Dear Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour,
First of all, thanks Hilbert, once again. Love the owls. And thanks so much again to Aerosnapper Kingston for this photo of what will be the new St. Vincent de Paul on Bagot St. This picture was taken Dec 5. A lot has changed since then. Do have a look at Aerosnapper on Facebook. Their pictures of the Wolfe Island Ferry (with damage), the Kingston ferry dock and Marysville, along with a ton of other stuff, are really worth a look. Thanks so much Aerosnapper Kingston!
Apologies to Aerosnapper. I thought I had included this picture. My computer skills are not that great!
Please visit their Facebook page to see it and to keep up to date with all the great stuff they do.
So much happening in Kingston and around the world these days it’s hard to choose what to include. Truthfully, this newsletter could have been twice as long – given situations around the world. I do try to stay most focused on the Inner Harbour and Kingston in general.
Locally, most importantly, there are a couple of wonderful announcements from the Dec 10 Environment and Infrastructure Policies Committee (EITP) meeting chaired so effectively by Councillor Chaves.
See Items #1 and #2. These items will go to Council on Dec 17, 2024
LOCAL NEWS AND ISSUES
1. Biogas Proposal Rejected by Utilities Kingston
2. Bird-Friendly City (Entry Level) Proposal Recommended by the City’s Infrastructure, Transportation & Emergency Services Department
3. The Winning Snow Plow Name
4. Tannery Update
5. New Clinical Chair in Genomics at KHSC – Million-dollar gift from Jay and Kendal Patry
6. City Worries about Increasing Graffiti Problem
7. Update on City’s Response to Homelessness
8. Natural Gas Safety Tips for a Warm and Worry- Free Season
9. Learn How to Keep your Home Cozy and Energy-Efficient this Winter.
10. Lionhearts Announces New Supportive Housing Units in Downtown Kingston
FROM FARTHER AFIELD
11. Trump States Can Become 51st State if it Can’t Handle Tariffs
12. Minister Joly Launches Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy
13. Several Great Lakes with Record Warm Temperatures Heading into Winter
14. Ford Threatens to Cut Off Energy Supply to US if Trump Follows Through on Tariffs
15. Cycle Toronto Announces Legal Challenge to Doug Ford’s Bill 212 re Bike Lanes
OF GENERAL INTEREST
16. Canada Abandons pro-Israel voting record at United Nations
17. The Dangers of Black Plastic
18. Guilbeault Says New Federal Emissions Target is 45% Reduction below 2005 levels by 2035
19. Sixteen Oilsands Companies Allegedly Broke Environmental Rules. Alberta Kept it Secret for 3 years.
20. Free Holiday Craft Day for Kids at Calvin Park Library, Dec 27
21. Things to Do in Kingston this December
LOCAL NEWS AND ISSUES
1.Biogas Project Rejected by Utilities Kingston at EITP, Dec 10
David Fell, President & CEO, Utilities Kingston (accompanied by Heather Roberts, Director, Water and Wastewater) recommended:
“That the Environment, Infrastructure & Transportation Policies recommend to Council
That Council direct Utilities Kingston not to proceed with the development of a regional Biosolids and Biogas Facility at the Knox Farm property”
The major reason given in the 275 page report was lack of financial viability.
Here is the link to the report.
https://events.cityofkingston.ca/council/Detail/2024-12-10-1800-Environment-Infrastructure-and-Transportation-Poli/e00346b9-120c-476c-a28f-b242013f8d42
Councillors on the EITP committee voted unanimously to accept Utilities Kingston’s recommendation not to go ahead with it.
2. Bird-Friendly City (Entry Level) Proposal Recommended by the City’s Infrastructure, Transportation & Emergency Services Department
Brad Joyce, Commissioner, Infrastructure, Transportation & Emergency Services (accompanied by Karen Santucci, Director, Public Works and Solid Waste) recommended:
“That the Environment, Infrastructure &* Transportation Policies Committee Recommend to Council
That staff be directed to submit a Bird-Friendly City application for the next application period in Q2 2025, with the goal of obtaining Entry level certification.”
Executive Summary:
The concept of Bird-Friendly City Certification is aimed at reversing the trend of declining wild bird populations and habitat loss, mostly due to human factors. It is a Nature Canada program that has financial support from the Government of Canada.
At its basis, a Bird-Friendly City is a city that has taken steps to:
• Reduce threats to wild birds such as bird/window collisions, light pollution during migration, roaming cats, and pesticide use.
