Blog

Safeguarding Freshwater / Apr 26, 2019

The Ontario government just proposed gutting the Endangered Species Act. Here’s what you need to know:

In February, we raised the alarm that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) appeared to be the next environmental law in the Ontario government’s anti-environmental…Read More

Safeguarding Freshwater / Apr 18, 2019

Toledo, Ohio voted to give Lake Erie personhood and legal rights. What have we done for our Lake lately?

In February voters in Toledo, Ohio went to the polls, this time with a special referendum on the ballot: whether or not to give…Read More

Safeguarding Freshwater / Feb 13, 2019

On the brink of extinction: Why we can't afford the Endangered Species Act to get any weaker

The world is facing a biodiversity crisis. The extinction rate is 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than the natural rate. Literally dozens of species…Read More

Safeguarding Freshwater / Feb 06, 2019

"Salt-ernatives": Options to keep our roads clear and freshwater clean this winter

Here at Environmental Defence, we’re sick of excessive salt piling up on our roads, sidewalks and parking lots this winter. Salt is a necessary…Read More

Greenbelt / Safeguarding Freshwater / Jan 11, 2019

Poisoning the Well: How Bill 66 threatens our clean drinking water and invites Walkerton 2.0

We’ve got it pretty good here in Ontario. The vast majority of Ontarians can turn on their tap and rely on plenty of clean…Read More

Greenbelt / Movement Building / Safeguarding Freshwater / Toxics / Dec 17, 2018

Ontario’s environmental laws are under attack by Premier Doug Ford: Why we need to come together to STOP BILL 66

Under the guise of creating jobs and cutting “red tape and burdensome regulations,” the provincial government introduced a bombshell of a bill last Thursday….Read More

Safeguarding Freshwater / Dec 14, 2018

Where the water flows, salt goes: Why we need to go easy on the salt this winter, for our Great Lakes’ sake

Winter has officially arrived, and the cold weather seems to be here to stay. The Canadian winter sets in seemingly overnight, and the next…Read More

Blue Flag / Climate Change / Safeguarding Freshwater / Nov 23, 2018

Silencing a critic: Ontario Government makes cuts to environmental watchdog in the wake of a damning new report

Another week, another blow to Ontario’s environmental protections.  Last week, during the fall economic statement, finance minister Vic Fedeli announced a new “cost-saving” measure:…Read More

Safeguarding Freshwater / Nov 02, 2018

Sorry Nestlé: Ontario moves to ban new water-taking permits for another year

News Update! On December 21, 2018, the Ontario Government made the decision to extent the moratorium on new water bottling permits for another year,…Read More

Safeguarding Freshwater / Oct 12, 2018

Heroes in the Field: Lake Erie's unsung guardians - part 2

Joe Csoff and his family have been farming in the Lake Erie basin since the 80s. During that time he’s seen farming practices and…Read More