Group advocates butt tax
May 21, 2008
What happens after a cigarette butt is casually flicked onto a street, trail or beach? Typically, wind and rain carry it into the water supply, where toxic chemicals leach out into land and aquatic ecosystems. Three BC men hope to make provincial sidewalks, playgrounds, roadsides and parks butt-free by launching a campaign to impose a 10-cent tax on each cigarette butt sold in the province and aim to bring their plan to provincial legislators.
What will you do with your climate-change cheque?
May 16, 2008
Every British Columbian will receive a $100 Climate Action Dividend this June, before the carbon tax takes effect. People are encouraged to use this money on purchases that reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and, in the process, reduce the amount they pay in carbon tax. “We’re hoping the cheques start to go out by the end of June,” B.C. Finance Minister Carole Taylor said yesterday.
Proposed bill threatens natural health products
May 10, 2008
Bill C-51, a proposed legislation to amend the federal Food and Drugs Act that would lead to more regulatory scrutiny of natural health products sold in Canada, is drawing opponents across the country. Critics say the bill will outlaw up to 60 percent of natural health products currently sold, making many natural health products that have been sold here for decades unavailable for purchase and penalizing parents who give herbs or supplements to their children.
Campbell behind tougher emission rules
January 24, 2008
Twelve of the thirteen Canadian premiers are on board for tougher emission standards. The Conservative government announced last week that it is preparing regulations at least as strong as new federal rules in the U.S., which require that vehicle fleets show a 22% improvement in fuel economy by 2020.
Made in Canada fuel economy standards
January 17, 2008
Today the federal government announced plans to create ‘made-in-Canada’ fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, which would, at a minimum, meet regulations recently introduced in the US.
Zero emission buses
January 17, 2008
BC Transit will be the first revenue transit service in the world to fully integrate an entire hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet into regular transit operations.
Public transit boost
January 14, 2008
Today in Vancouver the BC government made good on their promise made in last February’s throne speech when they promised to cut BC’s emissions levels by one-third by 2020 - when Premier Campbell and Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon unveiled a 12-year, $14-billion transit plan for the province, including several major improvements that will give people more travel choices throughout BC.
Food security for BC
January 13, 2008
Food security is a situation in which people do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. Two commonly used definitions of food security come from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and the US Department of Agriculture:
Panel urges carbon tax
January 11, 2008
A report released this week from the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy says the federal and provincial governments must begin negotiating a national price on carbon to help Canada reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
More incentive to keep your new year’s resolutions
January 10, 2008
If taking public transit or biking to work was one of your New Year’s resolutions, you may want to grab your helmet or renew your bus pass. According to a report by CIBC World Markets released today, a growing gap between supply and demand will ‘drive gasoline prices in Canada to $1.50 a litre in the near future’… a price that will be considered the new normal.