Conservation

https://mailchi.mp/a3cac5af95c0/september-2023-haliburton-land-trust-new...

On April 17, the Ontario Government introduced Bill 5, named the "Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act" 2025.

This bill includes proposed changes to a number of pieces of legislation currently in effect, with the aim of expediting investment in areas such as mining and power generation. Some of the affected legislation includes the Endangered Species Act (which is repealed and replaced), the Environmental Assessment Act, the Environmental Protection Act, and the Ontario Heritage Act.

Under Bill 5, the 2007 Endangered Species Act is to be replaced by the Species Conservation Act, 2025. These measures are subject to a public consultation open until 17 May 2025, which can be accessed through the Environmental Registry of Ontario, ERO number 025-0380.

The new framework appears to limit the requirements on certain types of development to mitigate or eliminate the impacts of a project on endangered species. This may provide impetus for power generation and mining projects in Ontario's boreal region.

Information on Bill 5 can be found here:

https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-44/session-...

https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/hydroelectricity-could-replace-die...

The proposed water power plant northeast of Iqaluit that would replace all of the city’s diesel-generated electricity could be operational by 2033, says Jess Puddister, manager of strategy and operations at Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corp.

“We will no longer have to depend on southern companies to provide us with the means to generate energy,” she said during a public meeting at the Aqsarnitt hotel in Iqaluit Tuesday night attended by more than 50 people, including Premier P.J. Akeeagok, Justice Minister David Akeeagok and Iqaluit MLAs George Hickes and Adam Arreak Lightstone.

Hydroelectric power generation uses moving water to turn turbines, which spin to produce electricity. The project would include an approximately 50-metre-high dam and a powerhouse built along the Kuugaluk River, about 60 kilometres northeast of Iqaluit.

Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corp. is an Inuit-owned subsidiary of Qikiqtaaluk Corp. It started work on the hydroelectric plant in 2022. Qulliq Energy Corp. initiated the project, but in 2014 it was put on hold due to a lack of funding.

https://www.sealriverwatershed.ca/the-latest/sealriveipafeasiblity

Onimiki Renewable Energy L.P. announces the next steps of its information and consultation process.

Over the past few years, Onimiki Renewable Energy has held some thirty public and targeted meetings that have helped us improve the project. The feedback we receive will also be included in our impact assessment, which is set to be submitted at the end of 2025 or in early 2026.

An additional series of open to all public meetings are being planned to reach the widest possible audience. You will find the dates below.

We also plan to hold open to all thematic workshops to further certain topics in detail. These workshops are scheduled to take place in April and June, and further details will be shared at the upcoming public meetings.

As an organization involved in the project, we hope you will be able to attend.

Onimiki Renewable Energy remains committed to developing, in consultation with the community, a responsible and balanced project that takes into account the various aspects of territorial development.

It is important to remember that the Onimiki project is still at the preliminary design stage. There are still many opportunities for people to make their voices heard as part of our consultations.

Meeting calendar
Meetings open to all (in French)
When: Tuesday, March 18, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Le Centre-Salle Dottori
20 rue Humphrey, Témiscaming
Online: https://onimiki.ca/meetings

When: Thursday, March 20, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Centre Richelieu
51 Notre-Dame Street East, Lorrainville
Online: https://onimiki.ca/meetings

Open to all (in English)
When: Tuesday, April 22, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Le Centre-Salle Dottori
20 rue Humphrey, Témiscaming
Online: https://onimiki.ca/meetings

We thank you and wish you a good day.
Omnikimi Energy

https://www.highlandscorridor.ca/news/
Have a look at this initiative in central Ontario.

The Dumoine river now has been awarded full protection status for its entire length. FOD are looking for volunteers as well for the cabin project at mouth of the Dumoine this spring and as well hosts for the Grande Chute Cabin through its open months.

https://sentierdumoine.ca/en/home

https://onimiki.ca/en/the-project/
this project for paddlers awareness involves restoration of an older generating stations building of 2 more, a diversion tunnel from Lac Kipiwa Resavoir to Lac Témiscamingue.

If members are interested this project will tunnel bore a new diversion to a new power station. Kipiwa river flows will be altered. This project is supported by WOlf Lake First Nations and the quebec government

The Wilderness Canoe Association was one of 87 organizations included as signatories to an open letter recently sent to three Ontario government ministers --Environment, Natural Resources, and Municipal Affairs and Housing-- on the topic of Restoring Provincial Wetland Protections in Ontario. A pdf of the letter is attached to this post.

The letter documents recent changes to provincial legislation and regulations that have weakened the protection of Ontario's wetlands, which are a critical resource for the preservation of biodiversity and for the mitigation of climate change impacts. Wetland areas are often of great cultural significance to indigenous peoples. In addition, wetlands across the province represent one of the most accessible opportunities for people to experience nature first-hand, both in urban and more remote areas, from the seat of a canoe.

The letter documents many different sources of stress on wetlands and provides a useful overview of ways in which the provincial government must reconcile environmental protection with other policy objectives. The joint letter was orchestrated by Ontario Nature. Many of the numerous signatories to the letter are focused on particular regional conservation activities that may be of interest to individual WCA members, providing local opportunities for engagement on these issues.

Additional information can be found at the Ontario Nature Wetlands web page:

https://ontarionature.org/campaigns/wetlands/

Test by Gary