Presentation provided at the ONEIA breakfast - annual address Environment Commissioner Gord Miller - March 27, 2013

1. Losing Our Touch
Gord Miller
Environmental Commissioner of Ontario

2. Overview
 Issues in Ecosystems
 Planning Issues
 Water Issues
 Permitting Issues
 Emerging Issues
 Moving Government Forward

3. Issues in Ecosystems
 Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation
Program
 Failure of the Provincial Wildlife
Population Monitoring Program
 The Province’s forgotten fauna

4. Wildlife Damage Compensation
Livestock Species Wildlife Predators
 Mink
 Fox
 Raccoon
 Fisher
 Martin
 Lynx
 Elk

5. Wildlife Damage Compensation
Livestock Species Wildlife Predators
 Mink  Mink
 Fox  Fox
 Raccoon  Raccoon
 Fisher  Fisher
 Martin  Martin
 Lynx  Lynx
 Elk  Elk

6. Wildlife Damage Compensation
Poultry
 Chicken
 Turkey
 Duck
 Goose

7. Wildlife Damage Compensation
Poultry Also Poultry
 Chicken  Northern bobwhite
 Turkey  Ruffed grouse
 Duck  Spruce grouse
 Goose  Rock ptarmigan
 Willow ptarmigan
 Wild turkey

8. PWPMP
 Intended
to monitor any impacts forestry
was having on wildlife populations

9. PWPMP
 Intended to monitor any impacts forestry
was having on wildlife populations
 Legal requirement under the EA
Declaration Order MNR-71

10. PWPMP
 Intended to monitor any impacts forestry
was having on wildlife populations
 Legal requirement under the EA
Declaration Order MNR-71
 PWPMP not provincial, does not address
wildlife populations and involves no
monitoring

11. PWPMP
 Intended to monitor any impacts forestry
was having on wildlife populations
 Legal requirement under the EA
Declaration Order MNR-71
 PWPMP not provincial, does not address
wildlife populations and involves no
monitoring
 “nothing to report”

12. Ontario’s Forgotten Fauna

13. Marine Mammals
in Ontario
•Polarbears
•Orcas
•Ringed and
Bearded Seals
•Walruses
•Beluga whales

14. Planning Issues
 Newwind power rules to protect birds
and bats

15. In Ontario 2.5 birds per turbine

17. Bats – more serious issue
 4-14per turbine per year
 Migratory populations worst hit
 Non-migratory species complicated by
white nose syndrome
 Can be monitored and mitigated

18. Water Issues – OLWR Plan
 Level I – Potential water supply problem
 Level II – Potential serious problem
 Level III – Inability to meet demand
– Province declares condition after …
• Demonstrated and documented majority of water
users have participated in conservation
• Documented any significant social,
environmental and economic impacts arising
• Provided recommendations on restrictions

19. Permitting Issues – Overt Pollution
 Appfor Investigation – particulate
emissions from cement plant

20. Permitting Issues – Overt Pollution
 App for Investigation – particulate
emissions from cement plant
 MOE report “residents’ complaints are
credible and truthful” “all evidence
supports residents’ complaints of
adverse effects”
 700 exceedances in 2010
 Going on for 10 years!

21. A Terrible Waste
 The
environmental costs of throwing
away our food

24. 40% Canadian Food Prod
Wasted

25. Moving Government Forward
 Evaluating environmental programs
– Examples of weak evaluation
– Rationale for program evaluation
– Program evaluation tools
– Some bight spots

26. Thank You For Your Attention
The ultimate test of a moral society is the
kind of world that it leaves to its children.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theologian (1906-1945)