October Newsletter 2024

Dear Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour,
First of all, thanks Jamie Swift for figuring out how I could post the poster. 
I am trying to cut back on newsletters but it hasn’t worked out. In some cases, e.g. gmail, it has been clipped and you will have to click on at the bottom to “view entire message”.

LOCAL NEWS, ISSUES AND EVENTS
1. Sept 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
2. “Later is Too Late” Seniors for Climate Action Event, Tues, Oct 1
3. LaSalle Causeway Temporary Bridge Opening Postponed until Oct 3
4. Integrated Care Hub – Mayor’s Message + City Announcements with Tax Ramifications
5. Sleeping Cabins at Crossroads Church Now on Hold!
6. Biogas Project Concerns
7. City’s Travel Patterns Survey
8. Great Lakes Museum News
9. City’s Climate Change Adaptation:  Summary
10. Kingston Co-operative Homes Celebrates
11. Come Plant with Little Forests Kingston
12. Newly Designated Heritage Properties
13. Kingston Climate Expo
14. Fungi Fun
15. Things to do in Kingston this October
16. Lasting Memorial of Bascule Bridge?
17. Construction Underway for New Providence Manor
18. Celebrating Accessibility Awards
19. New Carbon Capture Company in Kingston
20. Heritage Hour: Heritage Bridges – Talk Oct 3
21. Brush and Leaf Collection starts Oct 1
22. Kingston’s Medical Officer of Health’s September Update
 
FROM FARTHER AFIELD
23. WWF: Climate Change and Shipping Endanger Whale Migration Routes
24. Record-size Container Ship Sets Course for Arctic via Norwegian Coastline
25. Research Brief: Understanding Aquatic Invasive Species Characteristics and Impacts in the Great Lakes.
26. Autonomous Vessel to Map the Great Lakes
27. Enbridge Will Re-apply for Michigan Line 5 Tunnel Wetlands Permit
28. Sea Lamprey? Quagga Mussels? New Study Ranks the Worst Invasive Species in the Great Lakes.
29. Eastern Lake Ontnario is Now a National Marine Sanctuary
30. Developing Marine Container Traffic Along the St. Lawrence Seaway
 
OF GENERAL INTEREST
31. Need for Federal Chief Health Accountability Officer
32. Federal Decision to Ease PFAS Rules Based on industry Study
33. Having Sex with Somebody You Love Doesn’t Make Loving Sex

LOCAL NEWS, ISSUES AND EVENTS
1. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Mon, Sept 30
Received from the City, Sept 26

City Hall and Confederation Park
City Hall orange illumination from sunset to sunrise 
City Hall will raise the Every Child Matters flag
We will unveil a newest bus, the “Every Child Matters bus”, and display 94 Calls to Action panels in Confederation Basin, featuring an interactive activity.
Indigenous-led events and ceremonies will occur throughout the community, creating space for Indigenous Peoples to connect and honour the day. 
Stop in front of the fountain and reflect on the legacy of residential schools at a temporary installation sharing the 94 Calls to Action starting September 26th.

Local gatherings
“Returning Home” at the Screening Room, 5:30 p.m.
In honour of Orange Shirt Day, the Sexual Assault Centre Kingston and the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest are hosting a free film screening of the documentary “Returning Home” at the Screening Room. Reserve tickets through EventBrite – https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/orange-shirt-day-free-film-screening-tickets-939474753277?aff=oddtdtcreator

Walk for Truth and Reconciliation from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Organized by community members, this walk will begin at McBurney Park and will continue down Princess St. to a gathering at Confederation Basin. There will be traditional food, a sacred fire and speakers from the community at the gathering.

Sacred Fire at Agnes Benidickson Field at 1:15 pm
Hosted by Queens University. This event will include speeches from invited guests as we acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Speakers to begin at 1:30 p.m. Learn more information about 2024 Queens’ Events and Initiatives.
https://www.queensu.ca/indigenous/truth-and-reconciliation/national-day-truth-and-reconciliation-0

True North Aid’s Truth and Reconciliation Walk
Sunday, September 29 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

The Reconciliation Walk is an educational opportunity for non-Indigenous people, in particular, to learn about the history we were not taught in school, as it will present the truth about Canada’s justification for the establishment of residential schools in a self-guided timeline and its resulting harm against Indigenous people then and today.
This event is FREE and everyone is welcome.

The Kingston Reconciliation Walk, in partnership with the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, will take place at the Little Cataraqui Conservation Area on September 29th from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

For more information email gap@truenorthaid.ca Online events and broadcasts
APTN special programming. In partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) APTN is once again producing a 90-minute live broadcast and national commemorative gathering called Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which will take place on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, starting at 3 p.m. This event seeks to honour Survivors, pay tribute to the children who never made it home from residential schools, and deliver a safe and nurturing environment for reconciliation and healing. This year’s gathering will encompass sacred ceremonies, powerful reflections from esteemed Elders and Survivors and moving performances by First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists. 

• Kingston Public Library – Truth and Reconciliation Reading Challenge (Sept 30-Oct 31). Read Indigenous and explore themes of Truth and Reconciliation and get entered to win prizes including books from the First Nations Community Reads list for this year, or a gift card to local Indigenous businesses. Join on the free reading platform, Beanstack.
• Lunch and Learns available to the public from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Sept. from 23 to 27 – https://trw-svr.nctr.ca/lunch-and-learns/?utm_source=OMA+Master+Email+Contact+List&utm_campaign=dcf41b7b2f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_08_16_07_05&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-dcf41b7b2f-%5bLIST_EMAIL_ID%5d

 Impacts to municipal services on Sept. 30  

• Garbage, green bin and recycling: There is no collection on Sept. 30. Collection will be delayed by one day this week. Sign up to receive collection reminders by phone, push notification, or email.
• Kingston Area Recycling Centre: Closed.
• Kingston Transit: Weekday schedule in effect Sept. 30.
• Kingston Access Bus: Buses will run as normal on Sept. 30. 
• Administrative offices: All administrative offices, including housing and social services and provincial offences, are closed Sept. 30.  
• Utilities Kingston and Kingston Hydro: Open on Sept. 30 and ready to assist you from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 613-546-1181.
• INVISTA Centre/ Fitness & Wellness Centre, Artillery Park Aquatic Centre, Rideau Heights Community Centre, Kingston East Community Centre, arenas: Open Sept. 30. 
• CaraCo Home Field: Open Sept. 30. 
• Swimming lessons and drop-in programming: City of Kingston programs at the west-end BGC South East will continue as usual on Sept. 30.  
• Confederation Basin and Portsmouth Olympic Harbour marinas: The Confederation Basin Marina office is open Sept. 30. The fuelling stations are open at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour. 
• Grand Theatre Box Office: Closed Sept. 30. 
• Libraries: Kingston Frontenac Public Library branches are open Sept. 30. Check for branch hours on the KFPL website.
• PumpHouse Museum: Closed Sept. 30. 
• Tett Centre: Office closed. Building will remain open Sept. 30. 

