The Future of the Region Sustainability Dialogues is the latest outreach component of the Sustainable Region Initiative. It is intended to stimulate discussion and debate among decision makers, and foster new and diverse thought on regional issues such as housing, industry, labor and immigration, drugs and crime, regional economy, energy, and agriculture. Find more information on the Metro Vancouver website.
Month: April 2009
Plans to make Vancouver greenest city in world
Mayor Gregor Robertson has put forward a plan to make Vancouver “the greenest city in the World “. Plans include shaping Vancouver into a hub for green jobs and sustainable industry, and shifting towards a green economy. Plans also include the establishment of pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly corridors in the city core. Read the full report here.
The BC Climate Action Toolkit
Climate Solutions. Better Communities.
A climate action resource for local government by local government
in collaboration with UBCM, Smart Planning for Communities, and the Province of BC. You can find reports and guidles, information about funding and training programs, plans, policies and projects, and success stories. You can find the full website here.
WATERBUCKET Water Centric Planning
Water Centric Planning Community of Interest
A communication vehicle for planning with a view to water in British Columbia
This Water-Centric Planning Community-of-Interest is the web-delivery vehicle for informing stakeholders in British Columbia about the latest advancements in the state-of-the-art when planning with a view to water—whether for a single site or for the entire province.
THE PROGRAM ON WATER GOVERNANCE
The Program on Water Governance (PoWG) conducts basic research on water management, engages the wider community in outreach and education on water issues, and facilitates dialogue on water governance between universities, communities, government, NGOs and the private sector.
The PoWG is co-hosted by the Department of Geography and the Institute of Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC.
Canada’s Quiet Bargain – The Benefits from Public Spending
A study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) concludes that Canadians enjoy a high quality of life because of public services funded by tax money. In most cases Canadians are better off with the public services the taxes fund than they are with tax cuts. Read the full article at CCPA.
Use the CCPA’s calculator to find out how much your family benefits from public services such as health care and education.
BC’s Badly Broken Welfare System
A recent report from Ombudsman Kim Carter found that B.C.’s welfare system is overly complex and is not designed to to meet the needs of those applying for assistance, and may attribute to homelessness issues. Gordon Campbell’s Liberal government has been blamed for the welfare mess. Read the full article in The Tyee.
Cornell Study Asseses Adverse Effects of Poverty-Induced Physiological Stress on Brain Development
Scientific research suggests that socioeconomic status affects cognitive development and performance in children. Poverty causes social and biological stress that may affect the brain, causing low academic performance among children and youth living in poverty and impaired memory as adults. Read more about the findings of this study at Wired Magazine.
Cancer society pushes for B.C. pesticide ban
The Canadian Cancer Society is asking the B.C. government to implement a provincial-wide ban on the sale of cosmetic pesticides. Cosmetic pesticides, used to kill weeds and pests, have been linked to cancer. Many B.C. municipalites have already banned the use of these chemicals, however provincial action is required to ban selling them. Read more on this issue at CBC News.