• Conserve, restore, and create bird habitat.
• Engage the public in bird conservation and appreciation, through education, awareness, action, and citizen science initiatives.
To obtain Bird-Friendly status, a certain number of points must be obtained in each category of criteria. The level that an applicant is awarded is equivalent to the lowest level achieved in each of the following three categories of criteria:
• Threat reduction, habitat protection, restoration
• Climate resilience
• Community outreach/education
Many of the criteria include evidence of a policy and evidence of implementation of the policy.
In many cases, actions to meet a criterion are community-based – not government.
There are three certification levels of Bird-Friendly City status:
1. Entry Level
2. Intermediate Level
3. High Level
Staff conducted a review of the application process and determined that the City of Kingston would be close to meeting the Entry level certification
Full Report: https://pub-cityofkingston.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=6255
WELL DONE EVERYONE INVOLVED!
3. The Winning Snow Plow Name
Received from the City of Kingston, Dec 9, 2024
As the “Name Our Plow” campaign comes to a close, the City of Kingston’s Public Works team is excited to announce that the winning plow name has been chosen!
“Ctrl + Salt + Delete” has joined the City fleet after receiving the most votes from the public.
With over 340 names submitted and 256 votes cast on Get Involved Kingston, the Hardy family’s submission came out on top! Keep an eye out for Ctrl + Salt + Delete clearing Kingston’s roads this winter.
Snowplowing is serious business in Kingston. We work continuously in the winter to plow more than 1,800km of road lanes and 600km of sidewalks. Learn more about winter maintenance at
https://www.cityofkingston.ca/roads-parking-and-transportation/winter-maintenance/
4. Tannery Update
Received from No Clearcuts Kingston, Dec 4, 2024
| The developer’s appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal is still under consideration. We do not yet know the outcome of our fight against the development. The property has become the new encampment for the homeless after the City closed the Integrated Care Hub on Montreal Street and demolished the adjacent encampment. According to neighbours, the property has been severely degraded with many paths cut through the woods. The setting of campfires throughout the property poses a serious fire hazard, potentially resulting in loss of the forest that has grown up over the past 50 years. It is concerning to us that the City is ignoring a number of bylaw infractions by the property’s owner. It seems to us that the City and landowner are allowing the property to degrade to the extent that its development may proceed unhindered by the arguments of so many Kingstonians and the majority of councillors in September 2023. 5. New Clinical Chair in Genomics at KHSC – Million Dollar Gift from Jay and Kendal Patry Received from the Kingstonist, Dec 6, 2024 – Jessica Foley Editor’s Note: The Kingstonist no longer allows me to copy and paste. Worth subscribing! https://www.kingstonist.com/news/new-clinical-chair-in-genomics-position-at-khsc-funded-by-jay-and-kendal-patry/ 6. City Worries about Increasing Graffiti Problem Received from the Kingstonist,Dec 11, 2024, Bill Hutchins https://www.kingstonist.com/news/more-than-just-an-eyesore-kingston-ramps-up-efforts-to-tackle-significant-graffiti-problem/ 7. Update on City’s Response to Homelessness + Petition Message from the mayor received Dec 4 |
One of the most important actions we can take in response to the homelessness crisis is to create pathways that help people get back on their feet. While it’s important to meet people where they are, it is equally as important that, as a community, we can offer hope and support to help them move toward a better future. The City has been involved in several projects that are launching this fall and will collectively help create steps out of homelessness. The first of these projects is here at 206 Concession St, where a property purchased by the City has been converted into an 18-bed residential treatment facility. This new facility will be overseen by Addiction and Mental Health Services and will offer addiction treatment and rehabilitation as a vital first step for individuals on their path out of homelessness.
“Of course, while treatment and rehabilitation are crucial, one of the most common concerns I hear is the need for affordable housing options that individuals can transition into after treatment.” So as a City, we are working hard to try to facilitate as many new affordable housing options as possible. In a partnership with Caraco Homes and Tipi Moza, we’re close to the grand opening of a brand new four-plex on Yonge St, that will provide safe and affordable housing units for Indigenous individuals and families. Last month, I also had the privilege of touring the eight new tiny homes constructed by Habitat for Humanity on a City-owned parcel of land in Shannon Park, next to the Rideau Heights Community Centre. It was amazing to speak with one of the new residents of these tiny homes, who just a year ago was living in the encampment in Belle Park and is now living in her own home and ready to help others climb out of homelessness.
