Online Petition and Thunderclap

In an effort to attain more signatures on the online petition a thunderclap was started. We need to have 100 supporters by Oct. 1st. If we can reach that our message with the link to the online petition will be posted simulataneously on the social media networks of those supporters. Please help us reach 100 supporters https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/4752-save-kipawa-lake

APART Petitions for a BAPE UPDATE

IMPORTANT UPDATE: these petitions must be received (originals by mail) by APART before September 30th. Please collect as many signatures as you can and send to APART as soon as possible. 

APART (association pour l’avenir des ressources témiscamiennes) has started a paper petition asking the Quebec government for the Kipawa Rare Earths project to undergo a provincial environmental impact assessment (BAPE) please print and collect signatures and then return to APART address provided on petition https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_RVu60TVfd2Z0Zpa1hfU0dsMmc/edit?usp=sharing Currently the project does not have to submit to the provincial environmental impact assessment as approximately 4000 tonnes of ore are expected to be extracted per day, to trigger a BAPE the project would have to be extracting over 7000 tonnes per day. The environmental and human health risks are the same regardless of the volume extracted each day. This is a legal loop hole. Matamec was asked to voluntarily submit to the BAPE, they said no. Help hold this company accountable help us appeal to the government so that they have to take part in a BAPE

Letter Writing Campaing Week 2

Want to do more to save Kipawa Lake?

Each week we will be posting a decision maker in government and a form letter for you to send them. The best hope we have to protect Kipawa Lake is to appeal to these decision makers. Please check back each week and send the letter to the appropriate individual. 

The Algonquin First Nations appealed to Peter Kent for an joint review panel for the Kipawa Rare Earths Project. Mr. Kent said no. We now have a new Environment Minister. Let's help make sure they get their joint review panel this time. This week please mail this letter (or your own version) to:

Dear Minister Aglukkaq,

I am concerned about the proposed Kipawa Rare Earths Project in the territory of Wolf Lake and Eagle Village Algonquin First Nations.

This project has the potential for significant adverse effects to the water, fish, wildlife and human uses of the area and must be reviewed in the most rigorous and participatory way possible. The review must also be consistent with Canadian law on the duty to consult and accommodate and Canada’s international obligations under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

To meet these commitments Canada must accept in good faith the Algonquin First Nations offer to harmonize their review process with Canada in a joint review panel.

I fully endorse the First Nations call for a joint review panel for the Kipawa Project.

Sincerely,

Name/signature
Address

Letter Writing Campaign

Each week we will be posting a decision maker in government and a form letter for you to send them. The best hope we have to protect Kipawa Lake is to appeal to these decision makers. Please check back each week and send the letter to the appropriate individual. 

This week please mail this letter (or your own version) to:

Yves-François Blanchet
Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs
Édifice Marie-Guyart
675, boul. René-Lévesque Est, 30e étage
Québec (Quebec) G1R 5V7
Fax: 418-643-4143
ministre@mddefp.gouv.qc.ca

Dear Mr. Blanchet,
I am concerned about the proposed Kipawa Rare Earths project by Matamec Explorations Inc. Currently the project is not subject to a provincial environmental impact assessment in Quebec (BAPE). The reason for this is simply due to the tonnage extracted per day (it being under 7,000 tonnes). I am concerned because I believe a project that extracts 4,200 tonnes or 7,000 tonnes will have the same environmental impact and therefore should be required to go through the same approval process and public hearings. This project has the potential to adversely effect the water, fish, wildlife and human uses of the area. I as a citizen of Canada, am asking you to please require the project to undergo a full environmental study in Quebec (BAPE), so that we may all be better informed of the risks and have a better opportunity for input.

Thank you,
Name/signature
Address


Attention Mr. Blanchet,
Le projet de terres rares Kipawa par Matamec Explorations Inc me préoccupe beaucoup. Présentement, le projet n'est pas soumis à une évaluation de l'impact environnemental provincial au Québec (BAPE) puisque l'extraction sera moins que le 7000 tonnes par jour exigé pour l'évaluation. À mon avis, ce projet, qui prévoit l'extraction de 4200 tonnes par jour, aura le même impact sur l'environnement et ainsi devrait être assujetti au même processus d'approbation et d'audiences publiques. Nous sommes inquiets, ce projet a le potentiel d'affecter négativement l'eau, les poissons, la faune, et les humains de la region. À titre de Canadienne et de Québécoise, j'exige que ce projet soit soumis à une étude environnementale exhaustive (BAPE); nous serons alors tous mieux informés sur les risques et les recours à notre disposition.

