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Canadian Environmental Network
Manitoba Eco-Network gratefully acknowledges the support of Manitoba Conservation
Eco-Journal
Volume 15, Number
1
January / February 2005
view PDF version (2.5MB)
It's Time to Reduce Waste
by Liz Dykman, Resource Conservation
Manitoba
East Side Update: New Commitments, Differing
Views
by Anne Lindsey
Member Group Profile - HASTA: Hopeful Aware Students
Taking Action
by Ray Sokalski
Waverley West: Plan Winnipeg Abandoned?
by Elizabeth Fleming
Youth Group to Build Enviro-Friendly Rec Centre
by Jim Ritskes
Progress on the Relocation Project
by Anne Lindsey
Local Green Building Council to Launch
by Rodney McDonald
Meet the Civic Environmental Committee
by Kristine Koster
IISD Explores Carbon Offset Options
by Dennis Cunningham
New Guide to Organics in Manitoba
by David Neufeld
It’s Time to Reduce
Waste
By Liz Dykman, Resource Conservation Manitoba
Moving toward sustainability requires that we think about this place called “away” to which we throw our waste. Out of sight should not mean out of mind, because the results of our consumer culture (piles and piles of garbage) can come back to haunt us in the form of contaminated water, toxins in our foodchain or climate change.
In 1989 Manitoba’s government set a goal of reducing the amount of waste going to landfill by 50%. While we’ve made some progress in the diversion of several types of waste, there is a long way to go. The target for achieving this goal was 2000, yet by 2002, our total diversion rate was not better than 22%. Manitoba used to be leading the way in terms of reducing waste, but no longer. B.C. and Nova Scotia are implementing effective waste reduction measures while we fall behind.
First, the relatively good news. The amounts of printed material and cardboard currently being recycled are at 91% and 81% respectively. 79% of used oil is being recycled. However, we are not doing so well with other materials. Just over a third of aluminum and steel cans are being diverted from landfill. Organics is trailing at 8% and consumer electronics is a dismal 0%.
Manitoba not doing well at all
Particularly for the kinds of waste that are most environmentally
damaging, Manitoba is not doing very well at all. Manitobans are
expected to dispose of 5,000 tonnes of used electronics (e-waste)
in 2005 but there are no programs in place for recycling it. E-waste
contains heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead, as well
as arsenic and toxic fire-retardant chemicals. These must be disposed
of properly to avoid risks to human health. Electronics also contain
materials which are refined with energy-intensive processes, such
as copper and aluminum—an energy investment which can be recovered.
A research and demonstration project by the Electronic Products Stewardship Organization of Manitoba (EPSOM) in October 2002 collected 93.5 tonnes of e-waste, filling 11 tractor trailers. All this in just one weekend at 5 sites in Winnipeg and Stonewall (Manitoba Electronic Product Stewardship Research and Demonstration Project Report, EPSOM, August 2003). Old monitors, CPU’s, dead televisions and fax machines continue to gather dust in closets and basements everywhere, or get casually dumped into waste bins. Clearly there is need for a formal e-waste collection program.
Another area that needs attention is organics. Currently only 8% of organic waste is being diverted, although it accounts for about 35% of residential waste. When organics are landfilled they decompose anaerobically to form methane, a potent greenhouse gas. They can also react with other wastes to form toxic leachate that can contaminate groundwater if not captured and properly treated. Nova Scotia is leading the way by banning organics from landfills, providing curbside pickup of organics, composting education projects for households, and centralized composting for business.
Household hazardous waste (HHW), which includes substances such as lawn and pool chemicals, cleaners, batteries, solvents, antifreeze and waste paint, is another component of the waste stream not dealt with effectively in Manitoba. Currently there are depots and collection events, but they are not meeting the public demand for service. As of 2002, only 21 per cent of HHW was being collected. If we don’t start capturing these wastes, they will continue to pose a hazard for water and soil contamination. A draft regulation to create a product stewardship program for 11 HHW products was introduced in 2001 but put on hold in December 2002.
Extended Producer Responsibility
Although voluntary programs, such as the many blue box programs
in Manitoba, have achieved considerable reductions for some materials,
going the extra distance may require a new model. Resource Conservation
Manitoba is calling for a waste reduction strategy that includes
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as the primary tool for achieving
a 50% reduction target by 2010, keeping 1989 as the base year for
calculating the reduction.