2. “Later is Too Late” Seniors for Climate Action Event, Tues, Oct 1
Received from Nancy Nicol, Sept 12
LATER IS TOO LATE! 
Please join us to demand climate action now!
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, Seniors for Climate actions will take place in 60 communities across Canada.
In Kingston please join us at:
Confederation Park, Tuesday, Oct. 1
Rally 3 – 5 pm. / Community Fair 2 – 3 pm.
Everyone welcome! Speakers, music, information tables.
We are in a climate emergency! All levels of government must: phase out fossil fuels, promote clean renewable energy, and stop banks, pension plans, insurance companies from funding dirty energy. 
Please help spread the word
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10162141014884680&set=a.10152162277309680
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/seniors-for-climate-national-pledge?source=twitter&

Seniors For Climate is a joint project of Suzuki Elders, Climate Action for Lifelong Learners (CALL), Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet (GASP), Climate Legacy, and Seniors for Climate Action Now! (SCAN). 
Kingston endorsements: Providence Centre for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, No Clearcuts, Kingston Health Coalition, Kingston Climate Justice Coalition, 350 Kingston, Green Party, NDP, Liberals, Providence Associates, and Anglican Diocese of Ontario Green Group, OPSEU local 497, CUPE 2022. Just Futures Kingston, Queen’s Backing Action on the Climate Crisis (QBACC),CDK Solar Solutions Inc., New Democratic Party for Kingston and the Islands, Mark Gerretsen, Liberal MP for Kingston and the Islands, Just Futures Kingston, CUPE Local 2202.
More info:  https://seniorsforclimate.org / nancyn@seniorsforclimate.org

3. LaSalle Causeway Temporary Bridge Opening Postponed until Thurs, Oct 3
Received from the City, Sept 26, 2024
City of Kingston prepares for reopening of LaSalle Causeway
Traffic across the LaSalle Causeway will resume early next month after Public Services and Procurement Canada announced the anticipated timeline for its reopening. The bridge is scheduled to reopen to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in the early evening of Thursday, Oct. 3.
Ahead of the reopening of this vital transportation link across the Cataraqui River, the City is sharing an update to help community members plan their route. 
Impacts to pedestrian, cyclist and motor traffic 
The two-lane, temporary modular bridge will provide a shared roadway for cyclists and motorists, with a separate sidewalk for pedestrians. 
Traffic signal timings at the intersections around the LaSalle Causeway and Waaban Crossing have been reviewed and will be updated on Oct. 3. Timings will be monitored in the days and weeks following the reopening to make any necessary adjustments based on the new traffic patterns. 
As we all get used to the changing traffic flows, road users are reminded to travel safely by staying aware of those around them. 
Impacts to transit service 
Leading up to and following the bridge opening, Kingston Transit will follow the schedule below: 

• Thursday, Oct. 3: Current weekday schedule.
• Friday, Oct. 4: Current weekday schedule.
• Saturday, Oct. 5: New Saturday service schedule begins.
• Sunday, Oct. 6: New Sunday service schedule begins.
• Monday, Oct. 7: New weekday service schedule begins. 

Beginning Oct. 5, Kingston Transit customers will see three route changes across the LaSalle Causeway and Waaban Crossing: 

• Route 12, providing service between downtown and CFB Kingston on weekdays
• Express 601/602, providing service between Queen’s/KGH, downtown and Innovation Drive via Highway 15
• NEW: Route 22, providing service between the Bus Terminal and Rideau Town Centre / Greenwood Park 

New route maps and schedules are available at https://www.kingstontransit.ca/schedules-and-maps/

Scheduled closures: fall 2024 
In a previous public notice issued on Sept 12, Public Services and Procurement Canada advised the Causeway will be removed temporarily on Oct. 15 and Nov. 16 to allow marine traffic to access the navigation channel. The City will share anticipated traffic impacts ahead of the closure dates. 
Community members are encouraged to subscribe to Road and Parking Notices, Transit News and Service Alerts, and City news releases for the latest updates – https://www.cityofkingston.ca/subscribe
Aerosnapper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub2-sZYMpyE

4. Integrated Care Hub – Mayor’s Message and City Notices including Tax Ramifications
Mayor’s FB page Sept 19
“I’d like to thank the many community members, leaders and partner agencies who have reached out over the last week to share their thoughts, ideas and concerns following the tragic events that occurred outside of the Integrated Care Hub (ICH) and Consumption Treatment Services (CTS) on September 12. I fully acknowledge I made some very strong statements following the terrible loss of life and senseless violence that took place in our community. Since then, I’ve heard from those urging that we continue to help and support our unhoused and vulnerable residents as well as those sharing their concerns about the safety of the staff at the ICH and CTS, the residents of the encampment and those living in the surrounding neighborhood. I agree we absolutely need to do both, which is why I have advocated so strongly for change.
I have been encouraged over the last few days by the renewed collaboration between the agencies running the ICH and the CTS, the City, and Kingston Police. The partner agencies themselves have decided to extend the current closure of their services in order to allow time to review operations and ensure the safety and security of everyone in and around the property when these services reopen. In the meantime, those previously sheltering in the encampment are being provided access to their belongings and are being offered services and space in City shelters.
I’m hopeful that by working together, we can implement the necessary changes to ensure public safety while continuing to meet the needs of those in our community who require support. I look forward to the ongoing discussions as we work toward these changes. I also invite our local MPP and MP to engage with us in helping the City and our partner agencies in developing solutions to the ongoing homelessness, mental health and addictions crises in our community. These crises will not be solved until we see the necessary investment from upper levels of government.”
Editor’s Note: There has been a lot of community concern about this issue.  I do recommend subscribing to the Kingstonist for Opinion pieces.

Received from the City Sept 25
City supports residents and community health and safety with partial closure of Belle Park  
Today and tomorrow, Addiction & Mental Health Services, Kingston Community Health Centres and the City continue to facilitate access to belongings for people who were sheltering near the Integrated Care Hub. Effective Sept. 27, 2024, the City of Kingston will close approximately one and a quarter hectare of Belle Park to all users for an undetermined period. The closure is under the authority of City of Kingston By-Law 2009-76 and prohibits all access to and use of the park, including recreational activities and sheltering overnight. The K&P Trail next to Belle Park is also affected by the closure and cannot be used by pedestrians and cyclists.  

During the closure the City will undertake a cleanup and remediation of the area, which is the site of a rodent infestation and soil contamination that presents significant personal health risks to people in the area. The City will work closely with KFL&A Public Health to ensure the environmental contamination is addressed and the property is restored. 

Last week, people previously sheltering in the encampment next to the ICH and Consumption Treatment Services (CTS) were allowed to retrieve personal belongings from the area with support from Addiction & Mental Health Services (AMHS), Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC), the City of Kingston and Kingston Police. Safe and secure off-site storage for other belongings identified by individuals has been offered. 

The ICH consortium partners (AMHS-KFLA, Trellis HIV & Community Care, KCHC, Providence Care and Home Base Housing) continue to keep the ICH and CTS closed while they finalize plans to provide safety for all when they reopen services for public access. They have requested that the City continue to provide fencing and security to the site while they make plans for reopening. 

