2017 Media releases Archives | Friends of the Earth Canada

17 Jan 2018

Canada Creates Human Rights Watchdog For Overseas Operations of Canadian Companies

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OTTAWA, January 17, 2018 – Friends of the Earth is encouraged by the Government of Canada’s announcement today regarding the creation of a Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Business Enterprise. Canada’s Minister of International Trade, François-Philippe Champagne announced the long awaited office. The human rights ombudsperson will independently investigate complaints concerning the overseas operations of Canadian

19 Dec 2017

PMRA Misses the Mark On Bee Protection

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19 December, 2017 (Ottawa) – Today, after five years of study, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has again failed to protect bees and pollinators. Its re-evaluation report on two neonicotinoids proposes to allow continued use of clothianidin and thiamethoxam in Canada. A complicated mix of phase down of some uses and re-labelling does not

11 Dec 2017

Canada is the 8th top backer of new coal plants around the world

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December 11, 2017 (Ottawa) – Today, the German organization Urgewald released a report revealing Canada as the 8th largest investor in new coal globally. They provide a list of the top 100 investors in companies developing new coal plants. Canadian institutions on the list include: SunLife at #31 with $895 million invested; Power Financial Corporation

17 Nov 2017

Major Grocery Retailers Across North America Reject Genetically Engineered Fish

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the world’s first sale of genetically engineered fish is underway in Canada, the top food retailers across Canada and the U.S. have made public statements that they have no plans to sell the genetically engineered salmon. Sobeys (TSX:SBY) is the latest and last of Canada’s national retailers to inform customers that it will not be selling the genetically engineered

01 Nov 2017

Groups urge PM to stop coal bid by CPP

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Canada’s climate leadership claim undermined by coal bid by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (Ottawa) – More than 20 Canadian and international organizations are concerned that the actions of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board are undermining Canada’s leadership for a global phase-out of coal-fired electricity. In a joint letter to the Prime Minister, the

31 Oct 2017

Ontario’s Top Court Lifts Barrier to Epic Struggle Against Chevron

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October 31, 2017 (Ottawa, Canada) – Today, Ontario’s top court reversed the decision of a lower court that ordered Ecuadorian villagers to put up almost a million dollars before moving ahead with their case against Chevron. The Ecuadorian Indigenous people and settlers came to Canada seeking enforcement of the ruling of their court that the

31 Oct 2017

UN treaty moves towards curbing transnational corporations’ impunity, human rights violations

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Geneva, Monday (30 October 2017) – Friends of the Earth International welcomes the positive conclusion of the 3rd session of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on a UN treaty on transnational corporations and human rights (1), after substantive discussions on content, impressive and diverse participation of social movements and a record presence of 101 member states.

24 Oct 2017

UN Human Right Council to negotiate elements for a Treaty on Transnational Corporations

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Amsterdam and globally (19 October 2017) – Friends of the Earth International is urging states to enter constructively on negotiations for a legally binding treaty to hold transnational corporations to account on human rights and environmental abuses UN treaty on transnational corporations and human rights in Geneva on 23 – 27 October 2017. This will

05 Oct 2017

A Cocktail of Bee-harming Pesticides Found in North American Honey

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October 5, 2017 (Ottawa) – New research, published in Science today, found widespread contamination of bee-harming neonicotinoid pesticides in honey around the world. Friends of the Earth Canada CEO, Beatrice Olivastri, said, “The discovery of a cocktail of bee-harming pesticides in honey samples across North America, Europe and Asia reinforces the need for a complete

27 Sep 2017

Ottawa Round of Secret NAFTA Negotiations Threatens Climate Regulation

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September 27, 2017 (Ottawa) – The third round of secret negotiations on a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) draws to a close on Wednesday, September 27. As the negotiations move forward, the talks continue to threaten the capacity of Canada, Mexico, and the United States to issue and implement effective regulations to address