There is an enormous amount of work still to be done to address homelessness in our community, but the investments we are making are helping to create a vital pathway out of homelessness for those in our community.
Mayor’s Video on Helping Individuals on their Path Out of Homelessness:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JapPWa1IGLM
Lead Now’s Online Petition to Kingston Mayor and Council to Reject Ford’s Crackdown on the Houseless Community
Thanks Kerry Hill and Kathleen O’Hara for the Heads-Up
| I just signed the petition: Local Mayor and Council: Reject Ford’s crackdown on the houseless community: Mayor Brian Paterson. It would mean a lot to me if you took a moment to add your name because: Premier Doug Ford tabled draconian and callous legislation that will criminalize people for not having a home — and he is ready to override the courts to make it happen. This bill will give cities more power to increase policing and forcibly dismantle encampments — when people have nowhere else to go. Community advocates and experts have come out against it: this legislation doesn’t get to the root of the issue — it will just land more people in jails, cost millions of dollars and spread encampments to new places. Already some cities have started to speak out against it. If more cities reject Ford’s brutal legislation and demand Ford provide real solutions to the housing crisis, it could force Ford to back down. A wave of local campaigns calling on local mayors and city councils to come out against Ford’s draconian legislation could help tip the scale. Sign the petition to your city’s mayor and council demanding they reject Ford’s crackdown on the houseless community. Here’s the link: https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/local-mayor-and-council-reject-ford-s-crackdown-on-the-houseless-community-mayor-brian-paterson?share=71140940-5c29-4dd0-991a-93bafc70009c Real change happens when everyday people like you and I come together and stand up for what we believe in. Together we can reach heaps of people and help create change around this important issue. After you’ve signed the petition please also take a moment to share it with others. It’s super easy – all you need to do is forward this email. Thank you! KerryEditor’s Note: Years ago I worked as an addictions councillor . My personal experience was that you can’t force people into wanting change even though they are not happy with their lives. They need something to live for. It could be another healthy addiction like work, running, cooking. It could be looking after a pet or finding a supportive partner. A secure and supportive living space is an essential start. |
8. Natural Gas Safety Tips for a Warm and Worry Free Season
Received from Utilities Kingston, Dec 4, 2024
As the colder months approach, Utilities Kingston reminds residents to prioritize safety when using natural gas for heating, cooking, and powering appliances, emphasizing the importance of carbon monoxide awareness.
“Natural gas is a safe fuel when used properly, but it’s important to recognize the signs of a gas leak and know how to act quickly in an emergency,” says James Ingram, Manager of Gas Operations at Utilities Kingston. “Taking a few simple precautions can help ensure the safety of your family this season.”
Understanding the risks
Although natural gas leaks are rare due to stringent safety standards and regular maintenance programs, it’s crucial to understand the potential risks.
The most immediate and dangerous threat of a natural gas leak is the risk of explosion or fire. If the gas leaks into an enclosed space and comes into contact with a spark, flame, or electrical device, it can ignite, causing an explosion or fire. Also, prolonged exposure to low levels of natural gas can cause dizziness, nausea, headaches, and difficulty breathing. High concentrations of gas can be fatal.
How to detect a natural gas leak
The most common way to detect a gas leak is by noticing unusual smells. Although natural gas is odourless, a distinctive sulphur scent – often described as rotten eggs – is added to help identify leaks. You may also hear a hissing sound or notice dead vegetation near gas lines, which can indicate a leak.
If you suspect a natural gas leak, it’s important to act quickly and cautiously. Leave the area immediately, and while exiting, avoid any actions that could create a spark, such as turning lights on or off, using cell phones, lighters, matches, or smoking. Once you are safe outside, call your gas provider. If you’re a Utilities Kingston natural gas customer, call us at 613-546-1181, available 24/7.
The hidden risk: Carbon Monoxide (CO)
While natural gas itself is not harmful, incomplete combustion of gas, often due to appliance malfunction or poor ventilation, can produce carbon monoxide (CO), which is colourless, odourless, tasteless, and deadly. High levels of CO in the home can lead to poisoning, with symptoms like dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, and even death.
To protect your household, learn more about carbon monoxide safety – https://utilitieskingston.com/Gas/Safety/CarbonMonoxide and ensure you have a working CO alarm.
Test your alarm regularly, change the batteries as needed and replace it in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Preventing gas leaks and CO buildup starts with proper maintenance. Schedule an annual inspection of your natural gas appliances through the services of a TSSA- registered contractor technician. Annual inspections can help spot potential issues before they become serious.