In the interim, AMHS, KCHC, the City and other partners will continue to work together and assist in connecting vulnerable people to indoor shelter and daytime services and facilitate storage and retrieval of other belongings. The City also recognizes that vulnerable people may choose to shelter in other areas of Belle Park, or any municipal park overnight, and the emergency shelter system continues to have capacity.  

Received from the Kingstonist Sept 27 – Bill Hutchins
https://www.kingstonist.com/news/new-report-paints-stark-picture-of-uphill-battle-to-address-kingstons-affordable-housing-crisis/
“ ‘Now a high-level staff report from the City of Kingston lays out the massive investment it would take to actually meet the City’s current affordable housing needs. The report estimates it would cost as much as $600 million to construct enough housing to address the current demand, not including the cost of land acquisition. By comparison, the budget to run all of Kingston’s municipal services and programs this year is $477 million/
‘This really helps to illustrate to everybody just how large of a challenge this actually is,’ Says Councillor Ridge.
But the immense capital cost is just one part of the equation. There’s also the annualized cost for ongoing rent supplements and support services ,the report notes.
There would be ongoing local costs of $22.5 million a year to provide rent subsidies for those seeking affordable housing and to address homelessness in Kingston. To put that figure into perspective, it represents an 8.3 percent property tax increase.”
More info? https://pub-cityofkingston.escribemeetings.com//filestream.ashx?DocumentId=5347

5. Sleeping Cabins at Crossroads Church Now on Hold
Received from Chrystal Wilson of Our Liveable Solutions, Sept 26, 2024
Crossroads Village Development on Hold.
KINGSTON, September 18, 2024 – Our Livable Solutions (OLS) has entered into a signed lease agreement with Crossroads United Church to relocate the sleeping cabin community to an underused lot at 690 Sir John A Boulevard. The 10 year lease, at a cost of $1 per year, will allow stability of the program which has welcomed residents since January 17, 2022. Capital funds to develop this site were approved by the City of Kingston Council on July 9th, 2024.  Unfortunately, the arrangement for operating funds has fallen through, preventing physical development of the site to proceed in step with the winddown of operations at Centre 70. OLS continues to seek community support to operate this vital initiative, and hopes to reopen its doors before winter.
 
OLS has been collaborating with the City of Kingston and local housing providers to find alternate housing options for their current residents. Some residents continue to be without viable options at the time of this release.  All OLS staff have received notices to end their employment on September 30th, 2024, putting many staff at risk of losing their housing.

Over 633 people in the City of Kingston are currently trying to survive without a home. It is imperative that all levels of government work together to find solutions to the housing crisis occurring across the country, and to provide stable, adequate funding to initiatives which improve the lives and outcomes of our most vulnerable citizens. OLS continues to work with other municipalities sharing best practices to enable the development of cabin communities across the country. This innovative model has shown to be a preferred solution for people without housing.

OLS is thankful for the many volunteers and supporters who have contributed to the success of the cabin community and have shown our residents kindness and compassion. As we navigate this new challenge, financial and advocacy support from the community is encouraged.

Ways to donate: 
– E-transfer info@ourlivable.solutions (No tax receipt)
– Credit card or debit card online at  https://cfka.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1594

Information for donors who wish to make a larger gift through securities available through this link:https://cfka.org/gifts-of-securities-information/. The donor can then inform CFKA to direct the donation to  “Our Livable Solutions Flow Through Fund” 
– By cheque, payable to Community Foundation for Kingston & Area with “Our Livable Solutions Fund” in the memo line.
– Mailed to or dropped off at 275 Ontario Street Suite #100 Kingston, ON K7K 2X5If donors would like to direct their funds to specific areas within OLS, such as capital development, operations, administration, OLS’s Dental Fund, etc they may indicate so when making their donation. 
Our Livable Solutions (OLS) is a registered non-charitable public benefit corporation which adheres to the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA). As OLS walks alongside people navigating systems and coordinating care, OLS listens, observes and identifies challenges. OLS discusses possible solutions and enables people with lived experience to participate in advocating for and developing those solutions. 
Inquiries about Our Livable Solutions should be directed to info@ourlivable.solutions http://ourlivable.solutions

6. Biogas Project Concerns
Editor’s Note: Personally I am not on top of this issue. A couple of community groups are forming and doing research on the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed project. As it is a huge financial investment for the City, it is important to hear all sided.  More anon…..

Received from Mark Sibley Sept 26
Proposed Knox Farm Biogas facility
Diversion of green bin waste which is currently aerobically digested (i.e. without producing methane).  It creates compost which is 100% suitable for fertilizing soil used for growing food.  Mixing this with sewage sludge contaminates it with forever chemicals, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, microplastics, etc.

Creation of more bio-solids or bio-liquid from sewage (because of the added volumes from Green Bin organics).  It may meet current regulations for farm use but it is far from benign and current research suggests it is not a wise practice.  It is being banned in some jurisdictions.  (I can provide links to some papers I found on this topic using Google Scholar).

GHG accounting.  (see consultants report:  https://utilitieskingston.com/Cms_Data/Contents/UtilitiesKingston/Media/Documents/Projects/Biosolids_Biogas_Facility_ClassEA/CompletionDocs/Final-Draft-ESR-July-29-2024-AODA.pdf pages 152 – 154.)
As far as I can see there was no accounting for leakage of methane.  As you know methane (i.e. Fossil or Renewable Natural Gas) is a potent Green House Gas so even small leaks are very consequential.   

What is the methane leakage from the loading and unloading of the thickened undigested sludge from Cataraqui Bay and Ravensview, the digester, the piping/valves, the upgrader, the compressors?  We need to replace Natural Gas as an energy source – even if it comes from a renewable source – as it will continue the GHG problems with leakage in the downstream distribution system, air pollution, etc.  

Quotes from RNG not inherently climate friendly: (At scale, renewable natural gas systems could be climate intensive: the influence of methane feedstock and leakage rates – IOPscience) 
Based on consideration of both the source of methane used to produce RNG and the likely alternative fate of that methane, and using reasonable assumptions about likely system methane leakage, it is unlikely that an RNG s ystem could deliver GHG-negative, or even zero GHG, energy at scale.

Designing a system that depends on RNG, or delaying transition to a system that does not depend on natural gas because of the promise of RNG, could delay climate mitigation because of induced demand for intentionally produced methane. Particularly given that past experience demonstrates that policy can rapidly drive resource allocation to RNG (Bartoli et al 2019), RNG’s environmental performance should be carefully compared with that of its likely long-term competitors—not just FNG—before resources are allocated.” 