EPR is a model that puts the responsibility for the lifecycle of products, including their packaging, with the manufacturer. These are normally industry-led programs with government setting targets and overseeing the process. This encourages producers to design products that are longer-lasting, less hazardous, easily recycled, and have minimal packaging. This follows the principle of “polluter pays” so that waste management is not paid for by all taxpayers, but rather by the producers and consumers of the products. EPR also requires efforts to educate consumers about the ultimate effects of their choices.
Waste reduction—particularly in the areas of e-waste, hazardous
waste and organics—needs to be addressed. Resource Conservation
Manitoba recently prepared a brief to the Provincial Government
on the topic, and hopes we can get back on track to meeting (and
exceeding) the goal of 50% waste reduction. The full report, Regaining
the Lead: Creating a New Waste Minimization Strategy for Manitoba,
is available on the RCM website at www.resourceconservation.mb.ca.
East
Side Update: New Commitments, Differing Views
By Anne Lindsey
Since the last edition of Eco-Journal was published, there have been several developments pertaining to the East Side (of Lake Winnipeg) Planning Initiative. Minister of Conservation, Stan Struthers, gave a public response to the report on December 13th, 2004, in which he indicated that the government is moving forward on a number of recommendations contained within the report.
Foremost amongst these is the formation of a new East Side First Nations Council, comprising representatives from each of the 16 First Nations on the east side, a Métis representative, and four representatives from industry and non-First Nations communities. The new Council is mandated to continue the work of the planning initiative.
Other recommendations that the government is planning to move forward with include developing a protocol of agreement with First Nations on the east side, supporting the licensing of the extension of the existing Rice River Road to the Bloodvein First Nation, seeking partnerships with the federal government and outside agencies for community land-use planning, and advancing eco-tourism opportunities for the east side through the Aboriginal Tourism Strategy, amongst others.
Associate Chair of the new First Nations Council, Ed Wood, sent a letter to the Manitoba Eco-Network, taking issue with comments in the Eco-Journal regarding the adequacy of the ESPI process. In it, he disputes some of the points raised in the brief article which were critical of the way the final report was released, and about the overall implementation of the Planning Initiative. Our concerns about the process stand.
To view Mr. Wood’s complete letter, and our response, please visit the Manitoba Eco-Network’s website: www.mbeconetwork.org/archives/woodletter.asp and http://www.mbeconetwork.org/archives/woodletterresponse.asp
Member Group Profile - HASTA:
Hopeful Aware Students Taking Action
By Ray Sokalski
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”—Margaret Mead
Many of us have read this inspirational thought before, but students at Kelvin High School in Winnipeg attempt to live out Mead’s sentiment in their efforts every school year. Hopeful Aware Students Taking Action group—far better known as HASTA—is a group of 25-35 students aged 14 to 18 who act as a kind of activist educational collective, drawing on community resources (including the Eco-Network and Off-Ramp Manitoba) to become aware of social justice and environmental issues, and reaching out to their school community and beyond to share that awareness.
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| HASTA members deliver goods from Kelvin Community Garden to Winnipeg Harvest. Photo by Megan Hodgson.. |
Their efforts have included everything from holding up “Idle-Free” signs in the frigid morning air and passing out information to commuting parents, to rapping before hundreds at a celebration distributing Winnipeg Foundation funding to city charitable organizations. More recently, HASTA harvested its first crop of organic vegetables and herbs from the Kelvin Community Garden, with all food donated to Winnipeg Harvest. The garden began as a seed in the mind of Coral Maloney, an active HASTA leader, and was inaugurated by former Mayor Glen Murray, who shared his green vision for the City of Winnipeg with 1300 Kelvin students during one of his last public appearances as Mayor.
Recognized for their efforts
HASTA has been recognized for their efforts at building peace by
the YM/YWCA, winning its 2001 Peace Medal for Manitoba. The following
year, the group was awarded the Manitoba Teachers’ Society’s
Youth Humanitarian Award. HASTA benefited from the media recognition
to promote its ongoing causes: creating awareness on issues surrounding
human rights, consumerism, and globalization.
