Press Releases
Press Releases issued by the SES.
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2010
June 29: Environmentalists Praise Government of Canada's Commitment to Help Developing Countries Tackle Climate Change
(Saskatoon) June 29, 2010 -- The Saskatchewan Environmental Society today praised the federal government for their announcement of $400 million to be directed to help poorer countries tackle climate change impacts.
To read the full release, click here
June 29: Saskatchewan Environmental Society Opposes Planned Sale of Uranium to India
(Saskatoon) June 29, 2010 -- Prime Minister Harper has made a serious error by entering into a formal agreement by which Canada will reopen uranium exports to India.
To read the full release, click here
May 31: Retire Your Ride Helps Saskatchewan Breathe Easier on Clean Air Day
Regina Car Share Co-operative signs on to Canada’s National Vehicle Recycling Program
(REGINA) May 31, 2010 – Whether it’s two wheels or four, Retire Your Ride – Canada’s Vehicle Recycling Program offers choices that are helping Saskatchewan breathe easier this Clean Air Day. To celebrate, on June 2 at 11 a.m. in the parking lot at Artesian on 13th located in Regina at 2627 13th Avenue, Retire Your Ride will be announcing the addition of the Regina Car Share Cooperative to the list of rewards available in Saskatchewan.
To read the full release, click here
May 17: Saskatchewan Environmental Society Calls for Wildlife Habitat Protection Act Amendments to be Withdrawn and Rewritten
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society today called on Environment Minister Hon. Nancy Heppner to reconsider her proposed amendments to the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act and withdraw the bill from deliberation during the current legislative session.
“Our Society has a strong preference for retaining as Crown land the 3.5 million acres currently under protection” said Allyson Brady, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society. “We do not support the provincial government’s plan to sell off hundreds of thousands of acres of this land to private individuals. We believe the bill now before the Assembly will lead to further habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, thus adding stress on wildlife populations, such as grassland bird species, several of which are already in sharp decline.”
“Not only do these lands provide essential habitat for wildlife in our province, but they contribute to the provision of water quality, air quality, pollination of plants, cycling of nutrients and other essential ecological services” said Peter Prebble, Director of Energy and Water Policy with the Environmental Society. “One of the immediate impacts of the provincial government’s amendments is that between 200,000 and 350,000 acres of previously protected land will be available for sale very quickly, with all previous provisions of protection removed completely.”
Examples of changes the Saskatchewan Environmental Society would like to see the legislation include are:
- No wildlife habitat lands belonging to the Crown should be sold in Saskatchewan’s forest fringe, where there are significant pressures to see wildlife habitat lands cleared for agricultural purposes or wood harvesting.
- In other parts of Saskatchewan, when any provincial crown land with good wildlife habitat on it is sold, a conservation easement should always be attached and that easement should be enforced.
- A policy of “no net loss” of Crown lands with good wildlife habitat should be retained in every eco-region of the province.
- Wildlife habitat withdrawals should not be done by government regulation, as proposed in Minister Heppner’s bill. Rather, they should only be done by legislation.
For further information or interviews, contact:
Allyson Brady, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Environmental Society
Telephone: 306-665-1915 in Saskatoon
Peter Prebble, Director of Energy and Water Policy, Saskatchewan Environmental Society
Telephone: 306-665-1915 in Saskatoon
Click here to read the letter sent to Minister Nancy Heppner (PDF)
April 22: The Saskatchewan Environmental Society Proposes an Action Plan to Achieve Deep Cuts to Greenhouse Gase Pollution in Saskatchewan
Bert Weichel, President of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society today released a recommended plan of action aimed at slashing greenhouse gas pollution in Saskatchewan 40% by the year 2020. “Greenhouse gas pollution has been on a steady rise in Saskatchewan” said Weichel. “At 73.8 tonnes of emissions per capita, we are now one of the highest greenhouse gas polluting jurisdictions in the entire world. The international scientific community is recommending that Canada reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% by the year 2020. The Saskatchewan Government should adopt that reduction target and implement the public policy changes needed to accomplish it.”
To read the full release (PDF), click here
To read the action plan (PDF), click here
April 21: Saskatchewan's Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the Rise
New data just submitted by the Government of Canada to the United Nations shows that greenhouse gas pollution in Saskatchewan is getting worse. Peter Prebble, Director of Energy and Water Policy with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society drew attention to the new data this morning, pointing out that while greenhouse gas pollution levels here deteriorated, there were small improvements in six Canadian provinces. The newly released data is contained in the April 2010 Canadian Government Submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and is for the calendar year 2008.
