Mission
Sierra Club Canada is a member-based organization that empowers people to protect, restore and enjoy a healthy and safe planet.
Successes
Over the years Sierra Club of Canada has played a prominent role in helping to ensure the success of environmental policy and legislative initiatives. The following list of milestones provides an indication of some of the successful campaigns that SCC has been involved in, both in coalition with others and as a leading advocate.
2007
The cleanup of the Sydney Tar Ponds in Nova Scotia will not include an incinerator for toxic waste, which would have further polluted local communities.
The destructive Mackenzie Gas Project has been delayed for five years and may never be built.
Federal funding has been committed to protect the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, which encompasses a quarter of the Earth’s remaining ancient coastal temperate rainforests.
Phase-out of a federal tax subsidy to tar sands companies, as well as growing support for a moratorium on new Alberta tar sands projects, which produce the dirtiest oil on the planet.
2006
The announcement that two million hectares of temperate rainforest would be protected from logging. The Great Bear Rainforest announcement is the culmination of what may be British Columbia’s most significant environmental campaign—a decade-long effort that saw blockades, international markets campaigns, and an unprecedented agreement between as unlikely allies as logging companies and environmentalists.
2005
Stopping proposal to transport Great Lakes water out of the watershed via the Sustainable Water Resources Agreement.
Acheiving the commitment to a minimum of 5 percent mix of biofuels in gasoline and diesel by the end of 2010.
The passage of Bill C-15, which is designed to bring an end to the dumping of bilge oil from ships, which results in the deaths of some 300,000 seabirds annually off the coast of Newfoundland alone.
2004
Both the Ontario Government and the federal government accepted our position against any diversions from the Great Lakes. The plan to allow diversions was halted. We were the first environmental group to identify the proposed Annex from the Council of Great Lakes Governors as a major threat to the lakes
The federal Ministers of Environment and Natural Resources jointly committed to push the carmakers to 25% decreases in greenhouse gas emissions by 2010, directly in response to a Sierra Club of Canada campaign
The British Columbia government received a report from public hearings, chaired by Roland Priddle, clearly stating that British Columbians were massively opposed to lifting the moratorium on offshore oil and gas development. SCC and our BC Chapter had been heavily involved in the coalition opposing oil and gas
The Quebec environmental assessment agency (Bureau d''Audiences Publique -BAPE) issued a report harshly critical of the threat to whales from seismic testing - the first step in oil and gas exploration - an issue which SCC had been coordinating and to which we had appeared in order to give evidence. The Quebec government blocked testing at the mouth of the St. Lawrence in the Gulf
After years of pressure, the federal government came through with $4 billion for the clean-up of toxic waste sites, with a very specific mention of the need to clean up the Sydney Tar Ponds. By May, the federal and provincial governments signed a $400 million agreement to clean up the notorious 300-acre toxic site. SCC has been the only environmental group, national or provincial, championing the plight of the local environment and Sydney residents
The precedent created by Sierra Club of Canada''s victory in the Federal Court, quashing a permit for a massive mussel aquaculture facility in Cape Breton, was preserved when the company dropped its appeal. Although the aquaculture facility is proceeding under a new permit, it has been forced to adopt a phased approach
Nine municipalities drafted pesticide by-laws, and five adopted them in 2004. Often their efforts were supported by our materials and local volunteers. A total of 70 municipalities now have by-laws restricting the use of toxic chemical pesticides for cosmetic purposes.
2003
Passage of Species at Risk Act
Reform of the Pest Control Products Act
Pesticide bylaws in 65 municipalities to date
SCC successfully intervenes in Supreme Court of Canada which upholds Canadian Patent Board''s refusal to patent Oncomouse (Harvard Mouse Case)
$4 billion committed to Toxic Waste Site Clean Up in the federal budget
SCC was the only intervenor in environmental hearings in Fort McMurray appearing to oppose any expansion in the Athbasca Tar Sands.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge protected another year
Failure of the WTO in September in Cancun
Key role in developing a strong new National Forest Strategy
2002
Prime Minister commits to ten new national parks and five new marine conservation areas
Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol
Obtained a modified amendment in the Forestry Act for Newfoundland and Labrador guaranteeing public consultations for new forestry licenses.
2001
POP’s treaty signed and ratified
Supreme Court upholds Hudson Quebec pesticide bylaw
Chlorpyrifos banned
Moratorium on logging in Kaizer Meadow Brook, Nova Scotia
Moratorium on logging in Main River Watershed, Newfoundland
Elizabeth May goes on 17 day hunger strike to raise awareness of health threat to neighbourhood near Sydney Tar Ponds
Ensured the Quebec City meetings to pursue an FTAA include public engagement and a well researched critique of the environmental threat posed by the FTAA
2000
Biosafety Protocol negotiated in Montreal set rules for movement of GMOs
Clayoquot Sound officially announced as a U.N. Biosphere Reserve
Nova Scotia government turns down controversial golf course proposal and announces a park for West Mabou Beach on coastal Cape Breton
Bylaw phasing out cosmetic use of pesticides passed in Halifax
Manitoba government postpones planned strychnine poisoning of wolves outside Duck Mountain Provincial Park
Existing Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement protected from threatened re-negotiation to water it down
House of Commons Environment Committee holds hearings on pesticide use and regulation in Canada, issues scathing report citing SCC evidence
1999
Due to Sierra Club of Canada''s "OntAIRio” campaign, Ontario sues US over NOX
Families along Frederick Street relocated in Sydney Nova Scotia
Commitment to protect "The Gully" off Nova Scotia as a marine protected area
Bovine Growth Hormone rejected from registration
Agreement to set aside pristine watersheds of Clayoquot Sound
George''s Bank Moratorium extended
1998
Multilateral Agreement on Investment negotiations fail at OECD
Jim Campbell''s Barren, Nova Scotia re-protected
Sulphur gas regulations brought in, forcing Canadian refineries to clean-up
1997
MMT banned (later overturned)
1996
Carbofuran, highly toxic carbamate insecticide severely restricted
SCC stops very flawed "clean-up" plan for the Tar Ponds
1995
Fenitrothion, organophosphate insecticide banned
1993
Protection of the Tatshenshini, stopping Windy Craggy planned copper mine
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act finally proclaimed
1992
Earth Summit in Rio achieves limited environmental progress.
Sierra Club of Canada launches its (now) landmark Rio Report Card
1990
Stopping the Great Whale Hydro-electric project