Let’s put this election in its real context:  We are currently facing the greatest threat to the liveability of our planet in human civilization.  Scientists like NASA’s James Hansen are telling us that our carbon emissions are already well into the red zone.  Other scientists are warning us about the relentless build-up of toxics in our environment and the snowballing extinction of species.

So it’s time to discuss something more substantive than which party has the best TV ads.  It’s time to talk about how we are going to remake Canada’s approach to living sustainably. It’s time to talk about how we are going to keep the natural world that is the foundation of our prosperity healthy and functioning.  It’s a big subject, but it is also one that we should expect any party that wants to form a government to have some big ideas about.

As the people who think, eat and breathe environmental issues on a daily basis, we have plenty to say about what Canada could be doing better and what it needs to be doing right now.  We’ve put these ideas down in a document called Tomorrow Today: How Canada can make a world of difference (available at tomorrowtodaycanada.ca).  It’s a call to action and an agenda for how to transform our country from an environmental laggard – ranked 28^th out of 29 developed countries by the OECD on a survey of key environmental indicators – to being a world leader. 

Let’s be clear: There are big changes coming, whether we are ready or not.   Unchecked climate change will devastate our environment and dramatically reshape our world.  A continuing loss of biodiversity is going to leave us more and more vulnerable to sudden and radical shifts in natural systems.  And continuing to dump toxins and pollutants into our atmosphere and waterways is going to leave us scrambling to cope with the massive health and economic impacts of dirty air and water.

So, as the politicians like to say, we need to get ahead of the curve.  We need to make the transition to a more sustainable economy by recognizing the false (in fact, insane) economy of allowing companies to freely pollute.  We need to protect far more of our forests, waters and wetlands because they are immensely valuable assets — assets most countries can only dream of once possessing — instead of treating them as an endless source of cheap resources.  And we need to recognize that we have the world-leading wealth, resources and know- how to be global leaders in sustainability – all we need is the will.

The place to start is with addressing climate change.  Climate change essentially takes all of our other environmental problems and puts them in overdrive.  So it is time for Canada to demonstrate some seriousness on this issue by putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions: a minimum of $30 a tonne (CO² or equivalent) by 2009 rising to $75 a tonne by 2020.   This would be a powerful signal sent across our society about the need to act now on getting our wasteful and polluting energy practices under control, to increase our productivity and efficiency, and to be innovators in developing new low-carbon technologies.

A number of provinces are already moving forward along these lines.  B.C. has introduced a modest carbon tax, Quebec has some carbon pricing and Ontario is gearing up for carbon cap and trade through the Western Climate Initiative.  But these efforts will be much more effective coupled with strong federal laws and policies that make it clear that we will act on our international commitments to reduce our emissions and that we understand the immense benefits of moving to a green economy in a planned and controlled manner, instead of in panicked response to a growing wave of environmental disasters.

Canadian voters get this.  They have told pollsters again and again that they believe action on the environment and the economy is not incompatible.  In fact, more and more, Canadians recognize that economic and environmental issues are really two sides of the same coin.

So don’t flip a coin when it comes time to vote.  Ask your candidates if they have a roadmap for a prosperous, sustainable future for this country.  Show them Tomorrow Today and challenge them to respond.  Let’s make this an election about an issue that matters – who can provide the leadership to take this country through some of the biggest challenges we have ever faced to a greener future.

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The battle over bottled water is on, and cities and town across Canada are leading the way, turning the tide on water bottlers.  They are small victories, but quickly adding up.

The latest municipality to catch the wave, at the time of writing this, was Waterloo Region in southern Ontario.  But earlier this summer the City of London, Ontario passed a resolution to restrict the sale of bottled water at public facilities.  St. John’s Newfoundland, Nelson B.C. and others have passed similar restrictions and cities and towns across the country are considering the same, including Toronto later this fall.  

