A blue movement is spreading across our country, our province, and our municipalities. The Blue Dot Movement is a national campaign organized by the David Suzuki Foundation based on every Canadian’s right to a healthy environment, including clean air and water. Currently, there is nothing under Canadian environmental law that recognizes Canadians’ right to a healthy environment. Since more than 110 countries have this right protected under their constitution, and many more also include this right in their environmental laws, it is time for swift action to ensure that all Canadians have a say in decisions that affect their own health and well-being.

Here in Northumberland County, I am proud to say that Alderville First Nation and two out of the seven municipalities have declared their citizens’ right to a healthy environment. Cobourg first declared in late 2017, with Port Hope following suit in early 2018. Work continues among the dedicated volunteers to spread the word among the citizens of Northumberland County. This will help put more pressure on municipal, provincial, and federal governments to include this right for every Canadian.

Why this is important

• 1 in 4 low income Canadians live within one kilometer of a major source of industrial pollution. This needs to change. If we all had a right to a healthy environment, industry would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that they are not polluting the air and water of their neighbours. Too often, this vulnerable population does not have the resources or legal backing to ensure their right to a healthy environment. They need our help.
• 85% of Canadians say our government should recognize the right to a healthy environment. This represents how much Canadians love the natural world around them. Whether it’s fishing, camping, hiking, skiing or simply sitting on the patio, Canadians love the outdoors. It’s time we protected the places we love.
• Climate Change is happening and unfortunately Canada will not meet its’ targets set by the Paris Climate Agreement if trends continue. Canada continues to contribute to the fossil fuel industry, a major source of air and water pollution. What future version of our Blue Planet do you want to see?
• Our environmental laws are not working to protect the people and places we love. Modernization to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) is much needed. Modernization should include the introduction of enforceable national air quality standards, stronger protection from toxic exposure, and the recognition of the basic human right to a healthy environment, as well as adequate protection for vulnerable populations. Once CEPA is modernized, efforts will turn to amending the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to include the right to a healthy environment.

To continue being a leader in environmental and social justice, Canada’s environmental laws must evolve to finally recognize every citizen’s right to a healthy environment. With a progress update on CEPA modernization expected in June, we hope that the federal government is listening.

How you can help

Go online and sign the House of Commons E-Petition for CEPA Reform: https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-1659

Write a letter to your Member of Parliament!

Example:https://action2.davidsuzuki.org/FEBR?utm_campaign=blueDotCepaReview-crucialEnvironmentalLawImprovements-en-22aug2017&utm_source=website&utm_medium=blog

Tweet your MP!

Example: http://bluedot.ca/tweet-your-mp/

Volunteer:

Email bluedotnorthumberland@gmail.com to get in touch with organizers and help spread the word.

  Just a quick reminder to meet at 9:00 a.m. Saturday April 28th at Victoria Hall. Sustainable Cobourg team needs YOU! We are a ‘for benefit’ organization of volunteers. It benefits the Town and all of us.

If you haven’t got any place to grow your veggies or flowers, try this group that came out of a consultation Sustainable Cobourg had in 2015. Its in James Tracey Park (Spencer Street) behind the ‘No Frills’ grocery store off Division St. Very reasonable rates. Check out the particulars online: https://www.facebook.com/cobourgcommunitygardengroup/

You want some plants? Well you could get them at “Red Tractor Farm and Market” , one of our Corporate Members, where Julie will be happy to provide a great selection plus ‘goodies’ plus a ‘food box’ that you can sign up for to be delivered.

MAY 19th is their Planet Sale. Hope to see you there!

Happy Earth Day! Well, really every day should be Earth Day but its nice to have a special day set aside. I think nature is helping us feel more like celebrating too because….no snow/ice/hail/rain has descended on us as it did last weekend! Yikes! So when we reflect on what we can do to help sustain our planet it’s pretty obvious that we are drowning in waste especially plastic and that is a main focus for us here at Sustainable Cobourg. We are hoping to redirect people’s thinking to substitute words like ‘garbage’ and ‘waste’ to LANDFILL, because that’s where it all ends up (or the oceans , lakes, rivers and streams). It’s polluting and dangerous. Not just because of the methane gas that is produced which is one of the contributing Greenhouse Gases that is interfering with regular climate patterns, but also because it pollutes our environment and by ‘our’ I don’t just mean human beings!

We are hoping that some of you will help do something, not in a big way, but in an important way, to deal with getting rid of the ‘garbage’ in our Town.

On April 28th Sustainable Cobourg will join the Town’s “Pitch-In” program. Please join us if you can. We meet at Victoria Hall Lobby at 9:00a.m. If you know you can come please contact Sustainable Cobourg so we can inform Renee Champagne about how many of us there will be.

Another event that we’re excited about is our ‘All Candidates Forum’ on May 30 at 1185 Elgin St. from 7:00 p.m. I’ll write more about that later. We have confirmed that 5 candidates will attend: Liberal, Lou Rinaldi; Conservative, David Picinni; Green, Jeff Wheeldon; NDP, Jana Papuckoski; Trillium, Derek Sharp. A full slate!

Keep in touch!