Received from the Owen Sound Sun Times – Rob Gowan, Jan 11, 2023 via Kathleen O’Hara, Sept 20
Chatsworth and Georgian Bluffs have issued a request for proposals as it searches for ownership or partnership opportunities for the biodigester they own.
On Tuesday, the townships announced in a news release that the RFP would be available for interested parties to make submissions until March 24 at 1 p.m.The two councils directed staff to prepare the RFP at a joint meeting held at the Georgian Bluffs municipal building at Springmount on Dec. 12.
The two municipalities have operated the biodigester since it was constructed in 2010 on Sideroad 3 at the sewage lagoons. Each municipality contributed just over $1 million to the $3.8-million project with the federal government funding the rest.
The hope was the facility — which uses the biogas from septage waste to create electricity that is then sold back to the grid — would pay for itself in 10 years. But it has ended up costing both municipalities each year to operate, currently to the tune of about $100,000 each.
Over the years, many on council have acknowledged the environmental benefits of the facility, but the chorus from those who have grown tired of funding the losses has grown louder.
In the spring, Chatsworth council notified Georgian Bluffs about its desire to leave the partnership, but retain their stake in the lagoons to continue to take their septage there. Staff were also asked to look at alternative ownership at that time.
That came after a feasibility study was completed by GHD engineering looking at options for the facility, including the upgrades to accept source-separated organics as well as temporary mothballing it until a ban on landfilling SSOs was implemented by the province, expected in the next couple of years. The study also included a valuation of the biodigester, lagoons, environmental approval and property totaling close to $4 million.

The news release issued on Tuesday said the townships have decided to accept proposals for alternative ownership that can make better use of the facility and generate further profit.“The BioGrid could support local efforts in waste diversion for a broader range of municipalities, private industry, and other public sector organizations under a new operating model,” the release said. “the Townships hope to retain ownership/access to the lagoons for continued Septage 7. City’s   7. City of Kingston to launch “Kingston Moves” Household Travel Survey Received from the City, Sept 25 How do you move around Kingston? This fall, the City of Kingston is asking selected households that question through our Household Travel Survey, Kingston Moves. Data from the Household Travel Survey is critical to planning for the City’s transportation networks, including active transportation infrastructure, transit service and roads. Kingston Moves is a voluntary and confidential survey. Households are randomly selected across the city to report on their travel within the city on the previous weekday. Invitations with a unique access code will be sent directly  to selected households by mail over the next eight to ten weeks. Those selected can participate online or by phone. Participants will be entered into a random draw where they could win a $500 cash prize or one of 60 e-gift certificates  valued at $25. “Capturing the full story of how, where and why residents are moving around the city is critical to planning for a  transportation system for all,” explains Matt Kussin, Manager, Transportation Policy & Programs. “We are very  grateful to residents who are able to take the time to complete this important survey to help us plan for the future.” The last household travel survey in Kingston was completed in 2019, just prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Updating the survey results with current data will help to identify how travel patterns may have changed since and is a critical first step to inform the City’s future mode share targets as part of the development of the Integrated Mobility Plan, previously called the Transportation Master Plan. Watch this video from Mayor Paterson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnZ-9r7wCqg about Kingston Moves and why it’s important. The Kingston Moves survey is being administered on behalf of the City of Kingston by R.A. Malatest & Associates, an independent research firm with extensive experience in municipal and regional travel surveys. Survey invitations will be randomly distributed to residents in Kingston through a letter in the mail from Mayor Paterson. This letter provides more detail on the survey as well as the household’s secure access code. The survey  can be completed online at www.kingstonmoves.ca or by phone at 1-855-412-1935 (toll-free).   8. Great Lakes Museum News Received Sept 26, 2024 Book your tours ( Thursdays to Sundays_and explore the new Keewatin exhibition the Keewatin https://greatlakesmuseum.ca/103610-2/ This new exhibit tells the story of the S.S. Keewatin, the last Edwardian era passenger liner in the world, now berthed and open to visitors at the museum’s historic Kingston Dry Dock. Built four years before RMS Titanic in Glasgow, Scotland, the 350’ Keewatin carried passengers and freight on a scheduled route through the upper Great Lakes region from 1908 to 1965. Prior to or after touring the ship, visitors can now explore the stories of Keewatin’s rich history in the exhibit through interactive displays, artifacts, recordings of past crew members, video and graphic displays, plus video of her arrival to her final home in Kingston at the Great Lakes Museum. Best of all, the exhibit will remain open year-round, allowing visitors to experience the ship even when it is closed for the winter season. And it doesn’t end there, with plans to keep adding to the exhibit, including a ‘virtual tour’ of the ship that would allow those who cannot access the ship to still experience it.  Frights by Night Partnered with Haunted Walks you can hear chilling tales of the supernatural aboard the S.S. Keewatin 9. City’s Climate Change Adaptation:  Summary Received Sept 26, 2024 https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/adaptation-plan/news_feed/what-we-heard?utm_source=ehq_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ehq-What-we-heard-Climate-Change-Adaptation-Plan&utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ehq The results from this public engagement have been shared with the Climate Adaptation Working Group and the ICLEI  project team. Feedback received will be considered for the development of Kingston’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan which will include comprehensive implementation considerations. The plan is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.   10. Kingston Co-operative Homes Celebrates Received from the City of Kingston Sept 18, 2024

Kingston Co-Operative Homes completes new affordable housing project on Princess Street
Kingston Co-Operative Homes is proud to announce the successful completion of a new affordable housing development in the city.
The project was made possible with more than $4 million in capital funding from the City of Kingston and the contribution of land acquired by the City for affordable housing. It also benefitted from capital funding dollars from the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada.
The development, located at 1336 Princess St., includes 38 affordable units and provides a range of rental fees. The three-storey building was occupied in May 2024 and provides much-needed affordable housing in Kingston. On Sept. 18, Kingston Co-Operative Homes hosted an opening event to recognize the achievement.
“We are thrilled to see this project come to fruition and to welcome our new members,” says Dirk Deboer, President of Kingston Co-Operative Homes. “This development not only provides affordable housing but also bolsters the sense of community which is the heart of our co-op.”
“The new affordable housing project is a significant achievement for our city, and I commend Kingston Co-Operative Homes for their dedication and vision,” says Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson. “By turning a vacant lot into a vibrant community, we are not only providing homes but also strengthening who we are as a city. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that all residents have access to safe and affordable housing.”
Kingston Co-Operative Homes is a member-driven organization dedicated to providing affordable housing in Kingston. Established in 1985 with 86 townhouses located at 1338 Princess St., the co-op has since expanded to provide a total of 140 homes.

11: Planting Opportunities with Little Forests Kingston
Received from Little Forests Kingston, Sept 27, 2024
Get your shovels ready, it’s time to  plant Little Forests! We’re planting over 2000 trees and shrubs in three locations:

Date and time: Saturday, October 12, 9 am to 4 pm
Location: 111 Van Order Drive (Kingston Frontenac Housing Corporation)
Activity: planting about 500 trees in west plot
Bring if you are able: shovel, gloves, water bottle
Contact: Nathan Nesdoly 343-363-0492

Date and time: Tuesday, October 15, 9 am to 4 pm
Location: 111 Van Order Drive
Activity: Student and community member planting of east plot (about 400 trees)
Bring if you are able: shovel, gloves, water bottle
Contact: Nathan Nesdoly 343-363-0492

Date and time: Thursday, October 17, 1 pm to 7 pm
Location: 205 Bagot Street (Kingston Frontenac Housing Corporation) Carpool if possible. Street parking is scant
Activity: planting 100 trees in 5 pocket forests
Bring if you are able: shovel, gloves, water bottle
Contact: Nathan Nesdoly 343-363-0492

