Save the Experimental Lakes Area

The Experimental Lakes Area is a unique federal research program that studies the long-term impacts of global threats to freshwater lakes.

In mid-October, the CBC reported that three-quarters of Canadians, including 60 per cent of those who voted Conservative in the last election, oppose the cuts to the Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario (about 250 km east of Winnipeg and 50 km east of Kenora).

Council of Canadians National Chair Maude Barlow, university professor David Schindler and local-hero PhD candidate Diane Orihel made clear the reasons for this widespread, cross partisan opposition at an inspiring ‘Save the Experimental Lakes Area’ public forum at the end of November, here in Winnipeg at the Fort Garry Hotel.

Although it will cost $50 million to shut down the ELA, and only $2 million a year to keep it, the Harper government thinks it’s a good idea to spend the $50 million to get rid of it. This isn’t a fiscal decision. It’s a decision to put an end to a world renowned scientific research centre and thus put an end to the kind of research that gets in the way of corporate resource exploitation and profit.

Operating for more than 40 years, the ELA consists of 58 small lakes where scientists study the effects of water pollution, climate change and other threats.

But if the effects of resource development are damaging to the environment and to people, it would seem that the Harper government doesn’t want to know. Without the ELA, there will be far less information on the harmful impacts of tar sands development. And that’s good for corporations trying to convince the public that the tar sands are safe.

Recently, the Harper government launched an ad campaign called “Responsible Resource Development” – a campaign with a budget of $9 million. That $9 million would fund the ELA for almost 10 years, ensuring that top quality research continues to provide real information and direction for truly responsible use of our natural resources.

The war on science, and on the ELA in particular is just one of the many ways that the Harper government is tearing down barriers to big business getting ever bigger. They are also doing everything they can to push through trade deals like the FIPPA with China, and CETA with the EU. These trade deals rely on government abolishing regulations that protect the environment, resources, water, sustainability practices, and local economic health. It is evident that the Harper vision for Canada is one of corporate power run amok, where traditional Canadian values of democracy, justice, and respect are trampled in the corporate rush to the sale table marked “Canada.”

STAY INFORMED:
Council of Canadians blogs on the campaign to save the Experimental Lakes Area
The Save ELA
The Boreal Forest Network

Contributor: Mary Robinson – Council of Canadians Winnipeg Chapter Chair