Prince Edward County where climate urgency becomes a climate emergency (but not a declaration of emergency)

Mayor Ferguson calls a press conference to explain 

SCARY SCENE- A washout of shoreline along County Rd 12 on Athol Bay has forced the municipality to close a portion of the roadway. Repairs are expected to start Monday. (Mitch McKibbon/For The Gazette)

In the 17th Century  Thomas Aquinas had it easy when his fellow scholastics tried answering questions like, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”

Consider Mayor Steve Ferguson challenge.

As Jason Parks reports in the Picton Gazette,

“While an emergency hasn’t been declared in Prince Edward County as of yet in relation to elevated water levels, it’s becoming painfully obvious the horrors shore line owners and tourism operators suffered just two years ago are set to return.

“With kilometres of Prince Edward County shoreline slowly eroding by the day, roadways being closed due to standing water or washout and hundreds of acres of farm land under water and unable to be planted, Mayor Steve Ferguson convened a press conference at Shire Hall on Monday to discuss current conditions and explain why the municipality wasn’t declaring a state-of-emergency like it did in 2017.”

The Gazette quotes the Mayor, “We would also like to thank residents, businesses and visitors for their cooperation while we try to deal with circumstances we can to little about and our staff for their tireless efforts. Our primary concern has been and will remain public safety. While this might cause inconvenience to some people, public safety is of preeminent importance to us.”

He went on to explain, declaring an emergency was necessary in 2017 because the municipality had never experienced water levels as high as they had risen in 2017, our first 100-year flood.

To access, the province’s disaster relief program, current indications are the County would have to spend over $3 million in recovery costs to obtain a level of compensation and its doubtful the 2019 flood recovery would cost that much.

That declaration in 2017 caused a steep drop in the county’s own business. “With the primary tourist season upon us, the message of a state-of-emergency is not a favourable one.”

Beach Street in Wellington is closed. (Scott Johnston For the Gazette)

“We are open for business and welcome everyone. If visitors stay away because of a state- of-emergency and we lose out on business, that negatively impacts employment and that negatively affects the local economy.”

Case closed.

Still, there is no doubt that global warming has arrived in Prince Edward County. That troublesome Climate Emergency declaration remains.

It suggests, with lake levels rising and nibbling at Prince Edward’s shoreline,  the County should be taking some immediate concrete actions to reduce our climate footprint.

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Todd Smith, Let the tourists know that we are not as stupid as they think we are

Holding the provincial government accountable, Jen Ackerman suggests a solid plan to do some good for the planet and our future in Prince Edward County. Have you written your letter?

For 200 years, Prince Edward County has been an agricultural community protected from industrial and urban development. Photo: Court Noxon

Mr. Smith,

Last week the County declared a climate emergency, like many other cities and Counties throughout Ontario. What do you suppose would be a good start to proving that we, the residents of the County, actually care about climate change and the fate of the planet? Will you and Mr, Ford simply brush it off and turn a blind eye to the fact that we are strongly pushing to have changes made?

We are telling you loud and clear that we do not want to see any more slashes and devastating decisions that favour only rich developers and not the environment.

Do you have a solid plan to do some good for the planet and our future, or are you going to continue with the wrecking ball theme that you have so clearly been using ?

Some suggestions for you to act on in order to work with the County residents that strongly spoke up for the Climate Emergency Declaration are,

First, let the White Pines Wind Farm start creating clean green energy, since they are standing idle and doing no good for anyone.

Let the tourists know that we in the County are not as stupid as they think we are. Many dozens of tourists have come into my shop, in total disbelief that a government could do such a wasteful , backwards move , as to cancel this project. When I tell them the whole story, they get quite angry at you and Mr. Ford for doing more harm to our already suffering planet.

These visible symbols of hope, standing so gracefully,for all to see,need to be working, as part of our action to try to reverse the effects of climate change.

That is why the County has declared an emergency, because there is one, and it is getting more obvious each and every day.

While our beneficial wind project is being completed (which will only take a few weeks ) and the turbines are getting ready to spin, we need to focus on plastic use, and pushing people to stop the careless and unnecessary use of one time use plastics.

Grocery stores need to do away with plastic bags, plastic packaging and plastic products such as straws, so consumers get in the habit of using reusable bags and containers.

Another idea is to put the rebate back in place for electric car buyers, so that more people will stop using gas guzzling vehicles and go clean.

Another thought is to start replacing each tree taken down by the County along roadsides, with two new ones. Better yet, stop killing all the trees, when they are mainly sugar maples with no health issues. Get someone from Trees for Life because they know trees and are best to asses the health/safety of these trees.

As well as that the clearing of hedge rows must be stopped. Farmers always left them for a reason, now money and greed once again rule and killing the habitat and occupants of the hedgerows has become another reckless and nearsited decision.

Another suggestion to show the County recognizes that we are in a climate emergency,is to stop clear cutting for housing developments, build on non agricultural and non forested/ water habitat areas.

Stop putting money ahead of the health and the well being of all who are living here,

The suggestions are many, but it takes action to put the ideas into motion.So , Mr. Smith and all other politicians, what is YOUR plan to help with this emergency ?

Jen Ackerman Milford
livelaugheatmilford@gmail.com

Old Harry case has ‘far-reaching implications for Canadian oceans’: activist

 

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Environmentalists fearing the consequences of an oil spill in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, home to thousands of marine species, went to court Monday to fight an offshore exploration licence.

The province’s offshore oil and gas regulator re-issued Halifax-based Corridor Resources Inc.’s licence to explore oil and gas prospects in the Old Harry site in 2017.

Environmental groups including the David Suzuki Foundation and Sierra Club Canada Foundation argued in provincial Supreme Court Monday that it could set a dangerous precedent for managing the risky but lucrative industry.

The Old Harry site sits about 80 kilometres off the southwest tip of Newfoundland, near the border with Quebec.

“This isn’t just about this one licence, this is about what happens in the Gulf of St. Lawrence forever more.”

Gretchen Fitzgerald of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation said the case could have “far-reaching implications for Canadian oceans” as the industry prepares for rapid growth.

“I think this is an important case for showing what are the bounds of the powers of these boards,” she said.

Representing the applicants, Ecojustice lawyer Josh Ginsberg said the area in question is a sensitive ecosystem that houses not just marine species but also fishing and tourism industries, and offers an important food source for surrounding First Nations. MORE