Is Canada eco-friendly? Surprising ways we are...and aren't

5. Banning pesticides
What's good:
Exposure to pesticides has been linked to increased rates of cancer, reproductive problems and neurological disorders, according to a study by the Ontario College of Family Physicians. So kudos to the many Canadian municipalities, and the Province of Quebec, who have restricted the use of pesticides within their limits.

What could be better:
Nationwide restrictions are necessary to protect the health of Canadians, especially children, who are more vulnerable than adults to pesticide buildup in their bodies. And by buying organic produce more often, you'll be supporting farms and orchards in Canada and abroad whose workers don't have to handle these dangerous substances.

6. Transit ridership
What's good:
Transit ridership in Canada's largest cities is growing, according to Statistics Canada. And as an added incentive to ride rather than drive, as of July 2006, the cost of public transit passes qualifies as a tax credit.

What could be better:
None of Canada's public transit systems is perfect; they could all use more funding for maintenance and to increase their coverage of our cities -- without having to increase fares. Even if you're a die-hard driver, you shouldn't begrudge government support of public transit. As more people take the bus or subway, there will be less cars on the road, and the air will be cleaner -- who can argue with that?

7. Bottle deposits
What's good:
In 1970, British Columbia became the first region in North America to implement a mandatory deposit system for certain beverage containers. Since then, other provinces have followed its lead, and B.C. has expanded its deposit-return program from the initial coverage of soft drink and beer cans and bottles to include virtually all beverage containers. Now Ontario, which came late to the game, has implemented its own deposit-return system for most wine, beer and alcohol containers.

What could be better:
The next challenge in garbage is "e-waste." Our landfills are piled high with the toxic predecessors of this week's must-have gadgets, including computers, MP3 players and cellphones -- at least 140,000 tonnes a year are discarded, according to Statistics Canada. Industry, government and consumers need to work together to combat this growing problem.

8. Conserving energy
What's good:
The 2003 blackout made it clear. Canadians are now more than aware that electricity doesn't just come from a hole in the wall -- not only is it expensive, but it's a finite resource, for the most part. Most of us are now conscious of turning off lights and gadgets when we're not using them and of keeping the thermostat lower in the winter and higher in the summer. And the federal government has reinstated the federal energy efficiency program -- as of April 2007, homeowners will once again be eligible for financial incentives for making their homes more energy efficient.

What could be better:
Canada ranks sixth in the world in energy consumption, according to Environment Canada -- and that's overall, not per capita. Surely we can do better than that. For tips on reducing your consumption, and for other ways to reduce your ecological footprint, read the following articles:

• 10 simple ways to cut energy consumption
• 23 tips for earth-friendly living
• Save energy at home
• 7 easy ways to fight smog
• Cut your gas usage by up to 30 per cent

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