ENV221H1 – 2025 Biodiversity Assignment
Value: 20% of final grade
maximum 1,500 words
Bill 5 – Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025 (Ontario) and Bill C-5 – Our Canadian Economy Act (Federal) are both laws that have been proposed to fast-track infrastructure and development projects in response to challenging political and economic times. In Ontario this has meant the recognition of “special economic zones” exempt from environmental rules and planning laws.
One of the first projects to be approved under Bill 5 is the creation of a new $62 million road to allow better access to the Ring of Fire region in northern Ontario (Brown, 2025), which is known to be rich in nickel, copper, platinum and chromite deposits.
Imagine you have been appointed as a ‘special future generations advisor’ for the Ontario provincial government. Your position was created in response to concerns that the public and especially the younger generation who would be most impacted by some of the decisions around Bill 5 – Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025, have not been appropriately consulted.
You have been tasked with:
1. attending a community town hall meeting (aka tutorial #3) to discuss the Ring of Fire Proposal.
2. Summarizing and reporting back on the various voices at the meeting
3. Identifying whether there was consensus on the project’s future at the meeting
4. Presenting your own recommendation(s) on what you think the government’s best strategy moving forward under current circumstances.
Your assignment should consist of a minimum three sections:
Section 1 (~250-500 words)
A summary and background of the proposed Bill 5 and Bill C-5 and the concerns surrounding their implementation as related to the biodiversity issue.
Section 2 (~250-500 words)
A report on the various stakeholders and their positions on the Ring of Fire community town hall meeting (aka tutorial #3), including whether there was any consensus on the future of this project.
Section 3 (~500-750 words)
Using insights gained from this course combined with your recent appointment as the ‘special future generations advisor’ and your own independent research, present your own analysis on whether you support this project moving forward. Your analysis and final recommendation(s) should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of benefits and impacts to all stakeholders and showcase your research effort with supporting citations whenever possible.
Your sources for this assignment should include:
A minimum of 3 course readings (You must document your use of these sources as you would any others and not simply identify them as lecture notes or personal communications from your instructor).
A minimum of 3 other references, in addition to those required and recommended from your course readings, including at least one peer reviewed source. Such sources should be drawn from reliable professional or academic sources engaged in the public debate. We caution you to be extra vigilant in determining the validity and authority of the authors and sources before inclusion in your own analysis. Examples of such sources include (but are not limited to):
o Academic books and journal articles
o Government and industry websites;
o think tanks and environmental non government organizations, and
o mainstream media
Please keep in mind that this paper is a short paper – we expect you to stick within the set length limits and will penalize papers that are too long. Keeping it short is challenging, but those of you who are able to cover all the relevant points and be concise will show real mastery of the issues.
Formatting
You should structure this assignment as a short report with an appropriate introduction and conclusion that ties your various sections into a coherent whole. The report should be written from a first-person professional tone since you are being asked to develop and present recommendations and analysis based on your experiences.
Your paper should have:
A representative assignment title, the course title and number, your TA’s name, your name and student number;
page numbers;
use 12 point font, 1 inch margins, one and a half or double spaced
a separate page for references;
A final word count of the body of the paper on the last page at the bottom right. Not to exceed 1500 words. Do not include your separate page of references or appendices in the word count.
Documentation of Sources
When writing an assignment or academic paper such as this one, you must acknowledge the sources from which you took information or ideas, specific facts which you use as evidence in your argument, and the authors of distinctive or authoritative ideas. This allows your reader to look to those sources for further information, or to confirm your information.
You should not be citing your lecture notes or instructor within this assignment. Instead you should be citing the appropriate readings or other documented sources to support your statements.
If you have questions about when and why you should be using citations, please see the handout How Not to Plagiarize from the University of Toronto Writing Centre (http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/using-sources/how-not-to-plagiarize).
In this assignment, the preference is for the APA formatting style. which consists of an in-text citation method that consists of the surname(s) of the author(s) and the year of publication. For more information review the handout Standard Documentation Formats (http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/using-sources/documentation), which includes instructions on documenting online and digital sources.
