Latest news with #CeceliaParsons
Hamilton Spectator
17-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Tree debris removed at Burlington Millcroft Greens site as investigations continue
Removal of tree debris at Millcroft Greens began June 11 as an investigation into last month's tree cutting on the Burlington property continues. City forestry staff are supervising the removal work. Both the City of Burlington and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) are investigating the tree cutting on parts of Millcroft Golf Club. The tree cutting took place May 1, in preparation for future construction of 90 homes, but the city apparently issued a stop work order shortly after the cutting began and opened an investigation under its private tree bylaw. Details of the planned development can be found at the city's project website . The city issued a permit allowing the developer's contractors to access or cross city property in order to remove tree debris from the golf course. The golf club currently operates just nine of its 18 holes. Due to the ongoing investigation, the city is releasing limited information. An ECCC spokesperson told the Burlington Post on May 2 the federal department had launched an investigation to determine whether the tree cutting contravened the Migratory Birds Convention Act. That law 'prohibits the disturbance or destruction of migratory birds, their nests, and eggs.' Spokesperson Cecelia Parsons stated in a June 11 email ECCC publishes enforcement notifications or news releases that relate to convictions and when it is in the public interest, may, in some cases, share information about investigations or charges that are before the court. 'Otherwise, to protect the integrity of enforcement processes, the department does not share specific details relating to its inspections or ongoing investigations,' Parsons said. According to a joint statement issued by ward 6 city councillor Angelo Bentivegna and Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, the permit issued earlier this month allows the landowner to remove fallen trees and branches but prohibits any further removal of living trees or stumps. The stop work order remains in place — limiting any work on site to the permitted removal of tree debris. According to a previous update issued by Meed Ward, the city and Millcroft Greens had a pre-servicing agreement that set out conditions to be met before tree removals could begin. 'Millcroft Greens began removing trees before all conditions were satisfied,' Meed Ward's statement continued in her June newsletter. 'As a result, the City issued a cease-work order on May 1, 2025.' Representatives of Millcroft Greens did not respond to requests for comment by deadline. A statement on the Millcroft Greens website acknowledges 'many in the community are disappointed to see the removal of trees' but calls the work 'a necessary step in the creation of new homes.' 'As part of our approved development application, we have preserved 425 existing trees and are planting over 2,600 new trees in the developed blocks,' the Millcroft Greens statement continues. 'We also want to assure the community that all work that has been conducted on site was undertaken only after the necessary approvals were obtained.' The Millcroft Greens website states an ecologist ensured no active migratory bird nests were disturbed and some trees within a designated buffer zone were preserved. Sonia Robinson, of the group Millcroft Against Bad Development , said large machines rolled into the neighbourhood at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11 to begin the removal of tree debris. 'The noise level was unbearable yet they continued to wood chip the felled trees for over 10 hours,' Robinson said. 'This heavy machinery was less than 50 feet from some of the homeowners' backyards.' 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 .
CTV News
21-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Environmental lawyers tell courtroom Ottawa's protections for piping plovers flawed
A piping plover walks on the sand in Glen Haven, Mich., May 30, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-John Flesher HALIFAX — Environmental groups are arguing in Federal Court that Ottawa's plans for protecting the habitat of the piping plover are vague and inadequate. The endangered, migratory shorebirds build their nests along coastal beaches where they're increasingly at risk from human activities and predators. Lawyers for East Coast Environmental Law and Nature Nova Scotia say the federal approach of protecting specific parts of beaches has unclear language and is weaker than Ottawa's prior conservation strategy. The group says the old strategy held Ottawa to a higher standard of protecting entire beach areas at sites in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. A spokeswoman for the Environment Department says the new approach was developed using information and input from federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments. Cecelia Parsons says the protection strategy meets Canada's obligations under the Species at Risk Act, using refined habitat mapping and 'conservation efforts based on the latest science.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 21, 2025. The Canadian Press
Global News
21-05-2025
- General
- Global News
Environmental lawyers tell courtroom Ottawa's protections for piping plovers flawed
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Environmental groups are arguing in Federal Court that Ottawa's plans for protecting the habitat of the piping plover are vague and inadequate. The endangered, migratory shorebirds build their nests along coastal beaches where they're increasingly at risk from human activities and predators. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Lawyers for East Coast Environmental Law and Nature Nova Scotia say the federal approach of protecting specific parts of beaches has unclear language and is weaker than Ottawa's prior conservation strategy. The group says the old strategy held Ottawa to a higher standard of protecting entire beach areas at sites in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. A spokeswoman for the Environment Department says the new approach was developed using information and input from federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments. Cecelia Parsons says the protection strategy meets Canada's obligations under the Species at Risk Act, using refined habitat mapping and 'conservation efforts based on the latest science.'
CBC
21-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Environmental lawyers tell court Ottawa's protections for piping plovers flawed
Environmental groups are arguing in Federal Court that Ottawa's plans for protecting the habitat of the piping plover are vague and inadequate. The endangered migratory shorebirds build their nests along coastal beaches where they're increasingly at risk from human activities and predators. Lawyers for East Coast Environmental Law and Nature Nova Scotia say the federal approach of protecting specific parts of beaches has unclear language and is weaker than Ottawa's prior conservation strategy. The group says the old strategy held Ottawa to a higher standard of protecting entire beach areas at sites in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. A spokesperson for the Environment Department says the new approach was developed using information and input from federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments. Cecelia Parsons says the protection strategy meets Canada's obligations under the Species at Risk Act, using refined habitat mapping and "conservation efforts based on the latest science."
Hamilton Spectator
21-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Environmental lawyers tell courtroom Ottawa's protections for piping plovers flawed
HALIFAX - Environmental groups are arguing in Federal Court that Ottawa's plans for protecting the habitat of the piping plover are vague and inadequate. The endangered, migratory shorebirds build their nests along coastal beaches where they're increasingly at risk from human activities and predators. Lawyers for East Coast Environmental Law and Nature Nova Scotia say the federal approach of protecting specific parts of beaches has unclear language and is weaker than Ottawa's prior conservation strategy. The group says the old strategy held Ottawa to a higher standard of protecting entire beach areas at sites in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. A spokeswoman for the Environment Department says the new approach was developed using information and input from federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments. Cecelia Parsons says the protection strategy meets Canada's obligations under the Species at Risk Act, using refined habitat mapping and 'conservation efforts based on the latest science.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 21, 2025.