Members from Senior I to Senior IV have weeded crops on organic farms together, and attended and led Human Rights Symposia. They have danced in the hallways to promote “Buy Nothing Day” and organized panel discussions on the War on Terrorism and its impact on the Muslim world. As members of Amnesty International, they write dozens of letters to free those unjustly imprisoned.
For the past six years, they have taken part in the Winnipeg Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy project. They surveyed dozens of social service organizations in Winnipeg, and disbursed over $25 000 of much-needed funding to many of them.
Name Your Price bake sales
They regularly hold Name Your Price bake sales in support of international
causes (from supporting initiatives to halt rainforest destruction
to assisting landmine survivors in Afghanistan). Traditionally,
no prices are assigned to the baked goodies they sell. Posters proclaim
the cause and students decide what that cause is worth. Invariably,
the hundreds of dollars raised far exceed what could reasonably
have been expected if the goodies had been pre-priced!
Year after year, HASTA hauls thousands of kilos of paper and drink containers for recycling and has advocated before students, staff and superintendents of Winnipeg School Division for schools to use recycled paper stock. They were recently informed that the Division paper supplies are now almost entirely 33% recycled stock—a victory slow but sweet in coming.
This past December, HASTA organized an Eco-Friendly Fashion Show to inform students about organic fabrics, second hand and child-labour free clothing alternatives. They are planning another Human Rights Symposium in the new year, with dozens of speakers sharing their environmental and societal issues with every student and staff person at Kelvin.
Meetings are held weekly, always arranged around a circle and with a rotating chairperson. Though sparsely populated by young males in past, this year’s HASTA crop includes many young (Senior 1) and male (about 7 of 35) participants—cause for optimism! HASTA is proud to be a supporter of the Manitoba Eco-Network.
Waverley West: Plan
Winnipeg Abandoned?
By Elizabeth Fleming
Winnipeg’s land development industry and the City’s Planning, Property and Development Department came out in force to support amending Plan Winnipeg—redesignating Waverley West from a “Rural” to a “Neighbourhood” policy area—during Executive Policy Committee (EPC) public hearings on 4 January 2005. The redesignation of the 3,000-acre parcel of land in the southwest of Winnipeg permits a suburban development the size of Brandon, Manitoba’s second largest city.
The next day, a series of citizens came to the microphone on the floor of City Council. One after the other, they presented EPC with reasons why Waverley West should not go ahead. Many articulate young people spoke to the “Downtown First” thrust of Plan Winnipeg, supporting sustainable development, the environment and democracy. Phyllis Watson of the Councils of Women of Winnipeg noted that Waverley West was not so much a Plan Winnipeg amendment as a Plan Winnipeg abandonment. Many asked what effect such a large development would have on the revitalization of the core area and existing neighbourhoods such as the Spence district.
Fundamental questions unanswered
Other fundamental questions on the needs for and alternatives to
Waverley West were asked but remain unanswered:
• Where are the 40,000 people going to come from to fill the
proposed 13,000 housing units? The Conference Board of Canada’s
population predictions for Winnipeg are considered very optimistic.
If Waverley West’s homeowners simply relocate from existing
city neighbourhoods, there will be no overall population gain, and
taxpayers will still have to shoulder the cost of new infrastructure
on top of the city’s already sizeable infrastructure deficit.
• Why has the city not investigated the most obvious alternative,
i.e. the 20,000 potential residential lots on lands already identified
in the city’s own land supply study?
• Why the rush? Why can’t this amendment wait and be
considered in the context of the next overall review of Plan Winnipeg
with proper public consultation?
• Why was the public denied access to the financial reports
until just before the Christmas holiday?
• Why do the consultants’ cost-benefit study and the
City’s own financial impact analysis indicate an almost three-fold
difference in estimated revenues to the city from Waverley West?
• Why is there no independent, outside analysis of the Waverley
West proposal?
• Where are the data for proper transportation and transit
planning and budgeting, including greenhouse gas emissions associated
with a range of possible transportation options?
• Why are there infrastructure improvements required for Waverley
West to proceed that are not in the cost-benefit analysis nor in
the city’s capital budget?
• How would Waverley West affect and be affected by land use
in neighbouring Rural Municipality of Macdonald? The City of Winnipeg
has little control over Capital Region land use planning. The Province
approves ex-urban development that is then marketed to encourage
the exodus of Winnipeg residents to neighbouring municipalities.