Learn more about how to keep your home and family safe at UtilitiesKingston.com.
9. Learn How to Keep you Home Cozy and Energy-Efficient This Winter
Received from Utilities Kingston, Dec 11, 2024
Utilities Kingston is pleased to share helpful tips and resources to support residents in staying warm, managing heating costs, and enhancing energy efficiency throughout the winter months.
Heating accounts for over sixty per cent of annual home energy costs in Ontario.
Fortunately, making small changes, like installing a smart thermostat, can make a big difference in both comfort and efficiency.
“Upgrading to a smart thermostat is one of the easiest ways you can improve your home’s heating efficiency and take control of your energy use,” says Caro Casista, conservation coordinator and energy expert at Utilities Kingston. “By automatically adjusting temperatures to match your schedule, smart thermostats enhance comfort and improve energy efficiency, making them a valuable addition to any home.”
In addition to upgrading your thermostat, there are several other simple steps you can take to boost heating efficiency:
- Lower your thermostat by just 1°C – Natural Resources Canada recommends 17°C when sleeping or away and 20°C when at home.
- Perform regular furnace maintenance to ensure optimal operation.
- Insulate your home and seal any gaps or drafts to prevent heat loss.
- Use natural sunlight to warm your home during the day.
- Reverse ceiling fans to push warm air downward.
- Use space heaters wisely in occupied rooms, ensuring they’re not left on in unoccupied areas.
These easy actions, combined with the right tools, will help keep your home warm and energy-efficient all season long.
For more ways to manage your utility bills this winter, explore rebates and incentives available at UtilitiesKingston.com.
10. Lionhearts Announces New Supportive Housing Units in Downtown Kingston
Received from Reddit, Dec 11, 2024 – Jessica Foley
A residence at 234 Brock Street, donated by Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), now offers seven “refreshed” units as part of Lionhearts supportive housing program.More about the donation here: https://www.kingstonist.com/news/lionhearts-announces-new-supportive-housing-units-in-downtown-kingston/
FROM FARTHER AFIELD
11. Canada can become 51st state if it can’t handle tariffs, Trump tells Trudeau, The Washington Times, December 2, 2024. Donald Trump reportedly wants to accomplish what the War of 1812 did not. The president-elect was probably trolling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at their meeting last week, but he reportedly suggested making Canada the 51st state. Or maybe the 51st and 52nd. According to a report on Fox News, Mr. Trump made the suggestion when demanding that Mr. Trudeau do more to curtail illegal immigration and drug trafficking across America’s northern border.
12.Minister Joly launches Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy, Global Affairs Canada, December 6, 2024. The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced the launch of Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy (AFP). The launch of the AFP is the culmination of months of extensive engagement with territorial and provincial governments and Inuit, First Nations and Métis. The AFP was also informed by consultations with the Kingdom of Denmark; Finland; Iceland; Norway; Sweden; and the United States, Canada’s like-minded Arctic partners.
13.Several Great Lakes experience record-warm water temperatures heading into winter, NOAA Climate, December 9, 2024. Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario have all experienced record-high average surface temperatures in 2024 so far, compared to NOAA GLERL’s 30-year satellite record. This record warmth is partially due to the warm fall the Great Lakes region has been experiencing, but also due to the notably warm 2023-2024 winter.
14. Ford threatens to cut off Ontario’s energy supply to U.S. if Trump follows through on tariffs, CBC, December 11, 2024. Premier Doug Ford says Ontario could cut off energy to the U.S. if president-elect Donald Trump makes good on a threat to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods. Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park that federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will put together a list of items upon which Canada could impose retaliatory tariffs and so will the Ontario government.
Received from TVO Dec 13, 2024 “Doug Ford will turn the lights off on Donald Trump”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kux2OyjHu6Y&list=PLccpGzH6Qk0F7F9o-l8CMI4kryUAOc3mh&index=1
15. Cycle Toronto Announces Legal Challenge to Doug Ford’s Bill 212 re Bike Lanes
Received from TVO, Dec 12, 2024
It’s disconcerting how often something that feels just a little too on the nose is nevertheless a real thing that happens in the world. So it was Wednesday morning, when the advocacy group Cycle Toronto announced a legal challenge to the Ford government’s Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, which gives the government the power to remove bike lanes from the City of Toronto and obstruct or prohibit the installation of bike lanes elsewhere in Ontario. Cycle Toronto’s executive director was absent from the Queen’s Park media studio, however: he’d been hospitalized on Monday after being doored while cycling in a paint-only, unprotected bike lane.