Keep in mind, you must document all of your sources, including
Course Readings
Additional articles or policy statements
Digital and Online Sources
This is not a group project. You are required to work independently on this assignment, and to submit your own original work. We check vigilantly for plagiarism; for assistance with any writing issues, we encourage you to use the resources of the writing centres: www.writing.utoronto.ca.
(Some information contained here is summarized from Dr. Margaret Proctor’s handout How Not to Plagiarize, University of Toronto 2008)
Administrative Details
Submission of assignments:
We will be using a plagiarism detection program within the online assignment function in Quercus for submission of the written assignments in this course. Normally, students will be required to submit their course essays to the University’s plagiarism detection tool website for a review of textual similarity and detection of possible plagiarism. In doing so, students will allow their material to be included as source documents in the University’s plagiarism detection tool reference database, where they will be used solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism. The terms that apply to the University’s use of the University’s plagiarism detection tool service are described on the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation web site (https://uoft.me/pdt-faq).
If a student does not wish to submit to the online plagiarism tool, the student MUST advise the head TA immediately as alternate arrangements for screening the assignment must be arranged. To avoid late penalties, assignments must be submitted to the Quercus Assignment function
Late penalties
The late penalty will be 2.5 percent of the assignment grade per day late, including each day of the weekend, and will only be waived with a completed Absence Declaration on ACORN.
Note students may submit one absence declaration per academic term. If additional absences occur within the term, students may need to contact their College Registrar or submit a UofT Verification of Illness Form. More detailed information on the absence declaration guidelines and eligibility can be found at:
https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/academics/student-absences
Please note that the declaration must cover the period of time you missed, e.g. the week before the assignment/essay is due, etc.
Assignments will NOT be accepted one week past the due date even if accompanied by an Absence Declaration unless prior approval has been obtained. All such requests should be directed to the head TA: Kirsten Yeung ([email protected])
Academic Integrity
The following is taken directly from the Faculty of Arts and Science Academic Integrity website (http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/osai/students):
Academic integrity is fundamental to learning and scholarship at the University of Toronto. Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in this academic community ensures that the U of T degree that you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement, and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
Familiarize yourself with the University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm). It is the rule book for academic behaviour at the U of T, and you are expected to know the rules. Potential offences include, but are not limited to:
In papers and assignments:
Using someone else’s ideas or words without appropriate acknowledgement.
Copying material word-for-word from a source (including lecture and study group notes) and not placing the words within quotation marks.
Submitting your own work in more than one course without the permission of the instructor.
Making up sources or facts.
Including references to sources that you did not use.
Obtaining or providing unauthorized assistance on any assignment including
o working in groups on assignments that are supposed to be individual work,
o having someone rewrite or add material to your work while “editing”.
Lending your work to a classmate who submits it as his/her own without your permission.
On tests and exams:
Using or possessing any unauthorized aid, including a cell phone.
Looking at someone else’s answers
Letting someone else look at your answers.
Misrepresenting your identity.
Submitting an altered test for re-grading.
Misrepresentation:
Falsifying or altering any documentation required by the University, including doctor’s notes.
Falsifying institutional documents or grades.
The University of Toronto treats cases of academic misconduct very seriously. All suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be investigated following the procedures outlined in the Code. The consequences for academic misconduct can be severe, including a failure in the course and a notation on your transcript. If you have any questions about what is or is not permitted in this course, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you have questions about appropriate research and citation methods, seek out additional information from me, or from other available campus resources like the U of T Writing Website. If you are experiencing personal challenges that arehaving an impact on your academic work, please speak to me or seek the advice of your college registrar.
See also the handout “How Not to Plagiarize,” Margaret Proctor, 2009, available online at http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/using-sources/how-not-to-plagiarize
Evaluation Criteria:
Mechanics
● Followed assignment instructions
● Addresses major questions asked within the assignment
● Writing is essentially error free in terms of spelling and grammar
● Within the stated word count +/- 10%
Development of Ideas
● Ideas and arguments are persuasive, explained well, and supported with examples, references, and appropriate detail
● Assignment is organized, logical, and flows well
References
● References appropriate in type, style. and number