• What planning and budget is there for new schools in Waverly
West when existing divisions are struggling?
The largest landowner in Waverley West is Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation (MHRC), a crown corporation chaired by the deputy minister of Manitoba Family Services and Housing, and made up of senior department officials. Although EPC invited Minister Christine Melnick to address Council, it was left to an MHRC land consultant and a representative of the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative to present briefly on behalf of the Government. The major spokespersons for the development were the president of Ladco Company, which is the second-largest landowner, and a consultant commissioned by the developers. According to the President of the Manitoba Home Builders Association (MHBA) and former city councillor, Garth Steek, MHRC and Ladco spent about half a million dollars on Waverley West related studies and events. MHBA has allegedly organized more than eight promotional meetings to lobby political and media support.
Waverly West wins this round
On 19 January 2005, Mayor Sam Katz’ Executive Policy Committee
(EPC) voted to recommend City Council approve the Plan Winnipeg
amendment. City Council voted to approve on January 26. Now, the
decision will be referred back to the Province of Manitoba. The
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs will likely ask the Municipal
Board to hold a public hearing and make a report and recommendations.
The minister will then forward his response to the City which then
has the option of giving the amendment third reading.
The Government of Manitoba is both the major landowner and the regulator of land use. There is therefore the public perception of a fundamental conflict of interest. The Government has refused a request by the Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba (PCWM) for participant funding should Waverley West be referred to the Municipal Board.
There’s still time to fight
PCWM is hosting a public meeting on Waverley West from 7-9pm Thursday,
February 17 at 630 Westminster Avenue. Christopher Leo, Professor
of Politics, University of Winnipeg will lead the discussion. For
more information, please call 992-2751.
For further information about Waverley West, check the following websites: www.geocities.com/waverleywest/, www.ladcocompany.com, www.winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS (for EPC agendas, dispositions and minutes for January 4 and January 19, 2005).
Youth Group to Build Enviro-Friendly
Rec Centre
By Jim Ritskes
Youth for Christ/Portage Inc. is well on the way to building a new Youth and Family Recreational Centre in Portage La Prairie. The new structure will be built to the Canadian Green Building Council’s LEED Building system standards. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the new environmentally friendly building concept that has seen success in Manitoba in buildings such as the Mountain Equipment Co-op store, the Winnipeg Humane Society, the Aboriginal Personal Care Home and The Strand on Waterfront Drive. (Note: see the article on the Green Building Council for more on LEED).
The planning for this new project began in 1999 in response to the city’s need for a supervised recreational building in an area of the city that had little to offer. The project started off as a conventional building concept, and after some advice and research into the LEED system, the target was set to use this innovative approach and construct a ‘first of its kind’ for a recreation centre in Manitoba.
Multi-use facility developed in partnership
Youth for Christ/Portage Inc. partnered with Portage Neighbourhood
Connections early in the design of the building, as they were also
looking for a site to help them deliver their services. The building
will house a 12,000 square foot recreational area, a 4,000 square
foot rental area for other family support organizations, offices
for both Youth for Christ and Portage Neighbourhood Connections,
multi-purpose rooms, a food court area and some retail space (total
space of approximately 26,000 square feet). The construction will
take place on the foundation of the former Westco Cold Storage building
that burnt down a number of years ago, and adjacent to a brownfield
site. The project will serve as a place to access community services,
and revitalize an area of Portage la Prairie that has been seen
as run down.
Prairie Architects, from Winnipeg, was contracted to do a feasibility study on the project. The study determined that the project had the potential to be rated at a LEED Gold score, the second highest available in this building concept. Prairie Architects have also been signed on to design the project. Their past experience with designing the award winning Mountain Equipment Co-op building in Winnipeg has been a positive step to making this project happen. The construction manager for the Mountain Equipment Co-op building, Milestone Project Management, has also been signed on.
Community and government support
The project has already seen some great support from both the community
and different levels of government. Canada/Manitoba Infrastructure,
Community Places, the City of Portage la Prairie, the Portage and
District Community Foundation, the Rotary Club, The Thomas Sill
Foundation and many others have already given or have earmarked
funds to help bring this unique building into reality.
