan's shoes will be very hard to fill, and she will be sorely missed by all the staff at the Eco-Centre, as well as by member groups and many more people in the community who are her friends and fellow-travellers.

We take this opportunity to wish Jan, Dave, Ann and Emma the very best as they reestablish themselves in Maple Ridge, en route to a small acreage in the BC interior, from whence we'll

anticipate regular shipments of organic produce and fruit! And we also want to thank Jan for all the gifts she has brought to the Eco-Network and the environmental movement in Manitoba.

We'll miss you!

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THE ALICE CHAMBERS MEMORIAL LIBRARY

At a friendly reception on May 23, following our AGM, we officially opened our refurbished library and named it in memory of our friend and colleague, Alice Chambers. The reception was attended by about 50 people, including Alice’s children, Anna, Andrew and Paul, and her brother and sister-in-law. Hugh Arklie, Executive Director of the Thomas Sill Foundation - one of the funders of the Library/Eco-Centre project - was also on hand for the event.

After a brief overview of the history of development of the Eco-Centre and Library over the past several years, Eco-Network Executive Director Anne Lindsey invited guests to look around at the books, magazines, video collection and public registry.

New signage in the library and a photograph and biography of Alice by the entrance were unveiled as part of the event. As we note in the biography, Alice was a frequent user of the library, especially the public registry files, and we are certain she would be pleased to know that environmental information continues to be made available to the public in a library bearing her name.

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THANKS TO HASTA - AGAIN!

Once again, the Highly Aware Students Taking Action (HASTA) group at Kelvin High School has chosen the Eco-Network as a recipient of one of their grants under the Youth in Philanthropy Program. This innovative program, begun last year by the Winnipeg Foundation, encourages high school students to become involved in the process of grantmaking by making funds available to student groups, who then research and select local charities they feel deserve support.

HASTA’s other choices were Broadway Neighbourhood Centre’s Art City, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - Manitoba, Green Kids, Macdonald Youth Services, Resource Conservation Manitoba, United Nations Association -Winnipeg Branch, and the West End Cultural Centre.

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What’s Happening

Early June - Resource Conservation Manitoba’s ‘Compost Action Project’ will be holding free one-hour composting workshops throughout the city. Call the Compost Infoline for more information (925-3777 or 1-866-394-8880).

June and July - Organic Lawn Care Workshops will be held in various locations throughout the city. Call Matt or Jonah at Manitoba Eco-Network, 947-6511, to locate the time and place nearest you.

June 16 - Annual Peace Walk sponsored by Peace Alliance Winnipeg. Meet at the legislature at 12:00 for the walk. This year's theme is. ‘No to National Missile Defence, Yes to Nuclear Disarmament’.

June 17 - Public meeting against ‘National Missile Defense’ at the University of Winnipeg from 1:30 to 5:30. Call Project Peacemakers at 775-8178.

June 19 - Dutch Elm Disease Workshop from 7 to 9 pm at Glenwood Community Centre, 27 Overton Street. With the increase of Dutch Elm Disease (DED) on private property, we are encouraging all homeowners to be ‘on elm-guard’ more so now than ever! Discover what you can do to protect your majestic elms and, in turn, our city’s elm population from this deadly disease. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please register by contacting Coalition to Save the Elms at 832-7188 or elms@mb.sympatico.ca

August 19 - 25 Youth Activist Retreat, at Camp Manitou. For youth aged 18 to 23. Skill building workshops on changing the world! Free. To register, contact: CHO!CES at 944-9408

September 17 - CANADIAN PARKS AND WILDERNESS SOCIETY (CPAWS), Manitoba Chapter Annual General Meeting. To be held at the Eco-Centre, 2-70 Albert Street, starting at 7:00 p.m.

September 27 - Dave Foreman speaks on the theme of "Islands to Networks". Sponsored by Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS). 7:00 p.m. at Eckhardt-Grammatte Hall, University of Winnipeg. Free admission.

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Good New For Manitoba Eaters!
Humane Livestock Label Launched
by Janine Gibson

Manitoba eaters have been asking for options at the grocery store: "Winnipeg Humane Society Certified" is the new program recently launched as the response, by the Winnipeg Human Society. The new label - a first for Canada - will soon appear on meat and eggs that come from animals raised by Manitoba farmers according to Humane Society guidelines that include: no hormones, no unnecessary antibiotics, more space allowances and mandatory
inspection.

