Please direct all media inquiries to Allison Murray, Communications Associate, at allison [at] murraycommunications.org | 604-442-1846.

Killer Whale recovery strategy release puts lawsuit off — for now

June 26, 2007 VANCOUVER, BC – After a year’s delay and a threat of legal action, the federal government has released the long-awaited recovery strategy for BC’s endangered Southern resident killer whales and threatened Northern resident killer whales. Environmentalists, who prompted the recovery strategy’s release by threatening a lawsuit, offered cautious praise. They noted that the most essential component of…

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Victoria Sewage Backgrounder

May 13, 2005 Mid 1960 – Victoria’s beaches are covered with feces as multiple outfalls discharge sewage directly at shoreline. Decision made to combine outfalls and pump 300 meters offshore;Late 1960’s – Victoria makes the decision to install long outfall pipes (1000 meters) instead of building a treatment plant;Early 1970’s – Victoria builds long outfall pipes;Mid 1970’s – Victoria installs…

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Environmental review finds pollution dumped in Burrard Inlet at record levels

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 30, 2003 In 2002, BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (MWLAP) effluent permits allowed 769 million cubic meters of industrial pollution to be dumped into Burrard Inlet. And the amount of effluent entering the Inlet has increased dramatically from 32 million meters in 1957 when permits were first issued. These were among the findings…

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Groups join battle to get polluters to clean up their act

August 10, 2004 MEDIA RELEASE – For Immediate Release VANCOUVER, BC – A coalition of environmental groups announced today that they are seeking to intervene in a precedent setting case to be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada concerning the clean up of one of BC’s most severely contaminated sites. Although the province ordered several parties to participate in…

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Canada’s top court hears landmark legal battle over toxic site

Intervenors argue court should uphold polluter pays principle January 20, 2005 MEDIA RELEASE OTTAWA – On behalf of a coalition of environmental groups, Sierra Legal Defence Fund lawyers will be in the Supreme Court of Canada today intervening in a landmark case that could impact how the estimated 30,000 contaminated sites across the country are dealt with. The groups are…

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Top court slams door on polluter pays loophole

Environmentalists hail unanimous decision in BC Hydro contaminated site case January 21, 2005 OTTAWA – In an unexpectedly quick decision from Canada’s top court, the Supreme Court of Canada today closed a legal gap that would have allowed BC Hydro to escape liability for cleaning up one of BC most severely contaminated sites. Environmentalists are hailing the decision as a…

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Ottawa Sends Victoria an Early Xmas Gift

Funding for Sewage Treatment MEDIA RELEASE December 13, 2004 VICTORIA, BC – Environment Canada has responded to a formal petition filed by Sierra Legal Defence Fund on behalf of local conservation groups regarding Victoria sewage with good news: federal money is available to upgrade Victoria’s complete lack of sewage treatment. Environment Canada stated in their response that approximately $200 million…

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MEDIA BACKGROUNDER: National Sewage Report Card III

Sept. 2004 View the National Report Card Report Card Highlights Evaluation of the 22 cities was based on: level of sewage treatment, volume of raw sewage discharged, compliance with laws and regulations, type of disinfection, method of sludge disposal, prevalence of combined sewer overflows and commitment to improvement Calgary, Edmonton and Whistler: Top of the class with 100% Tertiary treatment…

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BC falling behind rest of Canada in treating sewage National Sewage Report Card results

MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release September 8, 2004 Embarrassingly low grades for coastal cities, Victoria suspended VANCOUVER, BC – A national report card released today reveals that BC coastal communities continue to dump raw sewage into the environment, while more and more communities across Canada and around the world are moving towards more responsible sewage treatment. In its third “National…

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