The right to live in a healthy environment Clean air Clean water Safe food Sounds simple? Something everyone would want and agree with? healthyYEG.org

Canada does not recognize this right 110 countries around the world recognize their citizens right to live in a healthy environment Canada does not recognize this right 50% of Canadians live in communities with unsafe levels of air pollution 1000 boil water advisories in Canada at any given time – especially vulnerable communities Air quality certainly a concern in Edmonton! healthyYEG.org

Only 2 declarations signed in Alberta: ______ municipalities in Canada have sign declarations recognizing their citizens right to live in a healthy environment, including Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver Only 2 declarations signed in Alberta: Jasper Camrose We believe Edmonton should be next! healthyYEG.org

Edmonton-based organization Based upon work of David Boyd and Blue Dot Movement (bluedot.ca) Right to clean air, clean water, safe food Immediate goal: municipal declaration Ultimate goal is to see the right to a healthy environment enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, for all Canadians That’s where HealthyYEG comes in – list member organizations Based on bluedot, a grassroots, local movement and the simple idea that all Canadians should have the right to clean air, clean water, safe food. Our immediate goal is to see City of Edmonton sign a declaration recognizing the right of its citizens to live in a healthy environment, as _____ Canadian municipalities have already done. _______ Canadians have signed the blue dot pledge Ultimate goal . . . . 85% of Canadians support the idea of environmental rights. healthyYEG.org

Why is the right to live in a healthy environment important? Results in stronger environmental laws Better enforcement of those laws Greater role in environmental decision-making Countries with environmental rights in their constitutions (110) have reduced GHG emissions faster that those without Drives improvements in air, water and food quality Enshrining in the Charter is important Laws can only be strengthened, never weakened would help individuals such as woman from Rosebud, Alberta, whose groundwater contaminated by fracking and embroiled in costly, lengthy legal battle – documented in Slick Water by Andrew Nikiforuk healthyYEG.org

What could a declaration mean in our community? Declaration is aspirational Can result in commitment to: Decision-making principles that protect, fulfill and promote a healthy environment To use best and latest science when making decisions To set clear environmental targets and objectives Accountability through regular assessment, public reporting Even thought there is a basic template for the declaration, it can be tailored to the needs of the community. Declaration is aspirational healthyYEG.org

Benefit of Declaration Very congruent with work currently underway World class recycling Way We Green Clean air, clean water, clean land, safe food are central to our quality of life and economic success Increase leverage with provincial and federal governments Aligns with UN 2030 SDG Goals We believe that there are many benefits to the City of Edmonton in signing a declaration recognizing the right of its citizens to a healthy environment! Aligns with innovative business community investment in clean, renewable energy and green technologies. healthyYEG.org

UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals #3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15 healthyYEG.org

Environmental leadership toward sustainable future Edmonton has the potential to be a leader in sustainable development! Mayor Iveson wants Edmonton to be “Canada’s Health City.” (Based on article from Globe and Mail, Iveson is promoting the health innovation industries in Edmonton.) We believe our sign should read, “Canada’s Healthiest City! healthyYEG.org

How You Can Help Sign the Blue Dot Campaign Pledge at bluedot.ca Email, call or tweet your city councillor Support our motion or draft your own motion calling upon Edmonton City Council to sign a municipal declaration recognizing the right to live in a healthy environment. We know that in order to convince members of city council that this declaration is important, we need to demonstrate that we have the support of a broad base of the Edmontonians, so we are asking people to: Sign the Blue Dot Campaign Pledge Email, call or tweet your city councillor – sample email on our website We are hoping that you will sign a copy of motion to support the right of all Canadians to live in a healthy environment, that you will allow us to list you as supporters of this declaration! And that if you are members of other organizations, that you will ask them to sign the motion as well. healthyYEG.org

Our Motion We support the right of all Canadians to live in a healthy environment. This right includes: the right to breathe clean air the right to drink clean water the right to consume safe food the right to access nature the right to know about pollutants released into the local environment the right to participate in decision-making that will affect the environment We have copies of the motion here, with a cover letter of explanation that you can take to your organizations. These are the key highlights the motion: healthyYEG.org

“In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called upon to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground.” - Wangari Maathai healthyYEG.org

healthyYEG.org healthyYEG@gmail.com @healthyYEG Thank you! healthyYEG.org healthyYEG@gmail.com @healthyYEG Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today ABOUT HEALTHY YEG! healthyYEG.org