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Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Yukon Chamber of Commerce, business call for pause on EPR program
The Yukon Chamber of Commerce wants the Yukon government to hit the brakes on the extended producer responsibility program. The chamber, which recently announced plans to dissolve , wrote a letter to Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai and Minister of Environment Nils Clarke on May 27. The letter calls the extended producer responsibility program 'poorly understood, financially cost-prohibitive, overly complex and administratively expensive, destroying what little profit margin privately-owned Yukon-based businesses have; all at the dawn of a pending global recession.' The extended responsibility program is set to begin this summer across the territory. The program, which was added to the Environment Act in January 2024, puts the responsibility for the collection and recovery of waste with the person who manufactured that waste — i.e., the business or 'steward.' Producer responsibility organizations act on behalf of businesses they've struck agreements with to collect and recover waste. These organizations, according to the Yukon government, lead engagement and communication efforts. According to the Yukon government website for EPR , there are currently four producer responsibility organizations in the territory: Call2Recycle, which focuses on batteries; Interchange Recycling, which takes care of oil, diesel exhaust fluid and antifreeze; Circular Materials, focusing on packaging and paper materials; and Product Care, hazardous and special products. Each organization has its own date to begin implementation of the stewardship plan. Call2Recycle is set to start June 24, Interchange Recycling on Aug. 1, Circular Materials on Nov. 1 and Product Care some point in the fall. The stewardship programs 'must provide reasonable and free access to collection facilities or collection services,' per the 2024 extended producer responsibility regulation legislation. In 2023, YG environmental analyst Natalia Baranova told the News that the government could save 'several millions' of dollars due to the EPR system. An economic analysis prepared for YG , published in 2023, also found that under extended producer responsibility, households, communities and the government would experience cost savings. However, EPR scenarios in the analysis were more costly overall, per the report. But the chamber's letter, signed by chair John Campbell, says that the cost of goods in the Yukon will rise due to the EPR program. 'This 'solution' - the EPR program - does not match viable or realistic Yukoner or program needs considering our small population and distance to market for appropriate recycling, not to mention that it appears as though the EPR is a tariff - a tax by a new name - and that this new YTG Tariff will be passed on to the consumer who will pay into multiple recycling or EPR programs each time the product is warehoused, distributed or consumed,' reads the letter. 'This program will cause financial harm to businesses and to consumers, while misleading Yukoners, operators and consumers that the EPR will make a positive impact in environmental waste diversion.' The letter asks the government to delay the implementation of the program and review the financial implications, and consider 'alternative, realistic models that don't have our small business community and economy bearing sole financial responsibility to divert waste in our territory.' The letter followed a different letter, sent to Clarke on May 21 by Alan Lebedoff, the president of ALX Exploration Services. He calculated that the EPR program would cost his business an extra $100,000 a year. 'Your claim that these costs will not affect consumers ignores basic economics: businesses, classified as 'stewards' under the regulations, will pass these costs to consumers, further driving up the cost of living in an already expensive territory,' wrote Lebedoff. He also asked the government to delay the implementation of the program until December 2026. He also asked that the government conduct a 'transparent, collaborative economic impact assessment with businesses' and engage directly with mining companies and other stakeholders. The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, a national non-profit, also wrote to Clarke and Pillai on May 30. They asked that the roll-out be paused until 2026. They also want to see a 'full economic impact analysis, including comparative cost modeling and recession scenario testing.' They also want the government to raise the exemption threshold to include businesses making $2 million in annual revenue (up from $1 million), to treat each franchise location as a separate entity, and have enforcement take an education-first approach for the first year of implementation. They also ask the government to consider 'alternative models' like 'shared municipal-territorial stewardship or limiting the list of prescribed products to ease the transition.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba politician says he thought he was within his right to push silica mine