“We are still a ways off of our financial target of phase one of the project” says Jim Ritskes, the Assistant Executive Director of Youth for Christ/Portage and Project Co-ordinator. “It has been an exciting learning curve as we train our minds to think in this new way of building. I have realized that this new system of building does not have a lot of support from many communities that are in the process of building a new building. Many have the idea that building ‘green’ has a huge extra price tag to it. We have found that if you follow the concept of LEED fully, it actually will make it an easier financial goal as well as a more sustainable building when it is done. LEED works with a community mindset that has the opportunity for volunteer labour, using approved recycled materials that are often readily available, and has a great educational component before, during and after the building is up and running.”
“Often, building a new building is only one part of the existence of the new structure. Once the doors open, how does a non-profit, registered charity pay for the heat, water and upkeep? This new concept in building helps us realize that we will be using less water, less energy... this translates into less cost.”
Educational component involves community
The building and construction committees of this project are made
up of local volunteers in trades, community services, education
and interested individuals. The educational component of the building
will be a big part of community participation. There are plans for
an Eco Steering Committee that will help track such areas as construction/landfill
waste, a recycling program to be followed by all who occupy the
building, an education program for community awareness of recycling
and other environmental concerns, as well as a learning wall that
will show how the new project cuts back on wastewater, power usage,
and green house gases. The opportunity will also be there to help
design a community wide Eco program that could help other businesses
in Portage la Prairie to evaluate their recycling programs and energy
reduction.
The organization welcomes input and support for this project. You can contact them at Youth for Christ, 60 Tupper St. North, Portage la Prairie, MB. Phone 204-239-6763, or email jimr@yfc.ca.
Progress on the
Relocation Project
By Anne Lindsey
It’s great to be able to report on the progress we are making with our planned move to the Mountain Equipment Co-op Building. Since the last report in Eco-Journal, there have been some new developments.
An application to the Community Incentive Grants Program at the City of Winnipeg resulted in two community committees recommending funding to assist with the more public areas of the space. Councillor Steeves of Riel CC, and Councillor Pagtakhan of Lord Selkirk/West Kildonan CC both supported the project and spoke in favour of its benefits to the community in Winnipeg. We are grateful for their interest and involvement in the project.
Andy Sheppard, a local musician, generously donated the proceeds from a benefit concert to the effort. The family of the late Alice Chambers has made a significant pledge to assist in the relocation of the library named in Alice’s memory, and the Winnipeg Foundation increased their contribution by agreeing to match up to $15,000 the funds that have been donated by our members and supporters to date.
In short, we have achieved our goal for fundraising for this project,
and are hopeful that we can keep it within the budget expectations.
A development that will assist with this endeavour has arisen with
Manitoba Hydro’s donation of significant amounts of materials
from the buildings they are deconstructing on Portage Avenue to
make way for their new corporate head office. Dudley Thompson of
Prairie Architects is working with Hydro to assist in achieving
LEED Platinum status for that building.
Recycling materials and minimizing waste
An important component of this effort is the minimization of waste—in
other words—diverting materials that would otherwise be headed
for landfill, into other construction projects. It’s the principle
that was utilized by Mountain Equipment Co-op for the rest of its
building, and we are excited about being the recipients of previously-used
materials from Manitoba Hydro. Maximum re-use of materials was something
we emphasized early on in the planning for this project.
The list of items to be gently removed from the Royal Bank and Midtown
Buildings includes acoustic ceiling tiles, oak and glass partition
walls, kitchen cupboards, window blinds, and various kinds of hardware.
It’s largely due to the efforts of Tom Akerstream, a dedicated member of Hydro’s new building team, along with the goodwill of his colleagues on that team, and Hydro’s management, that these materials are being made available to us.
Even with the best of intentions, it’s often so much easier for big organizations to go the conventional route of demolishing buildings and sending perfectly good materials to the landfill. According to recent figures from Statistics Canada, less than 10% of construction and demolition waste in Manitoba is currently diverted. As is true when implementing any innovative idea, overcoming the inertia of the status quo always requires some additional effort before it becomes mainstream. We salute Tom Akerstream’s efforts to improve on this record.
Benefits stay in community
Finally, we are very pleased that Inner City Renovation will be
the builder for this project. ICR is a community-development/social
capital construction company that aims particularly to revitalize
housing in Winnipeg’s inner city, and to provide quality,
secure jobs and training opportunities for inner city residents.
