Recent Victories
Environmental Defence works with Canadians, community groups, elected officials, business and decisions-makers to win progress for the environment.
After more than 20 years of protecting the environment and human health, we've had some great victories. Here are a few highlights from our most recent campaigns.
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Saving Lake Simcoe: Lake Simcoe's new Protection Act and Plan could serve as a model for other troubled waters in Ontario and across Canada. We fought alongside Lake Simcoe residents opposed to a mega-marina development at Big Bay Point, and helped them win at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) when the developer asked that those residents pay the developer's legal costs for winning the initial battle at the OMB. This precedent-setting case tells developers it's not cool to scare people away from protecting the environment.
Working with 12 other environmental groups, Environmental Defence made expanding the Greenbelt a priority for the fall 2007 Ontario election. The result? The government set new standards that allow municipalities to apply to have farmland, natural heritage and other key environmental lands included in the Greenbelt.
The Ontario Greenbelt Alliance, coordinated by Environmental Defence, launched its Green Gravel Campaign with a new paper that highlights the environmental effects of aggregate extraction, which is taking place near and within the Greenbelt. Find out more
Environmental Defence joined with 10 other national environmental groups to outline a greener vision for Canada. The report, called Tomorrow Today: How Canada can make a world of difference, offers a roadmap for the federal government to tackle some of Canada's biggest environmental challenges: climate change, endangered species, human health and toxic chemicals, oceans, and food and agriculture. Find out more
Our hard work paid off in protecting natural heritage - and the clean water and species that depend on it. We hosted a special gala to celebrate the new 1.8 million acre Golden Horseshoe Greenbelt in southern Ontario . Premier Dalton McGuinty was guest speaker, as our work on greener cities continues to pay off. Find out more ».
Environmental Defence won a Green Toronto Award for our work to create Ontario 's 1.8 million acre Greenbelt . The award salutes groups, individuals and companies who have contributed to the greening of Toronto.
Find out more ».
We also won an award for the Best Green Activist Group awarded by NOW Magazine, a weekly published in Toronto. Here's what NOW had to say about its choice of Environmental Defence: "This gutsy T.O.-based national org tests the blood of Canadian children, adults, painters and politicians (they even got Rona Ambrose to sign up), revealing that we're a shockingly toxic nation with veins full of environmental pollutants. It also acts as our sprawl and endangered species watchdog and does a smash-up job of bringing enviro concerns to a personal, interactive level through its oh-so-handy PollutionWatch website and pesticide-tracking FoodWatch URL. Keep an eye out for its cordblood chem tests, coming soon."
Working with several environmental and community groups across Ontario, Environmental Defence played an active part in improving the province's law to keep water safe and clean. The Clean Water Act was passed by the Ontario legislature in October 2006. Find out more ».
Environmental Defence protected a key part of the Oak Ridges Moraine that was scheduled to be paved over for a subdivision. The Oak Ridges Moraine is known as the rainbarrel of southern Ontario because of its incredible capacity to store and filter cold, clean water. The area that was under threat acts an important connection point for wildlife and species who rely on the Moraine for their survival.
Thanks to Environmental Defence's national campaign, the Canadian government was the first in the world to take action on a controversial chemical found in hard plastic baby bottles and sippy cups, reusable water bottles, the lining of some food cans and other products. Called bisphenol A, or BPA, the chemical is associated with a range of potential health effects: obesity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, breast cancer and a wide range of developmental problems. Find out more.
Environmental Defence raised public awareness about the harmful chemicals in vinyl products, such as the ubiquitous vinyl shower curtain found in so many homes. Find out more.
Environmental Defence certified 12 beaches to receive the international Blue Flag. Beaches that fly the Blue Flag show Canadians and visitors alike that they meet the highest standards and are clean for swimming.
Thanks to Environmental Defence's Toxic Nation campaign Ottawa ended years of inaction and proposed new controls for some of the most harmful chemicals: flame retardants (PBDEs) and several non-stick and stain repellant chemicals.
Find out more ».
Environmental Defence exposed the biggest greenhouse gas emitters using the PollutionWatch web site, a partnership with the Canadian Environmental Law Association. Greenhouse gas emissions lead to climate change. Find out more ».
We spurred cities across Canada into action after releasing a research report showing high levels of arsenic in the sand of children's playgrounds made with pressure-treated wood. All seven cities studied in the report stopped using arsenic pressure-treated wood to build playgrounds.
Find out more ».
Environmental Defence certified five beaches to receive the international Blue Flag. Beaches that fly the Blue Flag show Canadians and visitors alike that they meet the highest standards and are clean for swimming.
Find out more ».
Environmental Defence joined with several environmental groups to take legal action to protect British Columbia 's endangered spotted owl and the endangered piping plover. The landmark legal challenges demanded the federal government step in to protect the two birds.
Environmental Defence and its partners in the Save Ontario's Species campaign celebrated a new law passed by the Ontario legislature - the best Endangered Species Act in Canada. The law, passed May 16, 2007, ensures all of the province's endangered plants and animals will be protected. It is the first law in Canada to combine mandatory habitat protection with a science-based approach to listing species for protection.