Full Article:https://www.tvo.org/article/is-there-a-right-to-bike-lanes-bill-212s-charter-challenge-explained?utm_source=TVO&utm_campaign=3d53965b75-TVO-Today-Newsletter-MON_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_eadf6a4c78-3d53965b75-61349601&mc_cid=3d53965b75
OF GENERAL INTEREST
16. Canada Abandons Pro-Istael Voting Record at United Nations
Received from Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), Dec 12, 2024
Big news! Yesterday at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Canada voted “YES” for two important resolutions: 1) in support of a permanent and immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and 2) defending UNRWA, the UN aid agency for Palestine refugees, against Israel’s attacks. While these votes are themselves important, they are part of a broader shift this year: Canada has finally abandoned its staunchly pro-Israel voting record at the UN in favour of a much more balanced approach.
CJPME has been tracking Canada’s voting at the UN for years, and year after year, we have pressured the Trudeau government to stop favouring Israel. –https://www.cjpme.org/un_dashboard?utm_campaign=em_2023_12_12_un_voting&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cjpme on sixteen annual UN resolutions on Palestine-Israel going back 25 years.
For years, Canada has voted “NO” on almost all resolutions supporting Palestinian human rights. This policy was brought in under Prime Minister Stephen Harper and was maintained for many years under Justin Trudeau. This year, finally, we have seen Canada take a dramatically different approach, voting “YES” on the majority of resolutions.
17. Dangers of Black Plastic
Received from CBC.ca Dec 5, 2024
How does black plastic affect my health?
Certain products made from black plastic — like the kind found in takeout containers, coffee lids and even kitchen utensils — are coming under fire by experts because of a recent study that found a lack of regulation around recycling is causing toxic chemicals to show up in household plastics.
In a study published in the journal Chemosphere in October, researchers from the U.S. and the Netherlands found brominated fire retardants (BFR) used to strengthen plastics for electronics in household products made with recycled black plastics in the U.S.
Fire retardants — including toxic, regulated compounds — were found in roughly 85 per cent of products analyzed by the study’s researchers. The items tested include kitchen utensils, food trays and even children’s toys.
“In many cases, when we come across black plastics in our kitchen, they are made from recycled electronic components that include cell phones, old computers and laptops that are not intended for human food applications,” said Tizazu Mekonnen, a University of Waterloo chemical engineering professor who was not involved in the study.
The study estimated that using contaminated kitchen utensils contributed to the ingestion of 34,700 nanograms of fire retardant decabromodiphenyl ether per day. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Reference Dose — or recommended limit — of 420,000 nanograms per day for an average 60 kilogram adult.
The study examined the amount of fire retardants in items made with black plastic, but not humans.
Mekonnen and other experts say that we should minimize the use of black plastic in our homes and kitchens to prevent plastic-related chemicals from possibly harming our health.
What is black plastic?
Black plastic is coloured using a substance called carbon black, according to Western University biochemist Elizabeth Gillies.
“This is essentially soot that is produced by the incomplete combustion of different materials like coal or petroleum products, or vegetable matter,” she said.
Concerns arise, however, when recycled plastic from electronics end up in household and kitchen plastics.
That’s because plastics in electronics contain compounds — like brominated fire retardants that help prevent the plastic from melting under high heat — which may be harmful when ingested in significant concentrations.
Thousands of delegates are in Ottawa trying to hammer out an historic treaty to end plastic pollution, but the road to get there is littered with hurdles. CBC’s Susan Ormiston examines why it’s so hard to curb the problem and what it will take for the world to agree on a plan.
What are the health concerns surrounding black plastic?
Physicians like Dr. Sehjal Bhargava say consuming food contaminated by the toxic compounds found in black plastic may contribute to serious health concerns, including cancer and fertility issues.
“The health impacts are not yet fully understood, but the evidence that’s emerging is not good news,” said Bhargava, an Ontario family physician and public health and medical resident at the University of Ottawa who sits on the board of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.
Mekonnen says the risk of harmful health effects is increased when black plastic products are heated up, like when containers are microwaved, or when utensils are used on a grill or stove.
“[If] your thermos lid is made of black plastic, the heating would increase the free volume of the polymer, which would allow the chemicals into the drink as well,” said Mekonnen.
