Ganaraska River, Port Hope, Northumberland County
The Council of Canadians Northumberland chapter will be launching a Blue Dot initiative campaign on March 22.
Chapter activist Patrica Daly writes in Northumberland Today, “In recognition of World Water Day on March 22, the Northumberland Chapter of the Council of Canadians will be holding a meeting for members, supporters and all other interested volunteers to launch the Blue Dot initiative in Northumberland County. The meeting will be held at Go-Green-Together, 739 D’ Arcy St. in Cobourg at 7 p.m.”
As noted on the Blue Dot campaign’s website, “Across the country, Canadians believe in our inherent right to a healthy environment – clean water, fresh air, healthy food and a say in decisions that affect us. This growing movement of Canadians calls upon their local communities to pass municipal declarations respecting people’s right to live in a healthy environment.”
It adds, “With so many communities calling for action from all levels of government, the next step is to have our provinces follow suit and pass environmental bills of rights. When seven out of 10 provinces representing more than 50 per cent of the Canadian population have recognized our right to a healthy environment we turn toward the ultimate goal: amending the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Recognition in the Charter is the final step in protecting the right to clean air, fresh water and healthy food for all Canadians.”
Daly highlights, “The right to a healthy environment is the simple yet powerful idea that all Canadians deserve to breathe fresh air, drink clean water, eat safe food and enjoy a stable climate.”
And Daly notes, “Nationwide 149 municipalities have signed on and in Ontario alone 52 municipalities have responded (35% of national number & 2/3 of Ontario’s population based on 2014 census). With so many communities calling for action from all levels of government, the next step is to have our federal government follow suit and pass an environmental bills of rights.”
On February 27, our Regina chapter celebrated the City of Regina unanimously passing a Blue Dot municipal declaration. In February 2015, our Hamilton chapter supported the successful campaign for Hamilton to become a Blue Dot community.
And in June 2015 our Sudbury chapter expressed support for Sudbury becoming a Blue Dot community as a way to protect Ramsey Lake — a downtown lake historically stressed by smelter emissions from mining in the area — from the impact of the building of the Keast Drive 54 single-family home, 93 condominium subdivision.
Good luck to the Northumberland chapter and allies with this campaign!
