Green Canadian Cities

Kamloops need to look at other cities around Canada for ideas to help protect even repair the environment.

Sudbury 35 years ago was compared to the moonscape. Astronauts were sent there to get an idea of what the moon was actually like. The problem: the land is barren. After 30 years or so of planting trees, the land is still barren. They figure that it will be another few hundred years before the land is healthy again.

Halifax is changing how garbage is disposed. Residents are expected to separate all the garbage - recyclables, organics, etc. Each garbage bag that is picked up is opened and sorted through again for the missed apple core or cola can. This means less garbage is going to the landfill and believe it or not not as smelly. Apparently the landfill in Halifax is only 10km away from the city core.

Toronto is also getting into the act. Companies got into the one tonne challenge and built energy efficient buildings. Another company found a way to change gases back into usable energy. They've also found a way to do this without burdening the taxpayers.

So what is City Council doing to make Kamloops a more environmentally city? How are the bigger companies here and in the area helping out? Where is the pressure to make the City and companies like Weyerhauser or Highland Valley Copper to clean up? Is Kamloops environmentally falling behind even bigger cities?

(All information about these three cities came from Peter Mansbridge on the National - March 12, 2007)