ICR has completed more than 50 projects since it started up. While
most are residential, its commercial projects include the beautiful
new Urban Circle Aboriginal Training Centre on Selkirk Avenue. ICR’s
involvement in our project ensures that much of the financial benefit
of this project remains in the local economy—another goal
that we strive to meet.
Local Green Building Council
to Launch
By Rodney McDonald
A group of local professionals is working to establish a Manitoba Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC). “Our goal is to officially launch the Chapter before the summer arrives”, says Rodney McDonald, Chair of the Manitoba Organizing Group.
The CaGBC, sister organization to the twelve year old U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), was formed two years ago to accelerate the design and construction of green buildings in Canada. It is a coalition of public and private building industry leaders and the Canadian licensee of the USGBC’s popular LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. The CaGBC officially launched the Canadian version of the rating system, called LEED Canada, on December 1, 2004.
Points for meeting specific criteria
LEED(tm) is a voluntary, consensus-based rating system that provides
third-party verification of green buildings. It awards points for
meeting specific performance criteria, which are organized into
the five principal categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency,
Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental
Quality. Green building projects using LEED are certified with ratings—Certified,
Silver, Gold or Platinum—based on the total number of points
earned by a project.
There are presently about a half dozen LEED certified buildings in Canada, and over 50 in the process of certification, construction or design (including the Mountain Equipment Co-op store on Portage Avenue, The Strand on Waterfront Drive, and Manitoba Hydro’s new downtown office building). Also, following the lead of many cities in the U.S., the City of Vancouver and the City of Calgary have both adopted LEED as the green building standard for all new municipal construction.
Establishing a vision of green building
The Manitoba Organizing Group is about to begin its strategic planning
process to establish the Chapter’s vision, objectives and
future direction. It is expected that the objectives of the local
chapter will include promoting the benefits of green building here
in Manitoba and helping to educate local professionals involved
in building development, design, construction and management.
Green building is gaining momentum and chapters are in various stages of formation across the country. Our committee is excited about being engaged in the launch of a chapter here in Manitoba. It will connect Manitoba to Canada’s green building community.
For more information about the Canada Green Building Council, the
Manitoba Organizing Group, and LEED Canada visit www.cagbc.org
Meet the Civic Environmental
Committee
By Kristine Koster
On July 18, 2001, Winnipeg City Council created the Civic Environmental Committee (CEC). The role of the CEC is to advise Council on matters of environmental concern and to advocate for sustainability at the civic level. The Committee consists of eight citizen volunteers plus Councillors Gord Steeves (Committee Chair), Donald Benham, and Harvey Smith; as well as James Allum, Environmental Coordinator (interim); Kristine Koster, Policy Assistant; and Annitta Stenning, Chief Administrative Officer.
The Civic Environmental Committee was established for a term of four years expiring December 31, 2005. Committee Members are environmental professionals recognized for expertise in their fields. They are appointed on an annual basis and are eligible for reappointment. Members volunteer their knowledge and experience in order to enhance understanding of environmental issues and to promote the principles of sustainability.
Ken Klassen is an engineering technologist recognized both nationally and internationally for his expertise on improving the energy and environmental performance of buildings. He is also well known for his extensive community advocacy on land use, transportation and municipal fiscal issues.
Michele Kading has over 20 years of experience in environmental education plus community advocacy experience in Winnipeg. Her involvement brings an environmental science and biology perspective to the committee.
Terri Willard has an impressive academic background as a Rhodes Scholar with degrees in international relations and forestry. She brings knowledge of land use planning, as well as strategic communications and new media experience.
Ken MacKinnon works as an architecture professional. His scope of experience in architectural theory, the construction industry and the business of architecture have provided him with insight into the problems and solutions associated with environmental building concerns.
Rodney McDonald has an extensive background in environmental economics and sustainability. His scope of knowledge includes environmental purchasing, corporate sustainability practices, green building design, and environmental issues affecting First Nations.
Bob Foster is a professional engineer with 35 years experience in the consulting business, in engineering, community planning and environmental management. Bob brings a mature and practical approach to the technological, organizational and economic aspects of environmental issues.
Shannon Stunden Bower is a doctoral candidate in the discipline of Geography. She studies the management of surface water in Manitoba, with special attention to drainage and flood mitigation. She is particularly interested in the relation between social and environmental issues.