"Winnipeg Humane Society Certified" represents an exciting new partnership between Manitoba farmers and the Winnipeg Humane Society, and is based on similar labelling programs in the U.S. and the U.K. "Our label is good news for animals, good news for farmers and good news for consumers ," says Vicki Burns, Executive Director of the Winnipeg Humane Society. "Winnipeg Humane Society Certified" is an exciting new marketing opportunity for Manitoba livestock farmers who raise their animals according to standards approved and monitored by the Winnipeg Humane Society. Farmers certified under the program are entitled to identify their products - meat, eggs, and possibly dairy - with a label marked "Winnipeg Humane Society Certified." The program is based on similar labelling programs undertaken in the U.K. and the U.S., namely:
. The "Freedom Food" label administered by the U.K.-based Royal Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA);
. The "Free Farmed" label administered by the American Humane Association (AHA); and . "Niman Ranch" label administered by the U.S.-based Animal Welfare Institute (AWI). The label is a first for Canada. The BC SPCA is undertaking a similar program in the coming months.

The key objectives of the program are:

. To promote livestock farming practices that are humane, and environmentally and ethically sustainable; and

. To support Manitoba livestock farmers who follow more humane and more sustainable farming practices.

Key standards include:
. No hormones or subtherapeutic antibiotics;
. No intensive-confinement housing;
. Minimum space allowances;
. Natural flooring material; and
. Mandatory third-party inspection. The standards are more comprehensive than this, but these are the key ones. The standards are developed in consultation with an Advisory Committee comprised of Manitoba livestock farmers. All farmers applying for certification under the program are subject to mandatory, third-party assessment by inspectors who are members of the Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA). These are the same
inspectors who inspect organic operations.
The "WHS Certified" labelling program is being administered by Janine Gibson, who lives on Northern Sun Farm Co-op near Steinbach, and has a strong background in organic and natural agriculture.

This initiative is an important national issue because:
-- it is the first humane label in Canada;
-- it gives Canadian consumers an exciting new choice;
-- it gives livestock farmers (especially small to medium size) an exciting new way to market their product; and
-- it is the first consumer-driven farm animal welfare initiative in Canada.

Fred Tait, Rossendale, Manitoba, (204) 252-2773 is a cattle farmer from Rossendale, Manitoba who sits on the certification program's Advisory Committee. He and other livestock farmers on the Advisory Committee are helping finalize the label standards.

David Schettler, Arborg, Manitoba (204) 378-2830 is an OPAM certified organic cattle farmer from Arborg, Manitoba who sits on the Advisory Committee and is also interested in
applying for certification for "Winnipeg Humane Society Certified."The "Winnipeg Humane Society Certified" label will only be available to Manitoba farmers.

Those interested in marketing livestock with the WHS Certified label are welcome to contact Janine at 434-6018 or janine@mts.net. Those interested in EATING food produced from farms with audited management systems should ask for this and organic labels at their grocery stores!

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Balancing Economic and Environmental Considerations in Waste Minimization
Suggestions for City Policy
By John Sinclair, Resource Conservation Manitoba

The following presentation was made by John Sinclair, in his role of Chairperson of the City of Winnipeg's Waste Minimization Advisory committee, to City Council, in response to the recommendations from the Public Works Committee on Winnipeg's new waste minimization plan.

Unfortunately, Council decided to dig in its heels and stick to the Public Works report. It remains to be seen whether or not WMAC's thoughtful contributions will be adopted by Council at some later date.

Mayor Murray and fellow Councillors,

Members of WMAC were of course disappointed to find out that the Waste Minimization Strategy has suffered yet another setback. Clearly, the proposed new motion on waste minimization passed by the Committee on Public Works on May 1st will constitute a backing down by City Council on what they originally told Winnipegers they would do in February - implement all aspects of the Council endorsed strategy for waste minimization and in doing so support local environmental sustainability. What WMAC members find most disconcerting, though, is that Council cannot seem to find the balance between issues related to cost containment and environmental benefits. Since 1994 we have tried to promote a waste management program in the City that would meet economic expectations and environmental goals yet cost containment has always won out.

