All posts by Guest Post

Energy

“Grand bargain” would result in more oilsands emissions, not less

By Janetta McKenzie and Ian Sanderson, News release from the Pembina Institute

CALGARY — There is no feasible scenario where a new oil pipeline from Alberta to the west coast could be filled with “decarbonized barrels” of oilsands bitumen, a new report from the Pembina Institute finds. 

This is the case even if a theoretical pipeline were twinned with the Pathways Alliance carbon capture and storage project, via the “Pathways Plus” concept the federal government has signalled it is considering for the next tranche of major projects, to be announced next month. 

Continue reading “Grand bargain” would result in more oilsands emissions, not less →
Politics

Environment minister won’t say whether new pipeline would increase or decrease emissions

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin would not say whether she supports a new oil pipeline, nor acknowledge that a new pipeline would increase planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, at a federal committee meeting Monday morning.

Continue reading Environment minister won’t say whether new pipeline would increase or decrease emissions →
Energy

Here’s who lobbied for key measures in Mark Carney’s first budget

By Carly Penrose, Bethany Lindsay, Investigative Journalism Foundation, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Last week’s budget included billions in new spending and cuts that affected climate policies, defence spending, technology and taxation. 

An IJF analysis reveals that in the months and weeks leading up to the budget’s release, dozens of organizations registered to lobby and recorded hundreds of communications with public office holders on some of the very measures announced in Mark Carney’s budget.

Continue reading Here’s who lobbied for key measures in Mark Carney’s first budget →
Food

Food insecurity in Canadian households hits record high of 25.5%, says report

By Nora O’Malley, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Vancouver Island, BC – Food insecurity has reached a record high of 25.5 per cent in Canadian households, according to the latest Canadian Food Sentiment Index report published by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.

Another recent report from Island Health shows one in five Vancouver Island residents were concerned about food security. 

Continue reading Food insecurity in Canadian households hits record high of 25.5%, says report →
Disaster, Forests, Indigenous Nations

Amid climate impacts, leading Secwépemc firekeeper shares ‘a better way of looking after the land’

By Aaron Hemens, IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Growing up in Nlakaʼpamux and syilx territories in the 1970s, Joe Gilchrist can’t remember a single summer when wildfire smoke ever trapped him indoors. 

The Merritt, B.C., region’s semi-arid landscape still saw scorching summer temperatures back then, he recalled, but not the record-breaking fire seasons of recent years. 

“That was thanks to our work that the Indigenous ancestors did on the land,” said Gilchrist, a Secwépemc Nation member who now lives on Skeetchsn Indian Band’s reserve with his daughter.

“Then, everything was still fairly spaced out; the fires were easier to handle.”

Although settlers’ wildfire suppression efforts had become the dominant form of land stewardship when he was young, Indigenous communities in the Nicola Valley were still using fire to “cleanse” the land, Gilchrist said.

Continue reading Amid climate impacts, leading Secwépemc firekeeper shares ‘a better way of looking after the land’ →