RIVERKEEPER on Current Issues:

1. Weakening the Federal Fisheries Act

The Fisheries Act is our country’s strongest piece of environmental legislation written to protect our rivers and lakes. Proposed changes to the Fisheries Act will not address the single most reported problem according to environmental advocates across the country… enforcement of the existing regulations.

more info…

2. Pembroke Company applies to dump
radioactive waste into Ottawa River

SRB Technologies uses tritium to make signs that glow-in-the-dark. They have been operating in Pembroke long enough to seriously contaminate the soil and groundwater around the plant. Nuclear safety inspectors have found groundwater around the facility contaminated with radioactivity levels up to 80 times higher than what is considered safe.

SRB’s operating licence expires on November 30th and they are applying to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to renew their licence. Their plan to address current pollution problems is to collect contaminated rainwater from their roof and discharge it into the Ottawa River through the Pembroke city sewer system – a system not designed to handle radioactive tritium.

more info…

3. New Stewardship Council formed to address issues
at Chalk River Nuclear Labs

Our Riverkeeper is participating in the newly formed Environmental Stewardship Council to further her knowledge of operations and pollution at Chalk River Nuclear Labs, situated on the shores of the Ottawa River. Members of Atomic Energy Canada Limited and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission are participating, as well as several municipalities and public interest groups. If you have questions or concerns about the site that you would like to raise, please contact Meredith Brown.

4. Seeking Answers to the August Fish Kill

While the media has led folks to believe fish in the Ottawa River were killed by bacteria, this is not the case. It’s true the dead fish were contaminated with columnaris, a bacteria that is naturally found in our river. However, fish only succumb to the bacteria if stressed or compromised. Ontario’s Ministries of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Environment (MOE) are currently working on a joint report that summarizes the river conditions at the time of the fish kill and their theory for why the event happened. Ottawa Riverkeeper will notify our subscribers when the report is public and we will give comments on the report. We are currently working on having a “post-mortem” meeting with MoE to discuss implications of the fish kill and lessons learned.

If you think these issues are important, please consider supporting the work of Ottawa Riverkeeper. It is easy to donate or become a member.

Thanks to our members and supporters who make Ottawa Riverkeeper’s work possible.

A special thank you to our Guardian and Patron members:

Patrons ($1000):

Quantum Environmental Group
David Spence and Helen Hirsh Spence
Jean and Richard Van Loon in memory of Max Van Loon

Guardians ($500):

Bouza & Associates Inc.
Brickland Timberlay
Daniel F. Brunton
Ole Hendrickson
Monica Lake-Monro
Angie MacDonald
Medical Centre, Group of Family Physicians
Parham Momtahan

Now, Ottawa Riverkeeper needs your support. Please consider making a donation or becoming a member today.