The Government of Canada has published a sparse but alarming Discussion Paper that proposes sweeping reforms to federal assessment and permitting processes. The overall goal of the Paper is to simplify and shorten these processes so that major projects can be approved and implemented more quickly. The public consultation period on the Discussion Paper has been extended until July 22, 2026. I have reviewed submissions by the Canadian Environmental Law Association, 350.org and Environmental Defence. All three have grave concerns about what the government is proposing to do. Here is a nutshell summary of what the Discussion Paper proposes:
Continue reading “Discussion Paper – Getting Major Projects Built in Canada, There is a Better Way”Brampton Climate Walk & Native Plant Tour at Dorchester Park
Hosted by Brampton Environmental Alliance in collaboration with Toronto Climate Week
Sunday June 7, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Dorchester Park, Brampton (Meeting point details will be confirmed upon registration)
What if your front yard, backyard, or boulevard could become a haven for bees, butterflies, and the plants that sustain them — right here in Brampton?
Continue reading “Brampton Climate Walk & Native Plant Tour at Dorchester Park”BEA partners with Plant Powered for the Earth to bring an exciting Pollinator Habitat workshop and program to WG Davis SPS.
Pollinators are essential to healthy ecosystems, food production, biodiversity, and climate resilience across Ontario. Creating pollinator gardens with native plants and installing bee hotels are simple but powerful ways communities can support declining native bee populations while helping mitigate climate change through healthier urban ecosystems.
Continue reading “BEA partners with Plant Powered for the Earth to bring an exciting Pollinator Habitat workshop and program to WG Davis SPS.”Ever wondered how discarded packaging in the Blue Box becomes new packaging?
Most of us put something into the blue box every week and hope it gets recycled properly. Have you ever wondered what actually happens behind the scenes after the truck picks it up? How much of it actually gets recycled? Or, why materials need to be separated into the blue, black or green bins?
These are important questions that our BEA team is aiming to answer at an upcoming interactive workshop on Thursday, June 04, 2026. There you will learn why it is important to separate your waste, how to dispose of it in a way that has the least environmental impact, and how discarded material, like an old yogurt container, eventually become new packaging again.
Continue reading “Ever wondered how discarded packaging in the Blue Box becomes new packaging?”BEA Partners with Brampton Forestry, ACER and local schools to deliver tree monitoring
The BEA has partnered with Brampton Forestry and the Association of Canadian Educational Resources, (ACER) to provide tree monitoring services to sites at Batsman and Gore Meadows Parks. Students from Louise Arbour and Fletcher’s Meadows Secondary Schools participated in the 2-day event, Batsman Park on May 02nd and Gore Meadows Park on May 16th.
My trip to the Netherlands
I just returned from a 2-week bike and boat tour in the Netherlands. It was a transformative experience, seeing first-hand how a society and economy can be built where the car is not the primary mode of transport, where most energy requirements are met by renewable sources, and where climate action is a visible and normalized part of daily life.
Brampton Council punches hole in east-west cycling corridor
This past week Brampton Council voted 10-1 in favour of removing the bike lanes along a section of Howden Blvd. between Williams and Dixie. Councillor Santos was the only member who upheld Vision 2040 and the principles of good city building. There is no candy-coating this; it is a huge blow to the city’s plans for sustainable transportation.
Continue reading “Brampton Council punches hole in east-west cycling corridor”A feathered visitor draws much attention to our backyard
Who knew that one little bird, the size of a sparrow could create such a stir. It all started this past Wednesday when we looked out our kitchen window to see a woman, carrying a camera with a lens as long as a bus, taking pictures over our backyard fence. She wasn’t a stranger. We’d chatted with her often while on our twice daily walks, always carrying her camera, ready to take pictures of birds and animals that she saw along the way. But that day was different. She seemed very excited as she waved at us. Dayle went out on the deck to ask her what she was doing. It turns out she had sighted a Spotted Towhee, scratching for food under a forsythia bush in our yard.
Continue reading “A feathered visitor draws much attention to our backyard”Be a Part of Something Big – Join the Brampton Environmental Alliance
An appeal written by BEA youth council member Srishti Rao
Do you believe in a cleaner, healthier, more environmentally sustainable Brampton?
Imagine a city where we can protect green spaces, reduce waste, promote healthier lifestyles, and work together on environmental solutions that matter?
Look no further, it’s…
Continue reading “Be a Part of Something Big – Join the Brampton Environmental Alliance”Building a Healthy and Connected Bramalea wraps up another year
Since 2020, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has teamed with City of Brampton, the Federal Government’s Healthy Communities Initiative, and United Way, to fund projects in Bramalea’s K, E, and F sections as part of the Bramalea Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP). More background about the Bramalea SNAP project can be found in a previous post.
Continue reading “Building a Healthy and Connected Bramalea wraps up another year”