All posts by Guest Post

Cost of Climate Change

Fed’s cuts to climate research travel funds ‘mind boggling,’ May says

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

The federal government’s decision to stop funding travel for Canadian scientists contributing to international climate change research is “absolutely appalling,” Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) relies on scientists and experts across the world (including Canada) to produce in-depth reports assessing the causes, impacts and possible solutions to climate change. This body of work guides international climate negotiations.

“The IPCC reports and the IPCC itself represents the largest peer review process in the history of science,” May, who is co-leader of the Greens with Jonathan Pedneault, said in a phone interview with Canada’s National Observer.

Continue reading Fed’s cuts to climate research travel funds ‘mind boggling,’ May says →
Food, Rivers & Oceans

Oyster update

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From the Cortes Island Seafood Association

First, some relevant facts —

  1. Under the Pleasure Craft and Non-Pleasure Craft Sewage Pollution Prevention Regulations, Gorge Harbour has been a no-discharge-zone for boater sewage waste since June, 2000.
  2. Under the terms of the CSSP (Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program), the presence of actual or potential pollution sources, which includes transient boats, warrants a preventive closure recommendation.
  3. In 2012, Environment Canada made a preventive seasonal closure on the west end of the Gorge due to the presence of recreational boats; this was not a pollution event.
  4. In early Dec 2024, there was an illness report on oysters shipped from a Gorge Harbour oyster farm to Vancouver.  An illness report goes to Coastal Health, the BC Centre for Disease Control, the Canada Food Inspection Agency and back to the Federally Registered Shellfish Plant. Inspection and testing at the restaurant is done by Coastal Health. In this case, a Michelin star restaurant in Vancouver served only oysters from Gorge Harbour, ie., there were no other oysters involved.
  5. Today, we have 55+ boats anchored out, some with people living in them. And more seasonally moored liveaboards will soon be moving into the harbour.

The pressing problem now —

Continue reading Oyster update →
Communications

How social media is killing democracy

By Tracey Saxby, Originally published on My Sea To Sky

We’re living in an age of information—and disinformation.

Social media was supposed to bring people together, but instead it’s being weaponized to divide us. Algorithms are designed to amplify outrage, and it’s hard to tell truth from conspiracy.

With a federal election looming, the stakes have never been higher. Canada’s democracy is under attack. Disinformation divides our communities, erodes public trust, and makes it harder for voters to make informed choices.

Continue reading How social media is killing democracy →
Energy, Environment

Wilkinson warns Poilievre’s resource approval plan will end ‘in court on an ongoing basis’

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

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is pledging to create a “one and done” system for resource project approvals and rapidly approve 10 projects he says are stuck in the “slow federal approval process.”

To achieve a maximum approval wait time of one year, Poilievre said he will eliminate the Impact Assessment Act and create one office and one assessment process to handle all regulatory approvals across all levels of government.

This proclamation comes a few weeks after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his intent to streamline the approval process for big infrastructure projects in response to the trade war with the US. Carney said his plan, with a similar slogan to that of Poilievre’s — “one project, one review” — would aim to get projects approved within two years. 

Continue reading Wilkinson warns Poilievre’s resource approval plan will end ‘in court on an ongoing basis’ →
Indigenous Nations

Lax Kw’alaams elected, hereditary leaders sign accord ahead of historic referendum

By Radha Agarwal, Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Indicating a united front before the Lax Kw’alaams votes on its landmark constitution, the hereditary leaders of the Allied Ts’msyen Tribes and the Lax Kw’alaams elected council have officially signed a Governance Accord.

“Our Allied Tribes leaders have rightful authority, and we (the elected leadership) need to work closely together,” said Lax Kw’alaams mayor Garry Reece. 

Lax Kw’alaams consists of descendants from the Nine Tribes of the Ts’msyen, which include the Gitlaan, Gispaxlo’ots, Gilutz’aaẅ, Gitandoa, Gitnadoixs, Ginax’angiik, Gits’iis, Gitzaxłaał, and the Gitwilgyoots. It has approximately 4,150 members and is located on the northwest coast of British Columbia near Prince Rupert.

Continue reading Lax Kw’alaams elected, hereditary leaders sign accord ahead of historic referendum →