Date and time: Saturday, October 19, AND Sunday, October 20, 9 am to 4 pm
Location: Grenville Park (Bath and Queen Mary area) corner of Grenville and Westview Roads
Activity: planting 1,000 trees
Bring if you are able: shovel, gloves, water bottle
Contact: Susie Everding 613-449-4730

12. Newly Designated Heritage Properties
Notice of Intention to Pass a By-law to Designate Heritage Properties
Received from the City, Sept 12 Janet Jaynes, City Clerk
161 Princess St. – Mango and adjacent brick\
163-165 & 167 Princess Grecos YGK
23-33 Rideau St.
25 Richard St. Portsmouth Village
427-429 Victoria St./135 Mack St. Willliamsville.
https://www.cityofkingston.ca/news/posts/sept-12-notice-of-intention-to-pass-a-by-law-to-designate/

13. Kingston Climate Expo
This three-week interactive and educational event will showcase various climate change initiatives across Kingston, including efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and will provide opportunities to learn about reducing personal carbon footprints. 
 We will host a number of educational sessions where you will be able to:  

• Tour low-carbon municipal buildings and go behind the scenes to learn about the role these buildings play in reducing emissions.
• Meet agency partners to learn about how to access funding and support for climate-friendly infrastructure projects.
• Learn about innovations in environmentally friendly practices such as vertical gardening, heat pumps and low-till agriculture. 

Presenting Sponsor: Utilities Kingston 
Smart Building Solutions Partner: Modern Niagara
Future-Ready Fleet Partner: Surgenor Truck Group
Sustainable Home Comfort Partner: Mitsubishi Electric Heating and Cooling
Resilient Futures Partner: St. Lawrence College
EcoCity Energy Partner: ICF
EnergyEvolution Partner: MCW
When and where? 
The Climate Expo will be from Oct 3rd until Oct 20, 2024 at multiple locations around Kingston.

Activities
Find information on the timing, locations and details about events for all people, business owners, students and families. You may be required to pre-register for some activities.  

Thursday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 20 – MEET: Plug‘n Drive EV Testing https://go.oncehub.com/MEETKingston
At INVISTA Centre 1350 Gardiners Rd. Kingston.
Register to reserve your spot!  – https://go.oncehub.com/MEETKingston
Stop by INVISTA Centre, to check out Plug‘n Drive’s Mobile Electric Vehicle Education Trailer (MEET). Join an interactive showcase of educational information and hands-on test drives of some of the latest EV models available on the consumer market.  
Friday, Oct. 4 – Presentation Green Horizons: Low Carbon Solutions for Business
EcoImpact Engineer Partner Callidus Engineering
At 945 Princess St., from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. This event is by invitation only. If you’re interested in participating, please email rhorne@cityofkingston.ca. 
We invite businesses, developers, industry professionals and property owners to learn more about project funding sources that are available for decarbonization efforts and the Electric Vehicle/Solar PV connection process from industry experts including Independent Electricity System Operator, Canadian Infrastructure Bank, Enbridge Gas and Utilities Kingston.
Review the list of speakers below.
Coffee Break Sponsor: Podium Developments
Friday, Oct. 4 – Panel discussion: Creating a Pathway to Decarbonization
At 945 Princess St., from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This event is by invitation only. If you’re interested in participating, please email rhorne@cityofkingston.ca. 
Join Modern Niagara, Enbridge Gas, Independent Electricity System Operator, Canadian Infrastructure Bank, Utilities Kingston and the City of Kingston to learn about decarbonization practices. There will also be an opportunity to network and get a tour of a low-carbon building. 
Speakers include:

• City of Kingston: Russell Horne
• Modern Niagara: Cameron MacMurtry (Moderator)
• IESO (SaveOnEnergy): Giorgio Boccalon
• Enbridge (Incentives, Residential and Commercial): Deanna Marley
• Canadian Infrastructure Bank: Gregory Balycky
• Utilities Kingston: Caro Casista and Gagon Gill
• Green Standard Community Improvement Plan: Nathan Manion

Saturday, Oct. 5 – Climate Showcase
Greening the game partner: Zamboni
At 945 Princess St., from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This event is family friendly and admission is free!
Everyone is welcome at the Climate Expo Showcase. Meet City staff plus local businesses and organizations to learn more about their ongoing climate projects and green initiatives taking place in our community. There will be child-friendly activities planned at the showcase, so bring the whole family! 
Presentations include:  

• City of Kingston (10 – 11 a.m.): Learn more about the City’s Climate Initiatives across municipal facilities, transit, transportation and climate leadership.
• Local Food Circularity – Seed to Soil (11 a.m. – 12 p.m.): This panel discussion will cover the circular journey of local food. Topics include growing food traditionally, emerging technologies in vertical farming, local food rescue and community gardens, making sustainable food choices and diverting organic waste to create soil and start the cycle again.
• Eco Storytime with Kingston Frontenac Public Library (2 – 2:30 p.m.)
• Low carbon building tour (1 – 2 p.m.): Join a tour at 945 Princess St., a low-carbon building.

Thursday, Oct. 10 – Women in STEM Panel 
The event is free, but please register to attend via EventBrite.
At the RXN Hub, 945 Princess St., from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 
Join us in partnership with Utilities Kingston and with the support of St. Lawrence College, for an empowering panel discussion, focusing on women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
This event aims to foster solutions-oriented dialogue supporting women in STEM fields, focusing on strategies employers can implement to attract and retain talent. The panel will feature speakers who will share their experiences and insights on navigating STEM careers, highlighting the importance of creating inclusive work environments that encourage participation from all backgrounds. This initiative reflects our commitment to gender diversity and the advancement of women in the professional sphere. 
The event is open to the public, inviting anyone interested in contributing to or learning about the progression of women in STEM careers.
Moderator: Heather Roberts, CET – Utilities Kingston
Panelists:

• Brooke Gilmour, CET – Defense Construction Canada
• Morgan Lehtinen, PhD – RXN HUB
• Judith Pineault, CEPA – Judith Pineault Consulting
• Harriet Waterman, MBA, P.Eng – retired from NRC-IRAP (Government of Canada).

