All posts by Guest Post

Communications

What Will Canada’s AI Strategy Mean for Jobs and Safety?

Leave a comment

By Isaac Phan Nay, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada’s long-awaited and much-delayed artificial intelligence strategy on Thursday, outlining how his government plans to adopt and control the powerful technology.

The strategy signals the government’s support for large-scale AI adoption. The plan includes a $500-million fund to invest in Canadian AI companies and a commitment to support construction of data centres that will bring at least a combined 850 megawatts of compute capacity by 2030.

Continue reading What Will Canada’s AI Strategy Mean for Jobs and Safety? →
Indigenous Nations, Water

Indigenous-led watershed protection effort lacking crucial municipal support in Okanagan

Leave a comment

By Aaron Hemens, IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Nearly every municipality, regional district, and First Nation across the Okanagan and Similkameen watersheds has signed on to a syilx-led initiative to restore and protect the region’s waters for the next seven generations. 

But the multi-government effort is missing two key players: the cities of Kelowna (kiʔláwnaʔ) and West Kelowna, representing a combined population of nearly 210,000 people, according to B.C. Stats.

Continue reading Indigenous-led watershed protection effort lacking crucial municipal support in Okanagan →
Indigenous Nations

Tsawwassen backs K’ómoks and Kitselas ratification amid mounting territorial disputes

By Radha Agarwal, Delta Optimist, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Drawing on nearly two decades of self-governance, Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) is endorsing the ratification of the K’ómoks and Kitselas Final Agreements.

The Nation asserts that the success of these new treaties is a vital legal precedent required to unlock TFN’s own pending treaty modifications.

Continue reading Tsawwassen backs K’ómoks and Kitselas ratification amid mounting territorial disputes →
Rivers & Oceans

Great Bear Sea waters move closer to federal protection

By Sonal Gupta, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A stretch of ocean off BC’s central coast, where salmon, herring, whales, sea otters and some of the province’s largest kelp beds share waters with fishing boats and coastal communities, is moving toward federal protection.

Six First Nations, Ottawa and the province signed an agreement Friday to establish a new National Marine Conservation Area Reserve in the Great Bear Sea, beside the globally known Great Bear Rainforest.

Continue reading Great Bear Sea waters move closer to federal protection →
Cost of Climate Change, Energy

Ottawa warned public funding for LNG and fossil fuel projects could trigger Charter challenges

By Sonal Gupta, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A BC citizens’ group and its lawyers are warning Ottawa it could face Charter challenges if it uses public money to support new or expanded fossil fuel projects, including major LNG developments in British Columbia.

Ecojustice lawyers, acting for Citizens for My Sea to Sky, recently sent a legal letter to federal ministers and Crown corporations, including the Canada Infrastructure Bank and Export Development Canada. The letter says new subsidies or financing for projects such as Ksi Lisims LNG, LNG Canada Phase 2 or a new oil pipeline, could violate Canadians’ constitutional rights — on the basis that public financing for these projects would worsen the climate crisis and increase risks to Canadians’ Charter-protected rights, including the right to life, security of the person and equality. 

“The subsidies drive the project; the project [drives] the emissions; the emissions drive the harms and the risk of harms,” said Ecojustice lawyer Charlie Hatt.

Continue reading Ottawa warned public funding for LNG and fossil fuel projects could trigger Charter challenges →