WINNIPEG – A former Manitoba cabinet minister says he thought he was following the rules when he tried to push the approval of a silica sand mine after his party was defeated in an election. Jeff Wharton has spoken to the media for the first time since the province's ethics commissioner issued a damning report last week into the actions of some members of the former Progressive Conservative government after losing the October 2023 election. The commissioner said despite losing the election, three senior Tories tried to get the planned Sio Silica mining project approved before the incoming NDP government could be sworn in. The commissioner said former premier Heather Stefanson, former deputy premier Cliff Cullen, and Wharton — the then-minister for economic development — violated the conflict of interest law and should be fined. Wharton, the only one of the three still in politics, says he accepts the report's findings and apologizes. Wharton says he thought the outgoing government was allowed to approve the mine under a section of the Environment Act, but now accepts that the belief was wrong. Tory Leader Obby Khan has stripped Wharton of his Opposition critic duties, but Wharton remains in caucus. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. The NDP government rejected the mine a few months later, citing concerns that included the potential impact on drinking water. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Manitoba politician says he thought he was within his right to push silica mine
WINNIPEG — A former Manitoba cabinet minister says he thought he was following the rules when he tried to push the approval of a silica sand mine after his party was defeated in an election. Jeff Wharton has spoken to the media for the first time since the province's ethics commissioner issued a damning report last week into the actions of some members of the former Progressive Conservative government after losing the October 2023 election. The commissioner said despite losing the election, three senior Tories tried to get the planned Sio Silica mining project approved before the incoming NDP government could be sworn in. The commissioner said former premier Heather Stefanson, former deputy premier Cliff Cullen, and Wharton — the then-minister for economic development — violated the conflict of interest law and should be fined. Wharton, the only one of the three still in politics, says he accepts the report's findings and apologizes. Wharton says he thought the outgoing government was allowed to approve the mine under a section of the Environment Act, but now accepts that the belief was wrong. Tory Leader Obby Khan has stripped Wharton of his Opposition critic duties, but Wharton remains in caucus. The NDP government rejected the mine a few months later, citing concerns that included the potential impact on drinking water. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025 Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
At public hearing, residents of 50 Punjab villages oppose paper mill at eco-sensitive zone
Bathinda: A public hearing at Chamkaur Sahib on April 30, 2025, regarding the establishment of a paper mill on 200 acres turned out to be historic, as residents of the area crossed the first hurdle in stopping the establishment of the industry in an ecologically and water-sensitive area, as indicated by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report sent by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to the Union environment, forest, and climate change ministry. PPCB had sent the proceedings of the public hearing to the central ministry on May 22. Earlier, the paper mill had filed an application for obtaining environmental clearance for the production of 1.65 lakh TPA writing and printing paper, along with 1.26 TPA wood pulp, on May 22. The environmentalists and residents of the area, comprising nearly 50 villages, claim they do not want a polluting industry to come up in the area, which is rich in heritage and ecologically sensitive. PPCB has duly mentioned the views expressed by most of those present at the public hearing. The report has been made public. Environmentalists claim that some similar public hearings have been organised in Punjab in recent years for setting up such industries, but this hearing turned out to be historic as the residents from various villages en masse opposed the establishment of the industry. Many questions were asked, which became increasingly difficult for the PPCB and the industry to answer during the hearing, which lasted for about four hours. During the voting, most of the hands were against the establishment of the industry, said members of the pro-environment organisation Public Action Committee (PAC). PAC members stated that the proceedings, as reported, do not support the establishment of the industry. According to the report, out of a total of 873 citizens present, only 20 or so voted in favour, and the rest were against it. Another legal hurdle that has beset the industry was a notification produced by the activists under the Environment Act, which states that no red-category industry will be set up within 500 metres of a water source. "The land purchased for this mill has the Buddha Dariya flowing only 10 metres on one side and the Neelon Canal flowing 200 metres on the other. If such a red-category mill is set up, the risk of pollution to the surrounding water sources increases significantly. The Neelon Canal is used to supply drinking water to Ludhiana city in the summer, and the Buddha Dariya has already earned a reputation for spreading cancer to South Punjab and Rajasthan," said a source. Jaskirat Singh of PAC said that the history created by the team of Chamkaur Sahib Morcha has saved the future of Punjab's drinking water from a very big threat to some extent. However, now this battle has reached the Union environment ministry, and it is very important for the people of Punjab to send their views at that level so that the industry does not get the environmental clearance. MSID:: 121394506 413 |