Monday, Oct. 14 and Tuesday Oct. 15 – Energy Treasure Hunt Workshop 
At various schools across the city.
This interactive presentation and activity for elementary and high school students will teach young Kingstonians how to find energy waste in their own home. Presented by Sustainable Kingston and the City of Kingston’s Energy and Asset Management team. 
https://www.facebook.com/events/509678845007410/509684775006817/?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&notif_id=1725968558484888&notif_t=event_profile_plus_create&ref=notif

14. Fungi Fun
Received from the McLachlan Woodworking Museum, Sept 24, 2024
Calling all Fungi Fans! Join us at the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum for an afternoon of mushroom-themed education and crafting. Participants will begin by learning about the different parts of mushrooms and the importance of fungi within local ecosystems. They will then create stamps out of upcycled materials, and use them to decorate mushroom bucket hats to take home.
Date: October 5th, 2024
Time: 1PM-4PM
Cost: $25
Ages: Ages 6-12 (must be accompanied by an adult, only one ticket required, unless the adult would like to make their own hat)
10 Spots Available
https://www.facebook.com/events/547952211016864/?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&notif_id=1727175774761835&notif_t=event_profile_plus_create&ref=notif

15. Fun things to do in Kingston this October
Received from the City, Sept 24, 2024
news@tourismkingston.com – 25 things to do in October in Kingston

16. Lasting Memorial of Bascule Bridge?
City Views: Quiet efforts to turn Kingston’s iconic-yet-scrapped lift bridge into a lasting memorial (kingstonist.com)

17. Construction Underway for new Providence Manor
Facebook posting from Donald Mitchel, Sept 12, 2024
ICYMI: As our population ages and medical advancements help people live longer, the demand for long-term care increases.
The exciting news is that construction is underway for a new, state-of-the-art Providence Manor with 320-beds. This new facility will offer 77 more beds than the current 243-bed location on Sydenham Street, allowing Providence Care to care for members of the #Kingston community in a welcoming and supportive environment. A ground-breaking ceremony on site at 1200 Princess St. took place in January 2024 and it’s expected to be open within a few years.
Read the full story in our 2023-2024 Annual Giving Report: https://bit.ly/3ML1mwA

18. Celebrating Accessibility Awards
Received from the city Sept 10
Nominate a person, organization or business for the 2024 Celebrating Accessibility Awards
Help recognize inclusive leaders by nominating them for the Celebrating Accessibility Awards. The annual awards celebrate individuals, organizations and businesses in Kingston who go above and beyond to improve access for persons with disabilities. 
“Building a more accessible community for everyone requires a collective effort,” says Derek Ochej, Deputy City Clerk. “We encourage community members to nominate those who have shown an outstanding commitment to enhance accessibility. By recognizing their efforts, we can continue this momentum toward a more inclusive Kingston.” 
As part of the nomination process, applicants will note the area(s) their nominee’s work best reflects. The award categories include the built environment, customer service, design of public spaces, education, employment, health care, information and communication, and transportation. 
How to submit a nomination
Learn more about the awards and submit your nomination online at www.CityofKingston.ca/Awards. You can also submit a completed nomination form in person at City Hall, 216 Ontario St.
Completed nomination forms are due by 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7. 
If you have any questions about submitting a nomination, please contact the City Clerk’s department by email at CityClerk@CityofKingston.ca or by phone at 613-546-4291 ext. 1207. 
The award selection committee chooses the finalists from among the nominations received. The selection committee includes five members of the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee. 
Award recipients will be celebrated at a ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 3. More details will be announced in early November.

19. New Carbon Capture Company in Kingston
On Link’d In, Sept 27
Kingston Economic Development Corporation is thrilled to welcome UNDO to Eastern Ontario!

London, UK-based UNDO is revolutionizing carbon capture with its innovative enhanced rock weathering technology. By harnessing nature’s own processes, UNDO has developed technology that accelerates natural weathering processes to remove carbon from the atmosphere while bringing soil and crop benefits to agricultural communities.

In September 2023, UNDO partnered with Canadian Wollastonite (CW), an Ontario mine with access to 17 megatonnes of fast-weathering wollastonite rock. CW’s research discovered that wollastonite captures CO₂ more rapidly than other silicate rocks and offers agronomic benefits such as improved soil pH, crop health, and pest resistance.

Together with UNDO’s advanced rock weathering technique, this partnership will see 50,000 tonnes of wollastonite spread across Eastern Ontario’s agricultural lands.

We’re thrilled to see this groundbreaking technology making a positive impact in our region!
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7241510377107169280/

20. Heritage Hour: Heritage Bridges – Talk Oct 3
Received from the City via Facebook Sept 27, 2024
Discover Kingston’s rich history with Heritage Hour!
The bimonthly sessions feature speakers from across the community who speak about Kingston’s past and living heritage.
Registration is not required, and all are welcome to attend.
Heritage Bridges In conversation with: Dr. Joel Konrad
Thursday, Oct. 3 at 12 p.m., at Memorial Hall in Kingston City Hall
Bridges are an integral part of Ontario’s landscape, experienced daily by millions on our roads and rails. Join us as Dr. Konrad shares his firsthand experiences working with heritage bridges in the province and offers a look into the process of heritage conservation.
Heritage Hour is hosted in Memorial Hall, located on the second floor of City Hall, from 12 – 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 

21.  Brush and Leaf Collection Starts Oct 1
Received from the City, Sept 27, 2024
Brush and Leaf Collection Season Gets Underway in Kingston
Plan your fall yard work around the City’s brush and leaf collection! This year, brush collection will begin on Oct. 1, and leaf collection starts on Nov. 4. 
View the collection schedule at www.CityofKingston.ca/Collection. You can also sign up for collection reminders on the same website. 
Sometimes you may see us collecting ahead of schedule. We’re just trying to get a jump on the season! Don’t worry; we’ll be back in your neighbourhood during your scheduled week. 
Brush Collection
Brush collection rolls out across the city starting the week of Oct. 1. Visit www.CityofKingston.ca/Collection to find your collection week. Please have your brush piled loosely at curbside by 8 a.m. on the Monday of your collection week. 
Stack brush—pruned bits of bushes and trees smaller than 15 cm (six inches) in diameter and shorter than 90 cm (three feet) long—with the butt ends facing the street. No root balls, please. 
Note that brush will not be collected during leaf collection weeks, and leaves will not be collected during brush collection weeks. 
Leaf Collection
Leaf collection begins the week of Nov. 4.Visit www.CityofKingston.ca/Collection for your collection week. Have your leaves ready for collection at curbside by 8 a.m. on the Monday of your leaf collection week. 
Only leaves in paper leaf bags or placed loosely in bushel baskets, garbage cans, or other rigid-sided receptacles will be collected. Yard waste like tomato plants and vegetable garden waste (but not brush) can be put out for collection during leaf collection week. Ensure your bags or containers do not weigh more than 20 kg (44 pounds). 
Leaves in plastic bags—or in bags that look like plastic—will not be picked up by the City. 
Compost your Yard Waste
Leaves can be used as mulch, and grass clippings may be left on the lawn to nourish it over the coming months. 
Yard waste may be dropped off year-round at the Kingston Area Recycling Centre (KARC) at 196 Lappan’s Lane, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or at Tomlinson Organics at 2069 Joyceville Rd. (call 613-546-0884 for their hours of operation). 

22. Kingston’s Medical Officer of Health’s September Update
Received from the Kingstonist, Sept 27 – Michelle Dorey Forestell
Medical Officer gives September public health update – Kingston News (kingstonist.com)
Includes info on West Nile, Pertussus, Invasive Meningocollal Disease, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), COVID 19, Vaccine Rollout and pre-natal French classes
 
FROM FARTHER AFIELD
23.WWF: Climate change and shipping endanger whale migration routes, blue News, September 24, 2024.  According to a report by the environmental organization WWF, shipping traffic in the Arctic is endangering the whales’ traditional migration routes.  In spring and fall, tens of thousands of whales migrate along so-called “blue corridors” to their summer and winter quarters.