Despite the concern, Committee members were pleased that we are moving forward by finally implementing a comprehensive apartment and condominium recycling program. This is a very positive, and much overdue, step. Some point out though that this move is not a great leap of faith for Council given that through the funding assistance of the Province, and commodity prices, the whole program should be revenue neutral. We also feel it is excellent that the proposed motion recognizes the need for promotion, education and communication to ensure that the recycling programs do their job in diverting as much recyclable material as possible from the landfill. Winning this point has been a ongoing battle for WMAC and we trust the funding committed to this activity will be continuing.

The crux of the matter for us though, is that we are no closer to having found a way to finance all the components of a sound waste minimization strategy. When Council passed the 1996 Waste Minimization Strategy it was sent to Administration for the development of a costing model or approach to paying for the program. Nothing concrete was developed and the strategy was never financed. Now here we are in 2001 with a "new" waste minimization strategy being proposed and still no way to pay for it. Due to this the leaf and yard waste and backyard composting programs are sliding off the table. Council must find ways and means to rectify this problem.

That being said, we would like the Executive Policy Committee to consider the following friendly amendments to the "proposed motion":

1. That a new clause be added to section I, to reflect the need for education and promotion programs for on-site composting.

The need for this was established in Clause 1b) of the February 13th recommendation adopted by council and we feel this part of the original clause should be restored with a minimum funding allocation of 0.1 million. If nothing else the need for such a program has only increased. The City has relied largely on the services of Resource Conservation Manitoba (RCM) to deliver our compost education activities. In fact, RCM was asked to be part of the City booth at the Home Expression show. This resulted in over a hundred people
signing up for compost education workshops run by RCM. The public has been sensitized to this issue in part through the debate on lift limits for waste. RCM's phone has been ringing off the hook with as many as 30 calls being received in one day on this topic. RCM needs to look for new ways to offer services to a greater number of Winnipegers and we should continue to support them in this mutually beneficial partnership.

2. That the Standing Committee on Public Works clarifies with Administration section I, clause g (New Markets for 3 to 7 plastics).

The MPSP Board voted to approve a motion brought by the City to include #5 and #7 plastics in the basket of goods MPSP pays for. It is not clear that including #3 to #7 is feasible for a variety of reasons. In fact, there are some #5 and #7 plastics Administration does not expect to collect in the City program. Clarifying this will prevent further confusion.

3. That section I, clause h, be modified to recognize the provincial Waste Reduction and Prevention (WRAP) Act.

The province already has the WRAP Act that was intended to establish responsibility for products with the potential to become waste. As you are also well aware, the Manitoba Product Stewardship program was created under the Act to fund municipal recycling programs in the province. The issue is not developing a new provincial strategy; the issue is kick-starting the process of getting the "steward" into stewardship program we already have. The City, and especially the Chamber, needs to provide leadership in identifying which "stewards" are going to lead the charge through taking responsibility for reducing the waste generated from the products they sell and providing funding for programs to recycle what cannot be reduced.

4. That timelines be added to section II regarding recycling targets.

WMAC members were pleased that the proposed motion recognizes the importance of targets for the single and multi-family recycling programs. We feel, however, that targets are of little use without the identification of a specified time period over which they are required to be met. We recommend a time period of 18 months starting from November 1, 2001 for measuring the success of Winnipeg's recycling program. Further, we recommend that Administration be required to develop a report outlining what course of action will be taken if the target is not met. This could include various options such as improved communication and education, recycling by-laws, lift-limits, etc. The report, with cost implications, should be available to Council by January 2002.

5. That a new clause be added to the proposed motion requiring Administration to establish alternative methods for financing all aspects of the waste minimization strategy and that the report be made available to Council by January 2002.