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Inquiry must be called to get answers on sand mine scandal
Opinion It's pretty clear by now that an inquiry should be called into the Sio Silica scandal. Ethics Commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor released his long-awaited report into the matter this week. He found that former premier Heather Stefanson, then deputy premier Cliff Cullen and then economic development minister Jeff Wharton, violated the province's Conflict of Interest Act by attempting to approve a licence for a controversial silica sand mining project after their government was defeated in the Oct. 3, 2023 provincial election. All three ministers pushed to have a Class 2 licence under the Environment Act approved for Sio Silica, days before the new NDP government was sworn into office. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Ethics Commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor found that former premier Heather Stefanson, then deputy premier Cliff Cullen and then economic development minister Jeff Wharton, violated the province's Conflict of Interest Act. They did so even though they knew, or ought to have known, that it violated the 'caretaker convention,' a longstanding constitutional principle in Canada that prohibits governments from making major policy decisions once a general election is called (unless it's related to an urgent matter of public importance). 'The efforts to have the project licence approved by Ms. Stefanson, Mr. Cullen and Mr. Wharton were taken despite their knowledge that voters had rejected the former government and had placed their trust in a new government,' Schnoor wrote in his report. 'All three knew the requirements of the caretaker convention and both Mr. Cullen and Mr. Wharton had been given specific warnings that approving the project licence during the transition period would breach the convention.' They never did get the project approved. But they tried every which way to manipulate the system to get the job done. That included attempting to invoke a never-before-used section of the Environment Act, which allows the environment minister to approve a Class 2 licence, something normally handled by a senior public servant, in this case the director of the Environmental Approvals Branch. Then-environment minister Kevin Klein and acting minister at the time Rochelle Squires were asked by Wharton following the election to approve the licence. Both refused. 'The exercise of power in a matter of great controversy and with long-term implications, even if well motivated, was improper within the meaning of the act and calls for significant denunciation,' wrote Schnoor. There are good reasons why cabinet ministers should not make major policy decisions during elections, especially after they are defeated at the polls. They no longer have the mandate of the people to act. Attempting to do so is an affront to democracy. Schnoor recommended all three minsters should be fined (something the legislative assembly must vote on). Wharton has apologized for his actions (he initially denied any wrongdoing) and he was stripped of his critic role by Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan. But he's still in caucus. Stefanson, though, has been defiant. She claims she did nothing wrong, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. It's further evidence that she was never fit to be premier. 'None of the decisions I took in the period before the new NDP government was sworn in were made for any purpose other than to further and protect the public interest.' Stefanson said in a written statement from her lawyer. Her statement makes no sense. She was prohibited from making major policy decisions once an election was called, whether she believed it was in the public interest or not. She subverted democracy and is refusing to take responsibility for her role in this scandal. This matter should not end here. Manitobans deserve to know what motivated Stefanson, Cullen and Wharton to try to push this licence through. Schnoor said he found no evidence the ministers in question would have benefited personally from the project. But he had limited ability to delve further into what the motivating factors were. That is why a commission of inquiry under the Evidence Act should be called. An inquiry, headed by an independent commissioner, would have broad investigative powers, including the ability to gather necessary evidence and compel witness testimony in public hearings. Who stood to benefit from this project? Why was there such an urgent push to have it approved after the Tories lost the election? Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. Manitobans deserve answers to those questions. And those involved should be held accountable for their actions. More importantly, an inquiry is necessary to explore options to try to prevent this from happening in the future. This isn't just about a few cabinet ministers trying to do an end-run around the law. It's about preserving and protecting our democratic institutions. Premier Wab Kinew should call an inquiry to get to the bottom of this mess. Tom BrodbeckColumnist Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the Free Press and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the Free Press in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. Read more about Tom. Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. 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