Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
Imperial Oil Ltd. says it is still investigating the cause and impact of a pipeline spill in the Northwest Territories that has some residents downstream concerned about the potential impact. The Calgary-based oil and gas company reported on July 27 that it discovered about 55,000 litres of produced water had spilled before it shut down the pipeline in Norman Wells, N.W.T.
The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking more information as it investigates the potential impact of Canadian environmental regulations on U.S. shipping companies operating in the Great Lakes. Nearly two years ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association filed a complaint with the commission that Canadian rules for ballast water would harm their operations. The trade association wanted to slap a $300,000 fee on any Canadian vessel entering a U.S. port. Ballast water helps ships balance their loads. But it can also transfer invasive species between water bodies. The commission wants more information on how the finalized Canadian regulations might affect U.S. ships.
An investigation by B.C.'s independent watchdog for forestry management practices has found that Tolko Forest Industries were not responsible for landslides in Vernon, B.C. in 2020, but that the company could have done more to help mitigate the situation. Kevin Kriese, chair of the Forest Practices Board, says a complaint had been made by a group called Silver Hills Watershed Watch, who were concerned about Tolko's timber harvesting operations between Lumby — in the northern Okanagan Valley, east of the city of Vernon — and Cherryville, further east.