To read the full release (PDF), click here
April 21: Retire Your Ride Surpasses 1900 Vehicles
(Saskatoon) April 21, 2010 – Retire Your Ride, Canada’s National Vehicle Recycling Program, is proud to have successfully retired over 1900 vehicles across Saskatchewan since the program’s launch in Saskatchewan at last year’s Earth Day. On April 23 at 1:00 P.M., Retire Your Ride will be holding a press conference at the Swim Bike Run Sportstore to ring in a new year of working towards clean air, rewards and a greener future.
“The goal of Retire Your Ride was and always will be to improve air quality, encourage the use of sustainable transportation and reward Canadians for making decisions that will positively impact the environment,” said Jen Antony, Program Coordinator for Retire Your Ride with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, the provincial delivery agent for Retire Your Ride. “I am happy to say that the program is exceeding its goal of retiring 50,000 vehicles across Canada per year until 2011, preventing the emission of 2,000 tonnes of smog-forming emissions.”
Funded by the Government of Canada, Retire Your Ride is a national program designed to effectively and efficiently retire 1995 model year or older vehicles in an environmentally responsible manner, in an effort to improve air quality and encourage the use of sustainable transportation. Currently in Saskatchewan, participants can choose from up to $1500.00 worth of rewards, including up to $490.00 off the purchase of a new bicycle.
“Bicycles can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of Canadians,” said Gary Christopher owner and operator of the Swim Bike Run Sportstore. “By partnering with Retire Your Ride, we are reminding Canadians that bicycles are also an important contributor to the health and well-being of the environment, and a key element of sustainable transportation.”
But it is not only Canadian residents and reward providers that are taking note of the program; recyclers from across the province have also identified the benefits of partnering with the program.
“Best business practices in auto recycling is something we are pleased to be part of,” said Ed Smith, owner and operator of Smith Steel. “As a Retire Your Ride Recycler, we follow a national code that ensures recyclers prevent hazardous materials in these old cars from contaminating our water, soil, and air during and after the recycling the process. This makes environmental and good business sense.”
“Retire Your Ride has already permanently retired more than 1900 vehicles from Saskatchewan’s highways,” said Antony. “By reclaiming the materials from these vehicles and properly caring for them, we are creating economic opportunity and a healthy future for every Canadian.”
Participating in the program is simple. Canadians with vehicles that are 1995 model year or older, in running condition and have been registered and insured for the last six months can call 1-877-773-1996 or log on to www.retireyourride.ca.
In June 2008, the Government of Canada committed $92 million over four years to the Retire Your Ride program to help Canadians across the country recycle their older, higher polluting vehicles and make sustainable transportation choices which leads to reduced air pollution. It is managed nationally by Summerhill Impact and regionally by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society. The program runs until March 31, 2001.
About Summerhill – www.summerhillgroup.ca
Summerhill is North America’s leading market transformation organization, with the mission to develop and execute
strategies that move the market toward better choices for consumers and the environment. Summerhill works with over 50 electric and gas utilities across the country and
engages more than 40 retailers and manufacturers on various strategic environmental initiatives. Summerhill has extensive experience in running large-scale campaigns
that successfully motivate people to take environmental action. With offices in Toronto, Montreal, Regina, and New York, Summerhill has 50 full-time staff and over 2,500
part-time representatives trained for program delivery across Canada and the U.S.
About Swim, Bike, Run Sportstore
The Swim, Bike, Run Sportstore offers accessories that have to do with swimming, biking or running.
You don’t look any further – this store carries it all!
About Smith Steel
As an auto recycler based out of Yorkton Saskatchewan, Smith Steel has long been an environmentally conscious recycler.
About the Saskatchewan Environmental Society – www.environmentalsociety.ca
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society is a non-profit, registered charity whose mandate is to work towards a world in which all needs can be met in sustainable ways.
Sustainability will require healthy ecosystems, healthy livelihoods and healthy human communities. We follow developing environmental issues and press for responsible action
at the local, provincial, national and international levels. We are frequent participants in environmental assessment processes and multi-stakeholder task groups. Active in
Saskatchewan since 1970, we are located in the heart of downtown Saskatoon employing a number of pertinent environmental projects.
For more information, please contact: Jen Antony, Coordinator, Retire Your Ride, Saskatchewan Environmental Society. 306-956-2277
March 22: Support the Planet - Turn off Your Lights
At 8.30 pm on Saturday March 27th, the world will turn off the lights for just one hour – Earth Hour – to show symbolic support for action on climate change. The Saskatchewan Environmental Society, along with its partners at the City of Saskatoon, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, Meewasin Valley Authority, Road Map Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council, Saskatoon Health Region, Saskatoon Public Schools, SIAST, TCU Place, Saskatoon Public Library, Mendel Art Gallery, Innovation Place and the University of Saskatchewan, encourage you to turn off your lights at home and in the office for Earth Hour.
To read the full release (PDF), click here.
2009
August 13: Will Saskatchewan Oil Sands be a Carbon Copy of Alberta’s Mistakes?
Comprehensive new report outlines risks of poorly managed oil sands development and proposes a new approach
Saskatoon, August 13, 2009 — Oil sands development in Saskatchewan should be paused immediately so that appropriate planning and regulatory processes can be put in place before further development occurs, says a report released today by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) in conjunction with the Pembina Institute and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. The report, Carbon Copy: Preventing Oil Sands Fever in Saskatchewan, outlines key steps that would be required to ensure any oil sands development proceeds responsibly.
>> read full release (PDF)
August 10: New Data Show Northern Saskatchewan Lakes at High Risk from Alberta Acid Rain Emissions
New monitoring data on rainfall in northern Saskatchewan and recently published research on the acid sensitivity of northern Saskatchewan soils show the urgent need for federal and provincial action to control Alberta oil sands pollution, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society said today.
>> read full release (PDF)
July 30: Saskatoon Health Region Praised for Showing Leadership in Eliminating the Use of Herbicides
SASKATOON – A group of provincial organizations is applauding the Saskatoon Health Region for eliminating the use of potentially harmful chemicals for weed control on its grounds. The health region has decided not to use herbicides at Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon City Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital and Parkridge Centre in order to prevent unnecessary chemical exposure to employees, patients and visitors.
>> read full release (PDF)
June 22: Industrial Water Use Not Measuring Up
The province of Saskatchewan does not currently know how much water is being consumed by industry, says the Saskatchewan Environmental Society.
Research work undertaken for the Saskatchewan Environmental Society by R. Halliday & Associates has found that for some industries, neither water withdrawals nor return flows to rivers are being measured. This makes it impossible to tell just how much water is being consumed.
>> read full release (PDF)
>> read full report (PDF)
April 23: Saskatchewan Environmental Society Calls for Reinstatement of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society is calling on Saskatchewan Environment Minister Nancy Heppner and Premier Brad Wall to reconsider their decision to “water down” Saskatchewan’s greenhouse gas reduction targets.
>> read full release (PDF)
April 22: Retire Your Ride Saskatchewan Rewards Announced Today
SASKATOON - Saskatchewan residents will soon breathe easier thanks to Canada’s new vehicle recycling program, Retire Your Ride. Managed by Clean Air Foundation and delivered locally by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, the program aims to effectively and efficiently recycle 1995 model year or older vehicles in an environmentally responsible manner. This national initiative is an effort to improve air quality and encourage the use of sustainable transportation.
>> read full release (PDF)
2008
December 1: Oil Sands Development Rides Roughshod Over Protected Areas Says Provincial Environmental Group
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society is calling on the Provincial
Government to exempt lands that merit protected status from further oil
sands exploration and development.
>> read full release (PDF)
>> read letter to Premier Brad Wall (PDF)
>> view map of small protected areas (JPG)
>> view map of oil sands land sales area (PDF)
September 22: Saskatoon Health Region and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre: Recognizing the Link between Human and Environmental Health
Saskatoon, SK- Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) has licensed the Energy Awareness (EA) program from the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES). ENERGY AWARENESS is a workplace-training program that educates employees on how to be more energy and water efficient while reducing waste.
>> read full release (PDF)
September 16: Key Lake Mill and Tailings Pit Need Tougher Regulations
Waste disposal practices at the Key Lake uranium mill have received a “below requirements” grade from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, a warning sign that all is not well, says the Saskatchewan Environmental Society.
>> read full release (PDF)
March 27: Environmentalists Call For Freeze On OIL SANDS Exploration
Permits
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society has called on the Minister of Environment to undertake a Strategic Regional Environmental Assessment of the watersheds of the Clearwater, Descharmes, Firebag and Richardson Rivers in north western Saskatchewan before any further permits are issued for exploratory drilling or seismic work related to oil sand development.
>> read full release (PDF)
>> read letter to Minister (PDF)
March 26: SES Supports Earth Hour
At 8 pm on March 29th, the world will turn off its lights for just one hour – Earth Hour – to show symbolic support for action on climate change. The Saskatchewan Environmental Society, along with its partners, encourage you to turn off your lights at home, and in the office, for Earth Hour. >> read full release (PDF)
March 25: Peter Prebble Joins Environmental Society Leadership Team
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society is very pleased to announce that Peter Prebble has re-joined the Society’s workforce. >> read full release (PDF)
2007
June 11: TILMA Undemocratic, Says Organization
“The Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA), is not good for Saskatchewan” says Murray Hidlebaugh, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society. >> read full release
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