So far, 91 Manitoba municipalities have passed resolutions calling on provincial political parties to commit, if elected, a portion of the tax revenue the Manitoba government collects in communities to repairing and upgrading the infrastructure in those communities. Read more in the Red River Valley Echo.
Month: August 2011
Emissions from Canada’s oil sands make greenhouse gas reduction targets impossible
When Canada ratified the Kyoto agreement in 2002, the country committed itself to lowering emissions to 1990 levels by 2012. That commitment was eroded by the Harper Conservatives in Copenhagen in 2009 where it altered the agreement and said it would only reduce emissions to 17% lower than 2005 levels. It seems that the less ambitious plan put forth by the Conservatives is now way off target as emissions continue to rise at an astronomical rate. According to “Canada’s Emissions Trends,” report by Environment Canada, greenhouse gas emissions from the oil sands will triple to 92 million metric tons, or 101 million short tons, by 2020 from a base level of 30 million metric tons, or 33 million short tons, in 2005. Read more in the New York Times and more in Rabble.
Edmonton forms strategy to reduce violence
The City of Edmonton is partnering with REACH, a community-based organization focused on safety, to reduce violent crime. The focus will be on providing 24/7 social services to at risk populations, including multi-cultural, aboriginal, and homeless populations. The program will also have a family violence prevention campaign and aims to reduce the sale of alcohol at community events. Read more at the City of Edmonton.
Richmond brings recycling to public spaces
Richmond is the first municipality in BC to adopt a public space recycling program. Bins with separate containers for garbage, bottles and cans, and paper waste will be distributed to parks and community centres. The city hopes to divert 75 per cent or more of the recyclables previously tossed out with other garbage. Read more in the Richmond News.
Ontario municipalities embrace local food
With support from the Greenbelt Foundation and the Province of Ontario municipalities and public institutions across Ontario are initiating local food policies to encourage local food being served in daycares, schools and hospitals. The Broader Public Sector Investment Fund: Promoting Ontario Food provides funding for connecting local food to communities. Read more at Broader Public Sector Investment Fund.
Calgary invests in communities
Calgary’s newly formed Community Investment Fund will direct $252 million over the next six years into community projects including a new central library, new recreation centres, and upgrades to community arenas, pools, parks and community associations and recreation groups. The investment in projects was made possible by the Province’s decision to ease the provincial property tax, leaving the city with an extra $42 million dollars annually. All city quadrants will receive community upgrades. Read more at The City of Calgary Newsroom.
Pilot program will provide energy efficiency rating for houses
A pilot program being launched in Victoria, BC – The Capital Regional District, City of Victoria, Township of Esquimalt and Town of View Royal will allow home sellers to advertise the energy efficiency of their home through a rating system similar to the EnergyStar system for appliances. The program is a partnership with BC Hydro the Victoria Real Estate Board (VREB) and the Province. Home owners are eligible for a free energy efficiency audit; and from there homeowners can make improvements to their home’s energy efficiency before putting their home on the market.
“With BC energy prices projected to increase, understanding the energy
performance of a potential home is critical to a well-informed purchasing
decision,” said Esquimalt Mayor Barbara Desjardins.”
For more information on the pilot program, visit https://www.livesmartbc.ca/energuide or contact a local Realtor.
New poll finds Canadians value their libraries
The public’s appetite for municipal cost cutting measured seems to be greatly overestimated. A recent poll by Leger marketing shows that 84% of those polled believe libraries should continue to be publicly funded. Transit, arenas and recreation centres, and street cleaning also had large numbers in favour of continued public funding. In fact, the only municipal service that had less than 50% support for public funding was zoos. Read more in the Toronto Sun.
Biodiversity plummeting despite increase in protected habitat
A new study reports that despite an increase in global protected habitats since the 1960s, biodiversity is steadily declining. The authors suggest that maintaining biodiversity will require a more holistic approach involving not just conservation, but also reducing pollution, invasive species and consumption patterns. Read more at Huffington Green.
Alzheimer’s cafes provide sense of community and hope in a non-institutional setting
In Nova Scotia a number of “Alzheimer’s cafes” are cropping up. They are places where Alzheimer’s sufferers and their friends and families can come together to socialize, but also to access important health and wellness information. The informal cafes are typically held once a month for two hours. Read more at CTV News.
Engineering pedestrian safety
With pedestrian fatalities on the rise some cities are looking at ways to make streets safer through engineering. Globe and Mail writer Francis Bula provides a list of street designs that have helped pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Among them are: lights with countdown timers, corner bulges, lower speed limits and scrambles. Read more in the Globe and Mail.