EJ in Canada

Different histories produce different patterns of environmental inequality and injustice.

Key US Provisions Title VI of the Civil Rights Act : “No person in the US shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” EO : Federal agencies shall pursue EJ “by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policied, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations.

Race, Income, and Pollution in Urban Areas (Ontario) The US and Canada have a similar pattern between income and pollution, in urban areas. There is no strong, statistically significant connection between race and pollution: black Canadians are not disproportionately located in areas with bad air quality, though Latin American immingrants in Canada are; Korean communities, since they enter Canada with relatively high SES, live in the cleanest neighbourhoods. The big predictor of proximity to bad air quality in Canada is low income (family structure and education are also significant predictors)

First Nations & Inuit Aboriginal peoples suffer some of the most profound effects of environmental injustice in Canada, going back all the way to European settlement/First Nations dispossession and displacement, and continuing today as they are excluded from the decision-making processes affecting natural resource development and industrial siting in their own back yards. Examples: Port Radium (mining) Aamjiwnaang First Nation (industrial) Fort Chipeweyn (oil)

Aamjiwnaang

Toxic Burden 62 industrial facililities within 25 km that handle various kinds of toxic materials—40% of Canada’s chemical production. 131 million kg of toxic emissions were produced by these facilities in 2005—16% of the total for ON. 60% of these are from within 5 km of the reserve.

Health Impacts People along the St. Claire River are experiencing, among other kinds of disease: rates of Hodgkins’ among males 80% higher than the province as a whole leukemia rates among women aged are double the provincial rate a highly skewed gender ratio in new births (two females for every male).

Fort Chipewyan Environmental Justice and the Tar Sands

Economic Value of the Tar Sands Value of bitumen and synthetic crude produced between 2000 and 2020 estimated at $500 billion. Suncor (the largest bitumen producer) extracted 325,900 barrels per day last quarter (excluding its stake in Syncrude Canada Ltd), up from 278,900 barrels per day. Suncor’s last quarterly profit: $1.35 billion

Environmental Impact 950 square km of land directly affected by existing and approved developments; 2000 sq. km. of existing, approved, and planned mines. (5 times the size of Denver). Boreal forest fragmentation and wetlands loss million tonnes of greenhouse gasses emitted annually. (about 3% of the Canadian total; 23.3% of Alberta’s) Syncrude and Suncor tailings ponds will surpass a billion cubic meters by 2020— enough for 400,000 Olympic pools. Accumulation of toxic contaminants in soil and water.

Cultural Impact The east side of the Athabasca River caribou herd has declined by 71% since 1996 due to overdevelopment (including in-situ oil sands development) in its range. “The extinction of caribou would mean the extinction of our people. The caribou is our sacred animal; it is a measure of our way of life. When the caribou are dying, the land is dying.” — Chief Janvier, Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Fish, moose, and other traditional keystones of dietary and cultural practices are no longer considered safe by the community