24, Record-size Container Ship Sets Course for Arctic via Norwegian Coastline, High North News, September 9, 2024.  A massive container ship, the length of three football fields, traveled up the Norwegian coastline en route to China over the weekend.  It is the latest sign of increasing Arctic traffic passing through the Norwegian and Barents Seas, including sanctioned and possibly underinsured “shadow fleet” vessels

25. Research Brief: Understanding Aquatic Invasive Species Characteristics and Impacts in the Great Lakes, Lake Scientist, September 9, 2024.  A 2024 study published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research identified and quantitatively ranked ANS (Aquatic Nonindigenous Species) in the Great Lakes from highest to lowest impacts by analyzing previously collected data and using an organism impact assessment (OIA) tool developed by the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS).  The goal of the study was to figure out which ANS are most harmful to environmental and socio-economic health in order to create an archetype invader, prioritize limited restoration resources, and predict future invasive species to prevent their continual spread.

26. Autonomous vessel to map the Great Lakes, upword, September 11, 2024.  It has no crew and no mind of its own, but an Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV) is rethinking the way we approach maritime research, and it’s happening in the Upper Peninsula.  The Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) at Michigan Technological University in Houghton is the only freshwater autonomous research site in the world, and this past Monday, September 9, the center launched the pioneering mission of an 8-meter ASV owned by marine robotics company, Ocean Infinity.

27.Enbridge will re-apply for Michigan Line 5 tunnel wetlands permit, MLive, September 11, 2024.  A Canadian pipeline company which is attempting to build an oil pipeline tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac will re-apply for a state permit to build in protected coastal wetlands following the dismissal of a legal challenge.

28 Sea lamprey?  Quagga mussels?  New study ranks the worst invasive species in the Great Lakes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 12, 2024.  One hundred eighty-eight.  That’s the number of aquatic non-native species that have made their way into the Great Lakes as of 2023 – at least the ones that scientists have identified.  In a new study, scientists created a top 10 list of the worst invasive species in the Great Lakes.  The team of scientists from Michigan Sea Grant, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and two Michigan state agencies ranked the invaders based on how they impact the environment and society.

29. Eastern Lake Ontario is now a National Marine Sanctuary, ncpr, September 12, 2024.  Lake Ontario from Cape Vincent in Jefferson County west to Pultneyville near Rochester has been declared a National Marine Sanctuary. 

30.Developing Marine Container Traffic Along the St. Lawrence Seaway, The Maritime Executive, September 15, 2024.  Early initiatives at developing marine container traffic along the St. Lawrence Seaway were unsuccessful and resulted in the withdrawal of services.  Recent changes in international container transportation have re-introduced container shipping to American Great Lakes ports, and a unique approach to customs inspections promises to connect inland American container terminals with nearby Canadian destinations.

OF GENERAL INTEREST

31. Need for Federal Chief Health Accountability Officer
Received from the Health Coalition Sept 12 – Anne Lagace
Public health care advocates have long pointed out that there is no accurate way to track whether federal health care transfers actually get spent on health care.
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA), representing 70,000 doctors and physicians in training, just released A REPORT – https://www.cma.ca/about-us/what-we-do/press-room/new-health-funding-analysis-sparks-call-chief-health-accountability-officer –  analyzing health deals between the federal government and the provinces and territories.
The CMA report concludes that was is needed is a Chief Health Accountability Officer to be appointed by the federal government to see whether the tens of billions tax health dollars from the federal government are really going to the health care system.
The call is part of a new report done for the CMA by one of the top four biggest and most influential auditing and consulting groups in the world, Deloitte. It’s called “Detailed assessment of Canada’s working together plan: A comparative economic and policy analysis of FPT health bilateral agreements in Canada.” https://digitallibrary.cma.ca/link/infotheque495
A similar theme emerges from an investigation by The Canadian Press, in partnership with Humber College StoryLab. They collected data on provincial health budgets and federal health transfers from 2004 to 2023 to track annual spending. They did an analysis of 20 years of health funding that shows that federal transfers were more generous than provincial health spending.
“In 2023, federal health transfers amounted to $47.1 billion, a 212 per cent increase over 2005, when the transfers were $15.1 billion. Total spending by all 10 provinces grew in that time to $221.9 billion up from $86.2 billion, an increase of 158 per cent.”
Similarly, in November of 2022, an exasperated Prime Minister Justine Trudeau said Canadians may want to ask themselves why provinces are demanding more money from Ottawa in health transfers, while they simultaneously “turn around and give tax breaks to the wealthiest.”
Last year, the federal government announced funding of 196 billion dollars over ten years for health care. About 45 billion of that was new money. That funding involved signing one-on-one agreements with each province. In exchange for that $196 billion, the provinces and territories were encouraged to share data in order to better see progress. In March, the Québec government signed on, the last province to do so.
The Government of Canada provides significant financial support to provincial and territorial governments on an ongoing basis to assist them in the provision of programs and services. There are four main transfer programs: the Canada Health Transfer, the Canada Social Transfer, Equalization and Territorial Formula Financing.