The money for new programs is not going to suddenly appear. It is time that a full list of realistic options be developed for consideration and implementation. There seems to be some obvious alternatives to get such a study started: i. Establishing what proportion of any generated "surplus" from the recycling programs will go back into waste minimization programming. In 2000 this surplus exceeded 1.5 million dollars and in 2001 it is expected to exceed 0.5 million dollars; ii. Confirm potential revenue opportunities from the compost created through the leaf and yard waste program; iii. Revisit the lowering of the tipping fee through working with major stakeholders and with them looking for innovative ways to fund waste minimization through the tipping fee; iv. Continue discussions with the Province to identify waste minimization program activities they are willing to support (The province has committed 50k toward our leaf and yard waste compost study and 685K toward the apartment recycling program in this year alone); v. Identify other forms of lift limits that will increase diversion thereby reducing collection and landfill costs and creating new revenues to put toward waste minimization.

WMAC is all too familiar with the results if firm funding commitments are not attached to waste minimization programs. We have had to approach the Standing Committee on Public Works to fight to maintain the meager budget that currently exists for waste minimization. Despite our efforts the funding for programs such as the City compost rebate program was lost. The pilot program for leaf and yard waste will remain nothing more than that a pilot - if funding is not found.

WMAC understands that these are very difficult issues for Council to deal with. While the yardsticks have moved, it has not been very far. We do not have the crisis of a landfill shortage here like other parts of the country to motivate innovative responses to waste problems. As a result such change is going to take enlightened thinking by all of us. We are trying our best to remain constructive and establish ways that will ensure the impetus created over the last months is not lost in the coming months. We look forward to working with you to ensure that Winnipeggers are not denied the option of protecting the local environment in every way possible.

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WELCOME JONAH AND MATT!

Organic Lawn Care Project Continues

We welcome Jonah Clark and Matt Irvine to the Manitoba Eco-Network on HRDC and Green Team summer student placement programs. Thanks to these programs, and a contribution of $4,000 from the City of Winnipeg Parks and Open Spaces Division, we are able to continue our Organic Lawn Care Education Project into the summer. Until the end of July, Matt and Jonah will be providing information, setting up displays and giving workshops in various parts of the City. (See Calendar of Events for details). Both hail from the University of Winnipeg, where Jonah takes philosophy, and Matt, environmental studies, and they have both been active with member group on campus, ECO-Mafia (Ecological Males and Females in Action). We hope to see many more of our "Pesticide Free, Naturally" lawn signs up in Winnipeg neighbourhoods over the next few weeks. To register for a workshop, call 947-6511.

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INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE OZONE

By Don Thompson, President

Manitoba Ozone Protection Industry Association

There is a new environmental movement afoot in the ozone depleting substances industry. It is called extended producer responsibility (EPR). While there are many definitions of EPR, it is generally described as a pollution prevention policy that focuses on product systems rather than production facilities. Thus, responsibility for product is broadened beyond the emissions and effluents generated by the extraction or manufacturing processes to the management of the product once it is discarded.

Cradle to grave

EPR is based on the premise that the primary responsibility for waste generated during the production process (including extraction of raw materials) and after the product is discarded, is that of the producer of the product. (Cradle to Grave). What it does is place the responsibility of the "out of service" ozone depleting substances products at the consumer and manufacturers level. Why? For the manufacturer, they should know how the waste which is a result of the production process should be treated, as well as how the product should be taken care of when it reaches its end of life use. Consumers are asked to pay a charge (environmental handling charge - EHC), for the use of the product. The EHC is then collected to defer and hopefully eliminate the cost of disposal of the ozone depleting substance.

Believe it or not, the deposit refund system for refillable glass beer and soft drink bottles, adopted by the beverage industry in the US nearly 100 years ago, is perhaps the earliest form of EPR system.

Reducing consumption of resources

The ultimate goal of EPR is sustainable development through environmentally-responsible product development and product recovery. The theory is that by making producers pay for the waste (wasted resources AND post consumer waste), and pollution they create, they will have an incentive to incorporate a broader range of environmental considerations into both their product design and choice of materials, thereby reducing consumption of resources at the various stages of the life-cycle of a product or package. Cleaner production and waste prevention are the goals.

How are these responsibilities implemented?

There are three categories of policy instruments that can be initiated by government to encourage product responsibility.

Regulatory Instruments: mandatory take-back; minimum recycled content standards; secondary materials utilization rate requirements; rates and dates; energy-efficiency standards; disposal bans and restrictions; materials bans and restrictions; and product bans and restrictions.

Economic Instruments: advance disposal fees; virgin materials taxes; removing subsidies for virgin materials; deposit/refund systems; and environmentally preferable products procurement.

Informative Instruments: seal-of-approval types of environmental labelling (Green Seal, Blue Angel), environmental information labelling (energy efficiency, CFC use, recycled content); product hazard warnings; product durability labelling.

Voluntary initiatives

At present, two voluntary initiatives are underway in Canada for the purpose of managing surplus ozone depleting substances stocks. Refrigeration Management Canada (RMC), in conjunction with the HCFC manufacturers, has placed a voluntary levy on all HCFC coolants being manufactured, imported or recycled in Canada. The Canadian Atmosphere Protection Alliance (CAPA-COPIA), the Canadian arm of MOPIA, is currently holding discussions with the manufacturers and importers in the sectors not covered by the RMC program to institute voluntary agreements with manufacturers for an EHC on either the gas or the system. This environmental levy will be used to defer or eliminate disposal costs of surplus ozone depleting substances.

RMC will look after the stationary refrigeration (about 33% of the surplus stocks), and CAPA will look after the other sectors (about 67% of the surplus stocks).

Membership encouraged to support change

Without an EHC of some form, costs for disposal can be detrimental to business due to the high cost of disposal technology and options. The membership of MOPIA is being encouraged to support the changes, and to encourage manufacturers to participate because of concerns that without Canadian disposal programs and options, consumers will allow ozone depleting substances to be released into the atmosphere. Implementation of these systems will allow all of us who use ozone-depleting substances (and that’s just about everyone with a fridge) to breathe easier knowing that these chemicals will be dealt with safely.

(Modified from an insert in the Manitoba Atmosphere Journal, the newsletter of the Manitoba Ozone Protection Industry Association, No. 15, Spring 2001)

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FEDERAL JET-SKI REGULATIONS PROPOSED

with information from the office of Senator Mira Spivak

Manitoba Senator, Mira Spivak, has introduced a Bill in the Senate which would allow municipalities, cottage associations and other bodies to place restrictions on personal watercraft (otherwise known as jet skis) on designated bodies lakes, rivers or portions of coastal waterways. It would also allow local authorities to ban them entirely where they pose an inordinate hazard to safety, to the environment or to the peaceful enjoyment of federal waterways, which is any navigable water. Bill S-26 was moved for second reading in the Senate on May 9, and is available at www.parl.gc.ca under Bills, Senate, other bills.

Pollution concerns

The basic problems with these craft are dangers to other water users - several deaths and many injuries have resulted from high-speed collisions involving PWCs; threats to waterfowl and other marine wildlife; pollution from direct discharge of fuel to water and extremely high fuel consumption; pollution to the air from exhaust emissions - one hour of PWC use apparently generates as much smog-forming pollution as a passenger care generates in one year!; and of course excessive noise, which can be dangerous to humans and wildlife, not to mention annoying to people seeking peace and quiet.

Overwhelming support

Sen. Spivak reported in her speech to the Senate that this Bill has the overwhelming support of local authorities from coast to coast, and of the Sierra Club, though not surprisingly, it is not favoured by the manufacturers of personal watercraft, who believe that better education of PWC drivers will solve the various problems. Manufacturers also claim that such regulations will discriminate against PWCs.

Spivak points out that the educational approach has been tried, with the financial support of the manufacturers, but that the problems have not gone away. She also notes that allowing local authorities to restrict the use of these machines is similar to the many boating regulations currently in place allowing restrictions on activities such as waterskiing or power boats.

(One has to wonder what Stockwell Day will think of this bill...)

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Just to prove it’s not all deadly serious around here, some email humour...

Thanks to Amy Hawkins-Bowman for sharing this

LAWNS & GOD

GOD: St. Francis, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there in the Canada? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honeybees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now.

But all I see are these green rectangles.

ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers weeds and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD: Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it, sometimes twice a week.

GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?

ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.

GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS: No, sir - just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.

GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS: Yes, sir.

GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.

GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stoke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life.

ST. FRANCIS: You'd better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD: No. What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD: And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.

GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?

ST. CATHERINE: Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about ...

GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

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