Tony Zienkiewicz is a member of the Winnipeg Labour Council and has served as chairperson for the Manitoba Federation of Labour Environment Committee for the past eight years. He has over 30 years of experience in the trade union movement, including extensive knowledge of environmental issues concerning Manitoba workers.
Giant Leaps Forward
On Wednesday October 27, 2004, Council voted to adopt in principle
a report prepared by the CEC titled Sustainable Winnipeg: A Comprehensive
Environmental Strategy. As the culmination of over two years of
research and public consultation, this document reflects the concerns
of Winnipeggers. Sustainable Winnipeg identifies areas where there
are opportunities to adopt or enhance practices that conform to
the principles of sustainability:
• Sustainable Land Use and Development—The CEC promotes
infrastructure renewal over expansion. Renewal can improve health
as well as reduce automobile-oriented infrastructure, homogeneous
development and destruction of natural habitat.
• Pesticides in the Urban Environment—The CEC promotes
the development and implementation of cost-effective and environmentally
friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides.
• Sustainable Transportation—The CEC promotes the development
of a comprehensive Transportation Demand Management strategy that
emphasizes alternatives to automobiles.
• Solid Waste and Materials Management—The CEC promotes
the adoption of progressive means of conceptualizing producer responsibility.
For instance, a polluter pay system will minimize the amount of
household solid and hazardous waste entering landfills so that environmentally
responsible citizens do not subsidize the unsustainable practices
of others.
• Sustainable Governance and Corporate Management—The
CEC promotes a pro-active and preventative approach to urban sustainability.
The establishment of an Office of the Environment would assist in
producing long-range plans for addressing the interconnected issues
in Sustainable Winnipeg.
The completion of Sustainable Winnipeg prompted the Chief Administrative Officer to develop Embracing Sustainability: An Environmental Priority and Implementation Plan for the City of Winnipeg 2004-2006. Embracing Sustainability identifies the principles and policy objectives identified in Sustainable Winnipeg. Never before in the history of the City have the organization’s environmental priorities been bundled together under one cover. Collectively, these documents represent a long-term action plan to promote a sustainable city.
In anticipation of Council’s decision to adopt Sustainable Winnipeg, the CEC created two sub-committees. One will address land use planning and the other will address green building practices. As Sustainable Winnipeg has now been adopted, the sub-committees have a green light to contribute to the development of new policies and the adoption of new practices through public and private channels. With spring approaching, the CEC is considering the establishment of a pesticide sub-committee to perform in-depth research and foster two-way communication links between the public and the CEC.
As well, The CEC promotes active transportation. In the fall of 2004, the Committee provided a grant to purchase bike racks, and cooperated with Public Works, Planning, Property and Development and the Parking Authority to have them installed at City Hall. In 2005, the CEC will continue to promote sustainability and responsible decision-making within the City of Winnipeg.
Get Connected
In order to circulate important sustainable development information
and provide updates on Committee activities, the CEC has created
an E-newsletter. If you are interested in receiving our E-newsletter,
please email Kristine at x-kkoste@winnipeg.ca.
To learn more about the CEC and local environmental events, please
visit our website at www.winnipegcec.org.
IISD Explores Carbon Offset
Options
By Dennis Cunningham
As part of its commitment to operating as a carbon neutral organization, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is again purchasing carbon dioxide (CO2) offset credits. IISD’s internal sustainable development assessment and reporting team is the driving force behind the efforts to track, calculate, and reduce operational and project-related emissions-all part of our carbon management strategy.
For the data collection period 2003-2004, the reporting team worked with Resource Conservation Manitoba on a transportation demand survey to identify opportunities to reduce our commuter emissions (which we will calculate and offset in our 2004-2005 fiscal year purchase); expanded the range of emissions information collected to include energy usage for heating, cooling, lighting and equipment in our Winnipeg office, and air travel for IISD associates and Earth Negotiations Bulletin reporters; and, tried to identify potential Manitoban sources of offset credits. Of the three tasks the final one proved most difficult, but more on that later.
Commuter habits survey
RCM’s Green Commuter Initiative provided IISD with extensive
support in developing and managing a commuter habits survey for
the Institute. The survey results revealed that the majority of
IISD staff are regular green commuters and have suggested the practicality
of developing specific tools and policies to assist all IISD staff
in ‘greening-up’ their commuting habits. Much credit
is due to Serge LaRochelle for his continued assistance and advice
in this area.