32. Feds Decision to Ease PFAS Rules Based on Industry Study
 Received from the National Observer, Sept 12, 2024 – Marc Fawcett-Atkinson
Federal officials are relying on research by chemical industry researchers to exclude Teflon and other fluoropolymers, a type of toxic “forever chemical,” from proposed rules to protect human health and the environment. The exclusion aligns with industry demands aimed at weakening the planned measures. 
The decision to use the 2022 Study – https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ieam.4646 – which states that the authors work for the fluoropolymer industry – as a major justification to exclude the compounds raises questions about the government’s claim the move will not harm people and the environment, observers say.
The study’s lead author, Stephen H. Korzeniowski, states on his website he has over a decade experience lobbying Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Health Canada, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other national regulators on behalf of former employer, chemical giant DuPont, and other industry groups. 
“The government should not be relying on industry-drafted papers, especially one that is so purely written by the industry that profits from fluoropolymers being excluded from the PFAS class,” said Elaine MacDonald, health communities program director at Ecojustice. 
Per- and poly-fluoroakyll substances (PFAS) are a class of about 15,000 toxic grease- and water-resistant chemicals used in everything from firefighting foam to food wrappers. Now found in the blood of nearly everyone on Earth, the chemicals can harm the reproductive and endocrine systems, increase the risk of certain cancers, and lead to developmental delays in children. 
As their nickname – “forever chemicals” – suggests, PFAS accumulate in animals including humans, do not break down in nature, can move easily around the world in water, air and organisms and can persist for decades in the environment. Growing alarm about the chemicals has prompted global efforts to regulate them, including in Canada where the government last year proposed to list the entire class of chemicals as toxic. 
But in July, ECCC backtracked on the proposal. In an updsated draft –  https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/evaluating-existing-substances/updated-draft-state-per-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-report.html, the ministry announced it would exclude fluoropolymers – a type of plastic that includes Teflon, and one of the largest productions and applications of PFAS – from the toxic listing. It justified the exclusion by saying that fluoropolymers “may” expose people to fewer risky chemicals than other types of PFAS. 
That decision is based primarily on the 2022 study, which concluded fluoropolymers are less likely to spread widely through the environment than other PFAS. The study’s conflict of interest declaration states that “the authors are employed by companies that commercially manufacture fluoropolymers.” Some of the companies that manufacture those chemicals, including 3M, have been accused of deliberately hiding the health and environmental effects of their products over decades – https://www.propublica.org/article/3m-forever-chemicals-pfas-pfos-inside-story
Unlike other PFAS, fluoropolymers are integrated into plastic products and less likely than their chemical cousins to leach into the environment. This relative immobility is the basis for the chemical industry’s argument that fluoropolymers are less harmful than other PFAS and should be excluded from stricter regulations. 
Federal officials are relying on research by chemical industry researchers to exclude Teflon and other fluoropolymers, a type of toxic “forever chemical,” from proposed rules to protect human health and the environment.
But researchers say focusing on the environmental impacts and potential health harms of the finished products alone hides their actual environmental impact. Manufacturing Teflon and other fluoropolymers uses other, more dangerous PFAS chemicals. These compounds are known to contaminate the environment surrounding manufacturing facilities, said Rainer Lohmann, a professor of oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. 
“Basically, anywhere where there’s a major fluoropolymer producer, they seem to have succeeded in contaminating the entire region with their production process,” he said. 
MacDonald, from Ecojustice, added that fluoropolymers can also break down into microplastics, which have been found everywhere on Earth and in human bodies. There is growing evidence these tiny particles harm human health and leach harmful chemicals – including PFAS – into the environment and living organisms.  
Industry groups have been pushing federal officials to exclude fluoropolymers from the government’s plans to more strictly regulate PFAS. This push for exclusion is evident in a 2023 submission by the the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada to government consultations on listing PFAS chemicals as toxic. 
According to Canada’s federal lobbying registry, six chemical or energy companies – including Shell Canada – have also lobbied the government on PFAS-related issues in the past year. 
ECCC was given a day to respond to questions from Canada’s National Observer on why it used the 2022 study as a source to justify excluding fluoropolymers from proposed PFAS rules, and why it did not highlight the authors’ industry affiliation. It did not respond by deadline. 
The ministry’s move to remove fluoropolymers from its proposed rules suggests those industry lobbying efforts have worked, MacDonald said. Using a study with self-declared ties to the chemical industry to back up the ministry’s decision to exclude fluoropolymers “just kind of shows a little bit of what’s happening behind the scenes in terms of where the government is taking the industry’s word,” she said. 

Federal officials are relying on research by chemical industry researchers to exclude Teflon and other fluoropolymers, a type of toxic “forever chemical,” from proposed rules to protect human health and the environment. The exclusion aligns with industry demands aimed at weakening the planned measures. 
The decision to use the 2022 study – which states that the authors work for the fluoropolymer industry – as a major justification to exclude the compounds raises questions about the government’s claim the move will not harm people and the environment, observers say.
The study’s lead author, Stephen H. Korzeniowski, states on his website he has over a decade experience lobbying Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Health Canada, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other national regulators on behalf of former employer, chemical giant DuPont, and other industry groups. “The government should not be relying on industry-drafted papers, especially one that is so purely written by the industry that profits from fluoropolymers being excluded from the PFAS class,” said Elaine MacDonald, health communities program director at Ecojustice. 
Per- and poly-fluoroakyll substances (PFAS) are a class of about 15,000 toxic grease- and water-resistant chemicals used in everything from firefighting foam to food wrappers. Now found in the blood of nearly everyone on Earth, the chemicals can harm the reproductive and endocrine systems, increase the risk of certain cancers, and lead to developmental delays in children. 
As their nickname – “forever chemicals” – suggests, PFAS accumulate in animals including humans, do not break down in nature, can move easily around the world in water, air and organisms and can persist for decades in the environment. Growing alarm about the chemicals has prompted global efforts to regulate them, including in Canada where the government last year proposed to list the entire class of chemicals as toxic. 
But in July, ECCC backtracked on the proposal. In an updated draft, the ministry announced it would exclude fluoropolymers – a type of plastic that includes Teflon, and one of the largest productions and applications of PFAS – from the toxic listing. It justified the exclusion by saying that fluoropolymers “may” expose people to fewer risky chemicals than other types of PFAS. 
That decision is based primarily on the 2022 study, which concluded fluoropolymers are less likely to spread widely through the environment than other PFAS. The study’s conflict of interest declaration states that “the authors are employed by companies that commercially manufacture fluoropolymers.” Some of the companies that manufacture those chemicals, including 3M, have been accused of deliberately hiding the health and environmental effects of their products over decades. 
Unlike other PFAS, fluoropolymers are integrated into plastic products and less likely than their chemical cousins to leach into the environment. This relative immobility is the basis for the chemical industry’s argument that fluoropolymers are less harmful than other PFAS and should be excluded from stricter regulations. 
Federal officials are relying on research by chemical industry researchers to exclude Teflon and other fluoropolymers, a type of toxic “forever chemical,” from proposed rules to protect human health and the environment.
But researchers say focusing on the environmental impacts and potential health harms of the finished products alone hides their actual environmental impact. Manufacturing Teflon and other fluoropolymers uses other, more dangerous PFAS chemicals. These compounds are known to contaminate the environment surrounding manufacturing facilities, said Rainer Lohmann, a professor of oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. 
“Basically, anywhere where there’s a major fluoropolymer producer, they seem to have succeeded in contaminating the entire region with their production process,” he said. 
MacDonald, from Ecojustice, added that fluoropolymers can also break down into microplastics, which have been found everywhere on Earth and in human bodies. There is growing evidence these tiny particles harm human health and leach harmful chemicals – including PFAS – into the environment and living organisms.  
Industry groups have been pushing federal officials to exclude fluoropolymers from the government’s plans to more strictly regulate PFAS. This push for exclusion is evident in a 2023 submission by the the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada to government consultations on listing PFAS chemicals as toxic. 
According to Canada’s federal lobbying registry, six chemical or energy companies – including Shell Canada – have also lobbied the government on PFAS-related issues in the past year. 
ECCC was given a day to respond to questions from Canada’s National Observer on why it used the 2022 study as a source to justify excluding fluoropolymers from proposed PFAS rules, and why it did not highlight the authors’ industry affiliation. It did not respond by deadline. 
The ministry’s move to remove fluoropolymers from its proposed rules suggests those industry lobbying efforts have worked, MacDonald said. Using a study with self-declared ties to the chemical industry to back up the ministry’s decision to exclude fluoropolymers “just kind of shows a little bit of what’s happening behind the scenes in terms of where the government is taking the industry’s word,” she said. 

33. Having Sex with Somebody You Love Doesn’t Make Loving Sex
Received from Alexey Welsh, Sept 18
Editor’s Note: He is the only one I have found who really emphasizes the spiritual connection sex can offer. Our North-American culture is so uptight about sex, possibly because of the Puritan history and also possibly because the early Jesuit teachings (described well by Mark Bourrie in his recent biography of Brebeuf).
Annoying that he keeps trying to make you buy his expensive counselling services but these short free videos are interesting.Here are a couple of examples.:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ein3MID7qF0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jS3MnHQMUo

So that’s it for now.
Cheers,
Mary Farrar, President,
Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour