Lake Trout adjust their behaviour in the face of a changing climate, new Canadian study reveals.

UM TODAY

                    News

The scientists observed a reduction in the fish’s growth and condition, which can impact their reproductive success. Story here.

Camper concerned for the health of a Manitoba lake after a chemical appears to have killed off aquatic life.

QC Country

"Residents were shovelling away dead crayfish" according to Denise Melnyk. Story here.

Industrial Pollution Costs Cattle Producers Access to a River in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The Western Producer

Several cattle producers along the Wood River in south-central Saskatchewan have to move about 1,000 head to different pastures after water quality in the river declined unexpectedly. Story here.

Blue-Green Algae Fouling Lake Winnipeg Beaches Again 2017

H2O: Ideas & Action for Canada's Water

A blog about the Lake Winnipeg Watershed 

The hot summer weather in Manitoba has brought along another reminder that all is not well in our great Lake Winnipeg, the 10th largest freshwater lake in the world. Story here.

Hog Watch Reps Caution Government Ministers to Treat Industry Expansion With Caution - Lake Winnipeg Health at Risk

Hog Watch Manitoba

(Winnipeg May 17) - A citizens group which monitors the hog industry in Manitoba, has cautioned the provincial government, if it goes ahead with its apparent plans to expand production, not to repeat the mistakes of the past. In a recent meeting with three cabinet ministers, Hog Watch Manitoba  (HWM) reminded them how “technical review committees,” which used to “oversee” the construction of both hog barns and lagoons designed to hold the waste, overlooked errors in the planning. These errors were so serious, they eroded both the public’s trust of the industry and in government policies relating to it.

HWM is deeply concerned about the Consultation paper recently released about proposed changes to the Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation. Fred Tait, member of the HWM Steering Committee, says “We fear that if implemented, it will simply enhance the mistakes of the previous administration.”

HWM urges the government to implement the recommendations made by the Clean Environment Commission(CEC) in their 2007 report on Environmental Sustainability and Hog Production in Manitoba. “The CEC recommended reviews of the phosphorus application provisions in manure and further research into phosphorus in soils which has not been done” says Vicki Burns of HWM.  “Why are we using taxpayers’ money to fund the Clean Environment Commission if we’re not going to pay attention to their recommendations?” she asks. "The health of our lakes, including Lake Winnipeg, is at risk."

The cabinet ministers at the meeting were, The Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Sustainable Development and Minister of Indigenous and Municipal Affairs.

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For further information contact:

Fred Tait – 204-252-2153

Janine Gibson – 204-434-6018  creativehealthconsulting@gmail.com

Vicki Burns - 204-489-3852 or   vickiburns@mts.net

Popular Farm Pesticide Found in (US) Drinking Water

Eco Watch

Machinery sits ready to plant another field of "neonic" seeds in Manitoba. PinP photo.

After evidence of pesticides killing off pollinators surfaced in 2016, scientists went on a quest to see if pesticides were seeping into anything else. Now, in an unprecedented study, the U.S. Geological Survey and University of Iowa reported findings of neonicotinoids—a class of pesticide used to kill off insects—in treated drinking water, marking the first time these chemicals have ever been identified. Story here.

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In Canada, the propensity of "neonics" to get into ground and surface water has been known for some time. Please read "New Studies Show Farm Chemicals Are Affecting More Than Bees. Bird Populations are Declining, Too. Is modern agriculture's hold on nature becoming a death grip?" 

Donald Trump’s attack on fresh water should be a wake-up call for Canadians

The Hill Times

The recent release of the Canadian budget is a real opportunity for our current government to send a message to the rest of the world - that, despite the current political climate, we take our environment seriously. Story here.

Lake Superior, Minnesota. EPA photo.

Ontario Stops Nestlé in its Tracks

+SumOfUs Larry, Huge news -- the government in Ontario, Canada just issued a moratorium to block Nestlé  from sucking up water from a small community experiencing drought conditions! Thanks  to tireless work from grassroots groups and with support from over 168,000 SumOfUs members  who spoke out, submitted public comments and donated to blanket the airwaves with radio ads,  corporate giant Nestlé has been stopped in its tracks.  But the fight to stop Nestlé from bullying local communities isn’t over. The state of Michigan is weeks away from deciding on a plan to charge Nestlé just $200  for a permit to double the amount of groundwater it can take to bottle and sell at a  massive profit. Residents in Evart, Michigan need your help to stand up to Nestlé once again. Tell the State of Michigan to say no to this massive corporate giveaway. Stop Nestlé now. Our original email from last month: Nestlé's at it again. This time, it  wants to suck up 100M gallons of  groundwater in a tiny U.S. town  for just $200. How can the government hand  over its water for pennies so a giant corporation can profit? Tell  the state of Michigan to reject  this ridiculous deal. SIGN THE PETITION Larry, Nestlé's about to lock down another massive corporate giveaway of precious fresh water -- unless we can pressure the U.S. state of Michigan to stand up to the water bottling behemoth. Only miles away from Flint, Michigan -- where the local government switched the water supply and poisoned the community's water to save a few bucks -- the Michigan water authority is considering letting Nestlé double the amount of groundwater it takes to bottle and sell for profit. The cost to Nestlé? $200 a year. Tell Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality to cancel this ridiculous plan.

Nearly 3,000 US Communities Have Lead Levels Higher Than Flint: Reuters

CommonDreams

Advocates hope new investigation will spur action from community leaders, as aid and attention have been slim. Story here.

As Flint Suffers, Nestlé Plans Dramatic Expansion of Water Privatization in Michigan

CommonDreams

What's more, the biggest food company in the world gets to pump that water at no cost. Story here.

Groups Urge UNESCO to Put Wood Buffalo National Park on 'In Danger' List

CBC News 

'It's beautiful but severely impacted in terms of water loss.’ Story here.

Gros Beak Lk. Wood Buffalo Park. Ansgar Walk photo.

Manitoba's River Decision "All Wet!"

Florida Just Flushed Its "Toilet" Lake Onto Its Beaches

MotherJones

Right in time for tourist season, polluted runoff is fouling coasts on both sides of the Sunshine State.  Details here.

Nestlé To Be Sued For Californian Drought Crimes!

Earth. We Are One.

The Story of Stuff Project, a campaign group, has just announced the pursuit of legal action towards Nestlé.  The lawsuit is over the extraction of groundwater in California as Nestlé has been doing, illegally, for its arrowhead brand.  This is considered to be a key contributor to the drought crisis within the state. More here.

Landmark Survey Shows For-Profit Water is a Risky Rip-Off

CommmonDreams

'Without shareholders expecting profits, public systems are less likely to cut corners on service,' says Food & Water Watch. Details here.

Lessons From Flint Michigan And The Price of Water Privatization

Common Dreams

U.S. communities are shifting toward keeping their water infrastructure public, and that’s a good thing. But stopping water privatization is only the first step. Details here.

Bombshell Report on Oil Contamination in Quebec Raises Red Flags For Oil Export Plans

Greenpeace Canada

In the days just prior to the Paris climate summit, the Quebec government quietly posted a devastating report on the ongoing ecological impacts from the oil spilt during the Lac Mégantic disaster. Entitled Train tragedy in Lac-Mégantic: Impact on fish communities of residual petroleum contamination of the Chaudière River, it details the ongoing impact of the oil that is still in the river system. Story here.

There’s a Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Sum

   Of

+ Us

Children are being rushed to the hospital with irreversible brain damage. The federal government has declared a state of emergency, and dangerous water contamination is causing residents to go blind, develop skin lesions, lose hair and even their memory -- just from bathing in their own homes. PLEASE SIGN!

Energy East Pipeline Would Cross 828 Bodies of Water in Quebec

CBC News

Proposed crude oil pipeline would also cut through 69 municipalities in the province. Details here.

Outcry Over the Austerity Crisis in Flint, Michigan Grows

  THE

Nation

Details of how Flint’s water was contaminated, and of how pleas for help were neglected, are leading to calls for inquiries, arrest, resignation. More here.