Merci,

Nom
Address

SAVE KIPAWA LAKE

SAVE KIPAWA LAKE

Kipawa Lake is located along the Ontario/Quebec border North of Ottawa and East of North Bay. It is the headwaters for Lake Temiscaming as well as the Ottawa River. It is a vast body of water with over 900 km of natural shoreline. A moratorium on development was imposed in the 1980s allowing Kipawa to remain a pristine wilderness area with road access within a one day drive of the GTA, Ottawa, Montreal and other major centers. Tourists travel from all over the world to enjoy the beauty and serenity of this region, to hunt, fish, canoe, kayak and vacation.  The land has a rich cultural and historical significance to the local Algonquin First Nations who still inhabit the region and rely on hunting and fishing.  Unfortunately, this could all change and soon, plans are in place to lift the moratorium and allow development on Kipawa’s shores that will irreversibly and forever destroy this natural paradise. Proposed development includes a rare earth mine project by Matamec Explorations Inc. No rare earth element mine has operated in the world without significant damage to the environment and human health. Canada’s Environmental Laws while more stringent than many other countries were not written with this type of project in mind. Should this project be allowed to proceed it will be the first of its kind in Canada and our environmental laws are not sufficient to protect this vulnerable wilderness area. Rare earth mining has the ability to release radioactive isotopes, heavy metals and other contaminants that would not only be detrimental to the health of the environment, aquatic and terrestrial organisms but that would also render the water unsafe to drink, the wild plants, fish and wild game unsafe to eat and the air unsafe to breathe. The health effects on the local population would be many including chronic illness and elevated cancer rates.  Allowing industrial development on Kipawa Lake will provide a short term economic gain while protecting the region from development will allow Canadians to experience the natural beauty of this region, escape from the city to reconnect with nature and allow First Nations to continue their traditional way of life for generations to come – this is priceless. Time is running out but it is not too late. We must act fast to save Kipawa Lake.

What you can do to help:

***NEW - APART (association pour l’avenir des ressources témiscamiennes) has started a paper petition asking the Quebec government for the Kipawa Rare Earths project to undergo a provincial environmental impact assessment (BAPE) please print and collect signatures and then return to APART address provided on petition https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_RVu60TVfd2Z0Zpa1hfU0dsMmc/edit?usp=sharing Currently the project does not have to submit to the provincial environmental impact assessment as approximately 4000 tonnes of ore are expected to be extracted per day, to trigger a BAPE the project would have to be extracting over 7000 tonnes per day. The environmental and human health risks are the same regardless of the volume extracted each day. This is a legal loop hole. Matamec was asked to voluntarily submit to the BAPE, they said no. Help hold this company accountable help us appeal to the government so that they have to take part in a BAPE***

***NEW - we now have an official government paper petition to address rare earth mining in Kipawa. Please print, collect signatures and return original to Elizabeth May of the Green Party of Canada postage is free English Version https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_RVu60TVfd2aDlieXpWTmtFeXM/edit French Version https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_RVu60TVfd2UXBobUJteFFnSnM/edit?usp=sharing ***

 1.       Visit https://www.change.org/petitions/minister-of-natural-resources-quebec-protect-kipawa-lake to sign and share the petition

2.       ‘Like’ Save Kipawa Lake on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SaveKipawaLake  and visit http://www.savekipawalake.blogspot.com/ to learn more about these threats.

3.       Write letters to the decision makers (Martine Oulette, Leona Aglukkaq and Yves-Francois Blanchet). In your letter be sure to tell them your personal story, why Kipawa Lake is important to you and your family, send photos of Kipawa Lake so the decision makers will have a better idea of what we are at risk of losing. If you are a tourist (even from outside of Canada) be sure to include how long you’ve been visiting the area and how much you spent on your vacations. This will help show how important tourism is to the local economy as well as the economy of Canada. Once you’ve written your letter please email us savekipawalake@gmail.com to let us know you’ve sent a letter. See addresses below.

Write to the Minister of Natural Resources, Quebec asking to keep the moratorium in place and not allow development, especially mining, on Kipawa’s shores

Martine Ouellette
Ministère des Ressources naturelles                                                                                                                  

5700, 4e Avenue Ouest
Bureau A 301
Québec (Quebec)  G1H 6R1
Fax: 418-643-4318

email: ministre@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca

To put a stop to mining near Kipawa please send letters requesting that the Kipawa Rare Earths Project by Matamec Explorations Inc. not be allowed to proceed, tell them that the project is not socially acceptable in the region and that it should be subject to a BAPE (évaluation du Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement) environmental evaluation to provide more opportunity for public input and evaluation of potential risks. Ask that a moratorium on mining exploration and development be put in place on Kipawa Lake to protect it for the enjoyment of future generations and to preserve the way of life of the local Algonquin First Nations. Letters should be sent to:

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of the Environment
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
10 Wellington Street, 28^th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H3

Fax: 819-953-0279
Minister@ec.gc.ca

and 

Yves-François Blanchet

Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs

Édifice Marie-Guyart
675, boul. René-Lévesque Est, 30e étage
Québec (Quebec)  G1R  5V7
Fax: 418-643-4143
ministre@mddefp.gouv.qc.ca

Important Public Meeting - Please attend and help spread the word

Mining NOT Socially Accepted in Kipawa!

From Matamec's March 31st report "Social acceptability has become imperative, in an effort to obtain authorisation for any mining projects. The Management Team at Matamec Explorations has from the very beginning encouraged the participation of the population of Temiscaming in the development of its Kipawa project. " Now is the time to speak up! Let Matamec know that mining is NOT socially accepted on Kipawa Lake or any where in the region. Say NO to polluted water, radioactive isotopes in the air you breathe, the water you drink and the berries, fish and wild game that you eat. Say NO to increased cancer rates and chronic illness, organism death and habitat loss. Speak out now or watch silently as the region is forever and irreversibly destroyed. Start by signing and sharing the petition on change.org, 'like' Save Kipawa Lake on facebook and contact us (savekipawalake@gmail.com) to find out what you can do to become more involved in the fight to save Kipawa Lake.

http://www.matamec.com/vns-site/uploads/documents/matamec-mda-mars2013.pdf