Manitoba may be the first Canadian province to start using recycled shower water to fill its ice rinks. The province is considering a pilot project to test the concept. The project would include the Dakota Centre, which houses two indoor rinks and three outdoor rinks. The Centre currently spends $35,000 on water annually. If the project is a success the province may convert all rinks, including curling rinks to a grey water system. Read more at the CBC.
Centre for Civic Governance
The Centre for Civic Governance works to support community leadership meeting today’s social and environmental challenges: climate change, Canada’s increasing equity gap, and shifting social trends. At the Centre for Civic Governance, our goal is to strengthen Canadian communities through sharing best practices, providing tools for locally elected leaders, and progressive policy analysis. We strive to provide knowledge and information to make real and positive social change.
Toronto’s new neighbourhood ranking website
A new website that builds upon open data allows users to rate Toronto neighbourhoods. Information provided on the Wellbeing Toronto website is exhaustive, ranging from the number of car crashes in an area, to income and education levels. While some view the ranking system as potentially damaging to communities, many others are happy to have such data readily available, including non-profits who will use the information to target their resources to communities most in need. Read more in the Toronto Star.
Vacant buildings by-law helps neighbourhoods rebuild
Winnipeg’s Vacant buildings by-law, passed in July 2010 has allowed enforcement officials to “issue no occupancy” orders if a building is too dilapidated for human occupation, or if the building has been left unoccupied for two long. After receiving a notice of violation the property has a year to fix up their property or it gets turned over to habitat for humanity, who then builds a new home for a low income family. Read more at the CBC.
BC municipalities worry CETA will impact their buy-local policies
The buy local movement is picking up steam in BC. Local procurement policies are viewed as a way to strengthen communities, both economically and socially. These policies could be undone, however by the negotiated CETA agreement, which seeks to give European companies the equal access to local economies. Despite the severe ramifications for local industries and workforces, BC’s premier has had little to say on the issue. Charley Beresford of the Centre for Civic Governance, find’s Premier Clark’s lack of position on the matter troubling, noting,
“I think it is in the interests of British Columbians to know what the province is bringing forward,” she said. It’s surprising that Clark wouldn’t have positions on things like local procurement given how far the talks have gone, she said. “There might be something fairly well developed, I would think.”
Buying goods and services locally is an attractive way for civic governments to build local economies, she said. “Even if municipalities haven’t used the tool yet, the discussion as shaping up would take the tool away.”
That’s contrary to what municipal leaders want, and so the province needs to say clearly what position it is taking, she said.
Read more in the Tyee.
Pickering passes fair wage policy
On June 20th, Pickering city council approved a fair wage policy. The policy is effective immediately and will apply to all city contracts over $1 million. Councillor Bill McLean expressed his support for the policy, noting fair wages encourage a higher standard of work.
“I’ve supported this from the beginning and I know there’s some naysayers who are saying this is going to cost jobs and cost more money. I think this particular policy is going to save money because it’s done in such a fashion that it’s clear, concise and transparent. That way if there are problems down the road we have this policy to draw from. It protects not only workers but also the city from someone who’s not hiring skilled workers.”
The Arctic ice is melting faster than we feared
For years now we have been hearing that the Arctic is melting faster than even the most pessimistic scientists had predicted. A 2007 study by the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado concluded that sea ice retreat was then 30 years ahead of where scientists thought it would be. In early 2010 a Circumpolar Flaw Lead study, the largest climate-study ever undertaken in Canada, stated this unequivocally. The report links this dramatic melt to human impact on the climate, and suggests that resulting climate variability is also responsible for our warm spells getting warmer and our cold spells getting colder.
This year a group of Canadian scientists, surprised by the rate of this melt, began looking into specifics. The results of their study point to higher salt-levels in the melting ice, causing the melted ice to sink and warmer water to rise, further increasing melting rates. This rate, like many of our climate change indicators, will continue to increase exponentially until the impact of human activity changes course.
Report on BC’s green industry predicts huge growth for 2011
According to a new report published by KPMG, that assesses the current value of BC’s green industry and directions it may go, BC’s green economy sector is forecasted to be $2.5 billion in 2011, a 57 percent increase compared to 2008. In contrast to the service sector, green jobs pay decent salaries. The average salary for a green job is $72,000.
Read more at the BCSTEA.
Toronto may ban sale of shark fin
Following Brampton Ontario’s lead, Toronto councilors are pushing to have the sale of shark fin, used mainly for soup, banned. Shark fin soup has a long history in Chinese culture and is considered a delicacy. Recently however, attention has focused on the inhumane slaughter of sharks and the rapid decline in their numbers. Many people within the Chinese community are seeking to have the dish dropped from menus.
Read more here.
Climate change leading to mass extinction of marine life
A dramatic loss of marine life is happening at a rapid rate due to acidification of the oceans. At a gathering in Oxford, oceanographers called for urgent action – reduction in fishing, measures to stop pollution and cut greenhouse gas emissions and the establishment of conservation areas. Without action, scientists predict entire ecosystems could disappear within a generation.
Read more at stateofthecean.org.
Pickering Ontario on the verge of implementing “fair wage” policy
On June 13th city councilors voted to recommend a “fair wage” policy for contracts over S1 million. Workers affected by this policy would likely be those in the construction trades. The policy is supported by Terry Dorgan, an agent of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 894, who believes the policy “promotes safety on the job, assures that you’re getting the most qualified people on the job and taxpayers will definitely get their money’s worth.”
Home CETA: A hot topic at gathering of municipal leaders
At the recent FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) annual conference, nearly two thirds of municipal delegates voted to make CETA (The Canadian European Trade Agreement) a topic of debate. Although trade negotiations are not typically a part of FCM discussions, the parameters of CETA directly impact the ability of local governments to protect local procurement policies and local public services.
The Centre for Civic Governance comissioned a briefing from the CCPA’s Scott Sinclair on municipal procurement. It was presented at a dialogue session held during FCM.
“Municipal leaders at the Columbia Institute session energetically discussed strategies for putting the CETA issue back on the conference’s agenda. Meanwhile, a strong CUPE and labour contingent was organising inside the convention centre and outside local Council of Canadians activists were leafleting and talking to delegates about the CETA.”
Municipalities, Progressive Purchasing and the Canada EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), by Scott Sinclair
Vancouver plans for more mid-rise development
Many of Vancouver’s transit corridors are comprised of single family dwellings and low rise apartments, but as the city plans for population increases it is looking at mid-rise developments as a model for development. Unlike the downtown which is comprised of towers, 30 stories or more, city planners have settled on a 6-12 story model for key corridors such as Cambie Blvd. The goal is to keep neighborhoods intact and to provide housing of varying affordability and type, to increase retail space, childcare spaces and parks.
Read more at New Urban Network.
Patrick Condon – Seven Rules for Sustainable Communities from Centre for Civic Governance on Vimeo.