While the move to restrict the sale of bottled water by municipalities is largely symbolic, it sends a great message.  It promotes sustainable living.  It underlines a commitment to the environment, reducing resource consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and waste.  It puts faith back into municipal water systems.  It protects local sources of water.  And it promotes cost-effective government operations. 

If the environmental, health and economic arguments against bottled water are not clear, visit www.insidethebottle.org.   We really need to commend the dedicated people at the Polaris Institute (www.polarisinstitute.org) for holding the hands of municipal law makers as they travelled these turbulent waters. The bottled water industry is nothing to scoff at.  They are the heavy hitters of the beverage community.  Coke, Pepsi, Nestle.  These guys have been influencing governments for a long time and they make big waves with their deep pockets.  Good thing we know how to surf! 

Criticism has been minimal, but beverage company executives have been showing up to council meetings to plead their case.  While sales at many of these venues are miniscule for most water bottlers, they know this is could end up being a big loss for them.  It’s the first domino to fall and they know it.

We need all cities and towns to use their influence.  Get your community on board.  Call or write your councillors. Fill your reusable bottle with tap water and leave the bottled water on the shelf. 

Mike Layton, Environmental Defence

Our report “Tomorrow Today: How Canada can make a world of difference” www.tomorrowtodaycanada.ca outlines concrete actions the new government could focus on to ensure we significantly reduce our greenhouse gas pollution, produce and use energy more wisely, protect our wild spaces, fresh water and oceans, and reduce our exposure toxic substances.All of these actions will result in a much better tomorrow.

The question is, will NDP’s Jack Layton, the Conservatives’ Steven Harper, the Liberals’ Stephane Dion, the Bloc’s Gilles Duceppe and the Green’s Elizabeth May step up to make real and meaningful commitments during the election campaign that will address the major environmental challenges we face in Canada?

We have made it as easy as possible for all parties to incorporate the recommended actions in “Tomorrow Today” first into their platforms and then in action when they are sitting in the House. With eleven major environmental organizations representing thousands and thousands of members across Canada, and decades of experience in analyzing and finding solutions to environmental problems, we are very confident these are the right actions for Canada now.

There is no excuse. Every party in this election should have a robust platform on environmental action, and Tomorrow Today makes it that much easier.

Marlo Raynolds

Executive Director, Pembina Institute

This is why people don’t think they can enjoy beaches in our communities. Every once and a while a big storm event washes nasty chemicals and bacteria into the swimming areas, and the influx of water kicks up pollutants settled on the lake and riverbeds causing folks to run from the water.  Even if nature quickly deals with the problem naturally, our perceptions are often much more resistant to change and we stay away in fear.     

And this is only the beginning.  If climate change experts are right, then we can expect sever storms events to become more common and beach closures to be more frequent.  More severe storms bring intense rains. Intense rains over short periods of time contribute to higher levels of pollution into our waterways.  More pollution means increased health threats and fewer days at the beach.

It’s sad really. The one place (the beach) where most children experience one of Canada’s vast natural resources (freshwater) is being ruined by another one of nature’s most important gifts (rain).  But it’s not nature’s fault.  We are the ones contributing to the pollution and keeping our kids out of the water.  We’ve destroyed the natural flow of things and without action, the problem will only get worse.

And where is our government?  Last week in Ontario, a huge new infrastructure deal with the federal government was announced that does not mention critical wastewater and stormwater repairs and improvements.  

Action must be taken to protect our water and beaches, and limit closures that ruin summer days and our chance to bond with our rivers and lakes.  We can all do things at home that can help, but governments need to make the big investments and laws that will have a lasting impact.

Check with a local health authority to see if a beach is safe for swimming, or check out  www.blueflag.ca for a Blue Flag beach near you.  Blue Flag is the international standard for sustainable beaches tracking not only water quality, but the protection of natural ecosystems and providing onsite services and gives us one examples of how communities are working together to protect our beaches.

Mike Layton - Project Coordinator, Environmental Defence