Our building manager provided us with hydro and natural gas usage figures for the entire building and we were able to calculate the annual energy consumption for our office space based on those numbers. Much of IISD’s work involves international travel and in 2003-2004 we racked up 2.8 million air nautical miles of project related travel producing 527 tonnes of CO2. Natural gas consumption for the year produced 78 tonnes of CO2. We used two different rates of calculation to determine carbon emissions for electricity use. Using the Canadian average calculation factor our emissions equalled 95 tonnes of CO2. The second calculation uses a marginal calculation, and assumes that any electricity conserved by IISD will displace electricity generation emissions in the Mid-Area Power Pool region of the United States (where Manitoba Hydro sends its surplus electricity). This gives a higher value to savings, but also a higher calculation factor for emissions IISD creates. Using the marginal calculation IISD’s electricity usages created 375 tonnes of CO2. Our total offset purchase for 2003-2004 is 980 tonnes.
The source for our 2002-2003 offsets was identified by the brokerage firm of CO2.com. For 2003-2004 we wanted to purchase offset from a Manitoba-based provider if one existed. Around the same time we were setting that goal we were approached by a Manitoban company called Ice Kube, that retrofits community recreation centres and hockey rinks with a geothermal heating/cooling and ice manufacturing plant providing up to 40 to 60 percent reductions in energy costs. It seemed like a perfect fit—Manitoba-based, hockey, and big energy-efficiency savings creating lots of potential offsets that would be relatively easy to calculate, verify and certify. In the end, we didn’t pursue the opportunity this time around.
Purchased 980 tonnes of offset credits
However, we have entered into a contract with Vision Quest Wind
Energy in Alberta to purchase 980 tonnes of offset credits. The
wind farm we have purchased offsets from is made up of 38 1.8 megawatt
wind turbines on 65 metre towers and displaces electricity generated
by coal power plants. We are still working on identifying potential
offsets generated in Manitoba. The St. Leon wind farm, when it is
operational, may be one source.
In the meantime we are continuing to pursue emission reductions. One of the first opportunities in this regard is a change at the IISD head office. We will be reducing our current office space by 25 per cent and our building management company will be carrying our mechanical system and exterior upgrades to increase energy efficiency. We had looked at moving to a new green building, but the construction schedule did not make this a currently feasible option. As well, we have just begun a research project involving the information sector and sustainable development in which the funder is allowing us to include international travel offset purchases as a budget item—which is incredibly progressive for a funder.
New Guide to Organics
in Manitoba
By David Neufeld
Friends, let’s imagine a life in which we allow ourselves the time we need to find food of the highest quality and we have the information we need to locate this fine food as closely as possible to our respective kitchens. With the new Down To Earth: Guide to Organics in Manitoba we’ve satisfied one of these conditions. The information is compiled in an 80 page, engaging, easy-to-use format.
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The Organic Food Council of Manitoba (OFCM) with funding help from the citizens of Manitoba (through the Manitoba Agri-Ventures Initiative) interviewed more than fifty organic/natural food farmers and gardeners in Manitoba and summarized their stories. We also spoke with more than one hundred Manitoba-based processors, retailers and distributors of organic/natural foods and included advertising information for you to refer to. Then we contacted a broad spectrum of government and non-governmental organizations that want to be associated with and be a further resource to the food security / quality food revolution we are experiencing, and included their contact information. Finally, we have given the guide an atmosphere of celebration by including a collection of creative writings, a quiz, drawings and a fabulous rural prairie full colour front and back cover.
The Guide is available at all urban and rural (Manitoba based) stores that sell local, quality food. And if you find one that isn’t selling the Guide we want to know about it. It sells for $6.95 with the proceeds going to the education and promotion work of the OFCM. It’s also available from some NGO’s who have been stalwart supporters of OFCM over the years. Perhaps you’ll want to buy a number of copies for an event or small group. Bulk copies (ten or more) are available from Sharon Taylor at (204) 779-8546 or staylox@hotmail.com at the cost of $6.00 each plus shipping.
We offer this resource as an encouragement—so you can more easily do yourself, your family, some local farm families and our planet a favour. Enjoy.
| Copyright 2007 Manitoba Eco-Network |