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Justice Murray Sinclair, Manitoba's first aboriginal judge appointed in 1988, will take over as chairperson of the TRC. Sinclair was raised on St. Peter's reserve in the Selkirk area, north of Winnipeg and is known for his knowledge of aboriginal legal issues. He served as co commissioner for Manitoba's Aboriginal Justice Inquiry.

The three-person panel also includes Marie Wilson, a senior executive with the N.W.T. workers compensation commission and Wilton Littlechild, Assembly of First Nations vice-chief for Alberta.

More than 150,000 First Nation, Métis and Inuit children were forced to attend the government-funded schools, whose policy was to "kill the Indian in the child".

The commission has a five-year mandate to document the stories of residential school survivors, determine the truth and produce a report on its findings. It will host seven national events and establish a national research centre.

The proposed Northern Gateway project is a twin pipeline that would carry tar sands oil from Alberta 1,170 kilometers to the marine port in Kitimat on the northern coast of B.C. Currently under public and government review, construction is scheduled to begin in 2012 if regulatory approvals are granted.

The summit was organized and hosted by the Wet'suwet'en who are seeking to protect their lands and waters in the path of the pipeline.

Over 500 people signed a statement calling for a moratorium on the mega-project and a public inquiry to address the cumulative impacts, increased tanker traffic, and whether oilsands expansion undermines action on climate change.

'Economic recovery and urgent action to tackle climate change are complementary - boosting the economy and jobs through investment in the new infrastructure needed to reduce emissions,' the Call states.

The statement calls for a plan towards 2020 and 2050 emission reduction targets, regulation for energy efficiency, standardized method for reporting emission performance, incentives for low emission technology development, and funds for adaptation and forest protection.

The Copenhagen Call will be taken forward into the six months of negotiations before the UN Climate Change Conference in December.

KAIROS: Ecumenical Justice Initiatives organized the seven-day tour of Edmonton, Fort McMurry, various First Nation communities and Fort Chipewyan. Among the delegates was Winnipeg Archbishop James Weisgerber, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"From a Christian perspective we believe that God is intimately involved in the world, God has made us stewards of the world and when we look at a project like this and the ramifications it has on the environment, on the future of humanity, it would seem rather strange if the church were not involved," Weisgerber said.

The archbishop said the real problem is with our desire and demand for oil. The group spoke out for reduced consumption, aboriginal rights and more independent studies on the impact of tar sands development on our water, ecosystems and health.

Ontario and Quebec have moved ahead to put their own framework in place before a price is set for carbon. A Quebec-Ontario regional system is expected to be in place by 2012.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty did not provide details about the system, who would be targeted, or how tax payers would be affected. Ontario has released a discussion paper that provides some options and asks for feedback.

The proposed trading system would put a limit on GHG emission and allow participants to buy and sell emission permits within that cap. British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario, along with seven American states, are part of the Western Climate Initiative, which is aiming to set up a regional cap-and-trade system by 2012.

"The world's oceans are facing an unprecedented crisis," said Galen G. Weston, Executive Chairman, Loblaw Companies Limited. "Loblaw is determined to think differently about how it sources seafood and to work in collaboration with the fishing industry and environmentalists to seek sustainable alternatives for customers."

Over the next 12 months, Loblaw will assess all sources of wild and farmed seafood, in partnership with WWF. They will identify sources that should be phased out. The "Source with Integrity" pillar of their corporate responsibility framework was the key driver of the policy.

The expanded Nahanni River protected area will cover about 30,000 square kilometers of pristine Boreal wilderness home to woodland caribou, grizzle bears, and Dall's sheep. Park boundaries encompass nearly the entire South Nahanni River Watershed, which is of cultural and traditional importance for Dene peoples.

"This is a global-scale conservation achievement," said Gerald Butts, President and CEO of WWF-Canada. "Nahanni is the centerpiece of a regional conservation vision perhaps unparalleled in North America, as First Nations reserve areas for protection throughout the Mackenzie River region in advance of development."

Dehcho First Nations, the federal and territorial governments and conservation organizations collaborated to develop a network of protected areas in the Northwest Territories. In the past four years - over 12 million hectares have been designated in the NWT for interim or final protection.

Rifkin's strategy includes developing renewable forms of energy and creating a smart-grid system that allows everyone to produce and share energy. New storage methods would ensure reliable and safe energy distribution.

Large centralized power generation models would be replaced with micro-generation. Buildings retrofitted with solar panels, small wind turbines, and geothermal energy would produce their own energy and add surplus back to the grid.

Rifkin, who founded the Foundation of Economic Trends, says the development of new technologies and reconverting outdated infrastructure would create millions of jobs and jumpstart the economy.

