Canadian Solar Boat moves to the U.S.A.

Electric boat designer and builder Monty Gisborne, who was planning to build his solar pontoon boat Loon in Ontario, is moving south to Buffalo, N.Y., lured by a $500,000 grant. When Gisborne cruised the Loon on the Rideau Canal in 2006, he barely attracted any attention. But, in 2007, he took the Loon through the Erie Canal in New York State and was swamped with media coverage - and an offer of funding. He plans to hire 60 people to build 50 Loons per year. Before he leaves Canada, he will build the biggest solar boat in North America, the Osprey, for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
In 1997, a report created with the participation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, estimated that pleasure craft expel unburned fuel into waterways every year that is the equivalent of 15 Exxon Valdez super tanker spills.

Dec-08: "Orillia Packet" | Mar-07: Solar "Loon" goes Cruising | TamarackElectricboats.com

Canadian Lakes to be used as Mining Dumps

June 2008: 16 pristine Canadian lakes from B.C. to Newfoundland may soon be "reclassified" by the federal government as toxic dump sites for mines. The Fisheries Act makes it illegal to put harmful substances into fish-bearing waters, but in a little-known exception to mining effluent regulations in Schedule Two, lakes and rivers can be reclassified as "tailings impoundment areas" allowing mining companies to dump toxic mine tailings directly into the lake or river instead of building expensive containment ponds. From March 2008 to March of 2009, 8 Canadian lakes are slated to be put on Schedule Two without considering environmental or recreational impact -- without public consulation. Future contamination of fish, wildlife and downstream waters is inevitable. It is not too late to contact your MP or the Minister of Fisheries & Oceans. [www.cbc.ca/..]

U.S. Great Lakes pollution report delayed

Canadian biologist Mike Gilbertson, a reviewer, and Herb Gray, the Canadian chair of the International Joint Commission, are calling for the release of a study on the effects of Great Lakes pollution.

The study by the U.S. Centers Publish Postfor Disease Control and Prevention is called "Public Health Implications of Hazardous Substances in 26 U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern". It suggests that Americans living in 26 polluted areas around the Great Lakes face higher rates of lung, breast and colon cancer, have low birth weights and high infant mortality. The findings have important health ramifications for Canadians. [www.cbc.ca | www.ijc.org]