I know that some of you will think I’m crazy, but I think the winter went by far too quickly! Christmas, New Year’s, Olympics, all come and gone. My family cheered for the groundhog’s shadow to scare him back in the hole for a few more weeks. To my kids, that meant more skiing, more snowball fights and more time with dad being home. But alas, Spring is almost here and that means conference season has begun!

Terratec Environmental Ltd., a division of American Water's market-based subsidiary, American Water Enterprises, has been awarded a two-year contract by the Town of Cobourg, Ontario, for the removal and application of biosolids.

The Environmental Technology Trade Show (ETT) is the biennial meeting of environmental experts in Quebec organized by Réseau Environnement. The 10th edition of ETT will gather 3,000 participants, 150 exhibitors and hundreds of speakers on topics combining sustainable development, innovation and technology. This tradeshow is the opportunity for networking, learning and sharing knowledge in 2014!

Associate – Academic & Other Member:
Niagara College (Niagara on the Lake, ON)

No one was expecting any surprises in this year’s Budget Speech as Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty released the 2014 Budget on February 11. Titled "The Road to Balance — Creating Jobs and Opportunities," the title says it all — the federal government is on track with its mission to reach a balanced budget (surplus) by 2015. So while there was very little news in this year’s budget, we can start to look forward to next year’s budget and the potential for new programs and the lifting of the freeze over all federal departments.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper released on February 13, important details on the New Building Canada Plan, including support that will ensure small communities have stable, long-term and unprecedented access to funding for vital infrastructure projects.

In support of Public Safety Canada’s mission to build a safe and resilient Canada, the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) contributes to the security and resilience of the vital cyber systems that underpin Canada’s national security, public safety, and economic prosperity.

Consultation deadlines were recently announced on proposed amendments to the List of Species under the federal Species at Risk Act. Comments are due by March 23, 2014, for terrestrial species undergoing normal consultations and by October 23, 2014, for terrestrial species undergoing extended consultations.

Health Canada released, on January 29, 2014, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes in Drinking Water – Document for Public Comment. The document has been released by the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water (CDW) with the intent of establishing new drinking water guidelines including proposed maximum acceptable concentrations and aesthetic objectives for all three compounds.

The Government of Canada, Chemical Substances, released on January 24, 2014, a revised Overview of the Chemicals Management Plan.

The guidance document for Waterborne Bacterial Pathogens is now available on Health Canada's web site.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, SDTC is looking for the next wave of innovative cleantech entrepreneurs. The SD Tech Fund™ is open for applications from February 19 to April 16, 2014. SDTC supports technologies that address the challenges of Clean Air, Soil, Water and Climate Change, including technology solutions.

The British Columbia Oil & Gas Commission (OGC) has posted online Oil and Gas Water Use Summary: Third Quarter 2013 (July–September). The document provides, in table format, short-term water use data and water licence data from the January to September 2013 period. Download the summary document by clicking "Learn More" below.

A Regulation to amend the Construction Code, pursuant to Quebec’s Building Act, was published in the January 29, 2014 edition of Gazette officielle du Quebec. Under the act, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec must adopt a building code containing building standards, in particular for buildings, facilities intended for use by the public, installations independent of a building or their vicinity.

With cyber-attacks a growing threat to critical infrastructure systems, the American Water Works Association announced, on Feb. 12, 2014, the release of expert guidance on how water utilities can reduce their cyber vulnerabilities.

Citing the critical connection between energy and water, a bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill (S.1971) that would require the Departments of Energy and Interior to form a new group charged with addressing federal policy on the issue. The group would be co-chaired by the secretaries of Energy and Interior, but would also involve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, EPA, the Council on Environmental Quality, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation and the President’s Office of Management and Budget.

British Consulate General Vancouver and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Canada work with UK-based businesses to ensure their success in international markets, and encourage the best overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice.UKTI has professional advisers both within the UK and across more than 100 international markets.

Investment Executive
Ice, floods and thunderstorms made 2013 the worst year ever for severe weather insurance losses in Canada.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the December ice storms in southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada caused more than $200 million in insured losses, pushing total severe-weather payouts to policyholders last year to $3.2 billion.

Winnipeg Free Press
City officials have launched an aggressive plan to control the discoloured water problem by reducing levels of manganese in the water supply. A consultant’s report identified a recent buildup of manganese as the cause of the brown water.

Water Canada
Cooperation between all three levels of government has allowed the City of Sarnia, Ontario, to upgrade its wastewater system. Improvements to the wastewater collection system will help reduce sewer overflow into the St. Clair River, and will help protect and restore water quality in both the river and the Great Lakes.

Global News
The City of Saskatoon is looking to entering into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to negotiate an agreement with Martensville to provide water and waste water service.

The City of Guelph has said that its 2014 Water and Wastewater Long-range Financial Plan confirms that Guelph owns "reliable, financially resilient water and wastewater systems that benefit from long-range planning and forecasting of expenses and revenues."

CBC News
Ottawa’s mayor still counts on $65 million from the federal government to prevent sewage from flowing into the Ottawa River, which was not explicitly part of Tuesday’s federal budget.

Edmonton Journal
Satellite imagery used by the federal government to review a major bitumen leak last year in Alberta has found the project’s steam-based extraction caused "measurable levels of ground deformation in the area of the leak" at a rate 10 times faster than other oilsands operations.

Leader-Post
Premier Brad Wall says his government won't be able to help fund all infrastructure projects the province’s municipal leaders have said are needed.

Chatham Daily News
Frigid temperatures have been impacting the municipality’s infrastructure more frequently this winter, according to the public utilities commission.

Herald News
A new treatment of fracking water by Atlantic Industrial Services brings it within government guidelines for release into freshwater.

California is running out of water, raising the spectre of millions fleeing north
The Vancouver Sun
A young couple on the Canada Line asks for directions to the airport. They are flying home to San Francisco after a week skiing in Whistler, despite the fact there was not much snow.

Calgary Herald
Further suburban growth will be the primary driver of future hikes to utility fees, retired city manager Owen Tobert warned.

Edmonton Journal
The Alberta NDP is renewing its call for the province to launch an independent review of the effects of fracking in light of newly released documents showing a massive increase last year in the number of licenses granted to energy companies.

Vancouver Sun
Teck’s spill of up to 25,000 litres of caustic soda solution into the Columbia River at Trail last week comes only three months after the company was fined $210,000 for spilling the same compound into the same international waterway.

Vancouver Sun
A program aimed at reaching deep into neighbourhoods to inspire and fund green city projects has handed out nearly $1 million since it was started.

CBC News
It could take up to 48 hours before a drinking water advisory is lifted for Wahnapitae and areas east of that community.

Canadian Underwriter
The federal government's announcement Tuesday that it plans to consult with the industry for a "national approach to residential flood insurance" and to start funding projects such as flood control infrastructure in 2015, has been well received by the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Water Canada
The Cornwall Seaway News reported on February 10 that city councillors in Cornwall, Ontario have approved a water-sharing agreement with the neighbouring townships of North and South Glengarry. The partnership with Cornwall is expected to relieve the water access problems of both townships.