Ontario's Far North is home to more than 200 sensitive species of animals including the woodland caribou and polar bear. The region's trees, soil and peat act as a globally significant carbon sink.

Environmental groups have applauded the proposed Far North Act, 2009 that will ensure First Nation lead planning for creation of a network of conservation lands. A Far North Land Use Strategy will be developed that includes mapping of ecological and cultural values.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy stated the legislation is not good enough. "The Far North is our homeland and has been kept pristine by the Cree and Ojibway people for generations," said Beardy. "We are not opposed to the goals of conservation, but Ontario's efforts to save the planet must not come at First Nations' expense."

"Climate heroes are people who take a special initiative, who go beyond the normal responsibilities that we have, who pioneer with unusual initiatives and ideas. They show the kind of commitment, enthusiasm and understanding of how important it is that we all become heroes in order to address climate change," said Executive Director Achim Steiner.

Climate Heroes include: Charles and Sho Scott, a father and son team who will cycle 4,700 kilometers across mainland Japan to encourage action on climate change and UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign to plant seven billion trees.

Project Kaisei will set out on its first research mission this summer to study how to capture plastic waste in the ocean, detoxify, and recycle it into diesel fuel.

The 160-page Copenhagen Climate Treaty, which took some of the world's most experienced climate NGOs almost a year to write, was distributed to negotiators from 192 states at the talks in Bonn. The document contains a full legal text covering all the main elements needed to provide the world with a fair and ambitious agreement that keeps climate change impacts below the unacceptable risk levels identified by most scientists. It is provided to serve as the benchmark for governments negotiating a new climate deal this year.

The Copenhagen Climate Treaty, was drafted by the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace, WWF, IndyACT - the League of Independent Activists, Germanwatch, National Ecological Centre of Ukraine and expert individuals from around the world.

The UN has identified the lead up to 2020 as the critical period for action on climate change. Pedal for the Planet, a KYOTOplus initiative, aims to engage citizens and politicians in demanding a climate treaty be negotiated in Copenhagen, while raising awareness of inaction on climate change.

Pedal for the Planet is part of the petition-centered KYOTOplus campaign spearheaded by several civil society organizations including the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace Canada, Oxfam Canada, Sierra Club Canada, as well as the two main networks working on climate change issues in Canada - Climate Action Network Canada (60 groups) and the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition (11 groups). Over 120 Canadian organizations are working together in the KYOTOplus initiative.

Manitoba Wildlands is a partner in Kyotoplus and Pedal for the Planet.

Regulating standby power of electronic devices can save enough electricity to power more than 300,000 Canadian homes each year. Natural Resources Canada estimates that on average, of the total electricity consumed by home electronics, 40 percent is consumed while they are off.

"These amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act make Canada a leader on the world stage in regulating standby power," said Minister Raitt. "This legislation is proof of our Government's commitment to help Canadians decrease their energy costs and industry to improve energy performance."

The Act expands authority to set energy efficiency standards for products that affect energy consumption, including windows and doors, and for devices that regulate energy consumption, such as thermostats.

RTOs remove toxic compounds from emissions like formaldehyde, benzene and Volatile Organic Compounds. The company indicated it costs $3 million each year to operate RTOs, which need to be replaced every 10 years at a cost of $10 million. The mill's RTOs are due to be replaced.

Manitoba Conservation allowed LP to stop using the RTOs on an interim basis. In March 2009, the Minister of Conservation requested Manitoba's Clean Environment Commission (CEC) to conduct an investigation and public meeting regarding the permanent request.

Environmental group, Concerned Citizens of the Valley, accuse Conservation Minister Stan Struthers and the CEC of restricting the public to ask questions and cross-examine the government and Louisiana Pacific at the upcoming CEC investigation meetings. To date it appears there may be no transcript, evidence or public registry ability.

"As a result of this agreement," Obama said, "we will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in the next five years."

The fleet standard of 35.5 miles per gallon provides some certainty for the struggling auto sector as they plan for new modes. The rules roughly correspond to California's tough standards that over a dozen states say they plan to adopt.

"Premier Doer has said Manitoba will adopt California fuel efficiency standards once legislative barriers are removed. Manitoba needs to act now," commented Gaile Whelan Enns, director of Manitoba Wildlands.

"The United States and Canada, with closely linked financial markets and shared natural resources, must work together to create 21st-century clean energy economies that will put people back to work and benefit our environment." said Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resource Defence Council.

The Environmental Leaders issued a joint declaration that outlines collaboration to address common threats. The leaders called on their national governments to show bold leadership to address climate change, halt expansion of tar sands development, and invest in renewable energy technologies.