A study estimated that contaminated kitchen utensils contributed to the ingestion of 34,700 nanograms of fire retardant decabromodiphenyl ether per day. (Althea Manasan/CBC)
Gillies says using black plastic utensils in hot oil is an additional concern. A 2018 study estimated that cooking with utensils, such as a spatula, contaminated with brominated fire retardants led to an average exposure of 60 nanograms per day.
“More research is needed on the safe exposure limits of BFRs for humans, but cooking regularly in oil with black plastic may result in a significant exposure,” wrote Gillies, in an email.
“That being said, if your black plastic spatula is older, a lot of BFRs would likely have already leached out, so ongoing exposure may be minimal.”
Using black plastic products at room temperature likely minimizes the harmful health consequences, according to Mekonnen….
More regulation needed to reduce reliance on plastics
Much of the concern around black plastic — including the issues raised in the Chemosphere study — stem from poor recycling infrastructure and weak regulations. Canada’s single-use plastics prohibition regulations ban takeout containers containing carbon black, but not the other harmful compounds that may be found in products made from recycled black plastics.
Bhargava says EU countries have laws around using plastic from recycled electronics containing briminated fire retardants in new plastic products.
EU legislation limits the level of harmful fire retardants in consumer materials, and recycling material containing certain fire retardants above a specific limit is prohibited. w microplastics might be 56.
The World Health Organization has released a report on how it believes microplastics are affecting human health, and it sees them entering our bodies.
Canada currently bans the “manufacture, use, sale and import” of some toxic chemicals — including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) used as flame retardants in black plastic — through existing regulations like the 2012 Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations.
Amendments to those 2012 rules, expected in spring 2025, will “further restrict existing exemptions that allow the import of certain products, including recycled products, containing certain toxic substances and expand the number of chemicals that are restricted,” according to an Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) spokesperson.
Canada is also part of an international agreement, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, that prevents signatories from allowing certain banned compounds to be recovered, recycled, reclaimed or directly reused.
- Ottawa wants to find how much plastic producers are making, and where it ends up
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/plastics-canada-registry-1.7181037
- Recycling is failing as a way to reduce plastic. Here’s why
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/recycling-plastic-pollution-production-busan-treaty-1.7394438
CBC requested comment from the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, which represents plastics manufacturers, which declined to comment.
Bhargava says she’s concerned about loopholes that allow recycled plastics originally used in electronics to make their way into kitchen utensils.
“There are lots of loopholes and lack of regulation around the recycling of these electronic products,” said Bhargava.
Mekonnen agrees more needs to be done.
“Current studies show that we need a specific and targeted legislation to limit or ban the use of black plastic for food-related purposes,” he said.
18. Guilbeault Says New Federal Emissions Target is 45% Below 2005 Levels by 2035
Received from the Toronto Star, Dec 13, 2024 -Alex Ballingall
“The new target would require an average of one percent in emissions reductions per year from 2030 to 2035, compared with the more than five percent per year on average needed to hit the current national ambition from 2022 to 2030….
“In an interview with the Star on Thursday, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said the target was based on advice from a range of organizations, and that internal government analyses show it is possible for Canada to cut national emissions as far as 50 percent below 2005 Levels by 2035.
‘We feel that it’s both an ambitious and achievable target; Guilbeaut said. ‘There’s no point in me putting out a target that I don’t know how I can meet,’ he added. ‘It would be irresponsible.’ ”
Canada’s Next Emissions Target Could Allow the Feds to Stall Out on Climate Action
Received from Canada’s National Observer, Dec 13, 2024 – John Woodside
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/12/13/news/canada-new-emission-target-climate-progress?utm_source=National+Observer&utm_campaign=43c7071c73-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_12_13_12_40&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cacd0f141f-43c7071c73-277300613
19. Sixteen Oilsands Companies Allegedly Broke Environmental Rules. Alberta Kept it Secret for 3 Years
Received from the Narwhal, Dec 13, 2024 – https://thenarwhal.ca/
20. Free Holiday Create-a-thon for Kids @ Calvin Park Library Dec 27
https://www.facebook.com/events/2298262580526457/?acontext=%7B%22source%22%3A%2229%22%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3A%22event_profile_plus_create%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D¬if_id=1734023396294605¬if_t=event_profile_plus_create&ref=notif
21. Things to Do in Kingston This December
https://www.visitkingston.ca/25-things-to-do-in-kingston-this-december/
Editor’s Recommendation: – Dead Root Revival at the RCHA Dec 21!
So that’s it for December.
Wishing you all fun and meaningful times over the holidays.
Mary Farrar,
President,
Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour