Tag Archives: Gov of Canada

Forests, Indigenous Nations

Indigenous Peoples are more protective of forests and biodiversity, study finds

A new UBC led study of 111 peer-reviewed papers found that forests and biodiversity are better, or at least equally, protected if they are managed by Indigenous peoples. Between 2005 and 2012, vegetation loss in native areas of the Brazilian Amazon was 17 times lower. In Australia, 60% of the nation’s 1,574 threatened species were found on Indigenous lands. In the United States, Indigenous lands harbour more mature trees and higher tree volume. Close to two-thirds of the articles noted that Indigenous peoples were themselves threatened, and some offered suggestions to either provide resources or strengthen their tenure over the land. While little of the material dealt with British Columbia, lead author William Nikolakis has worked with First Nations in the Interior and was prepared to comment.   

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Communications

BC’s new data centre cluster sparks new discussion of ‘sovereign’ AI push

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

TELUS is pushing ahead with plans for a major AI data-centre cluster in British Columbia after being selected under Ottawa’s large-scale AI data-centre initiative. But the project is raising questions about who will ultimately control that infrastructure and whether BC’s clean power grid can absorb the electricity demand.

The project announced Monday with federal backing, would start with 85 megawatts of power from BC Hydro and scale to 150 megawatts, and over 60,000 NVIDIA GPUs, by 2032.

It includes three sites: an AI facility in Kamloops launching later this year, a Mount Pleasant location opening in 2026 and expanding through 2028 and a 10-storey data centre near BC Place set for 2029.

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Energy

Ontario’s Distributed Energy Resources (DER) study & other steps towards adopting renewables

As North America navigates the transition from traditional fossil fuel-based energy to renewable alternatives, various regions are exploring solutions like Distributed Energy Resources (DER). In this morning’s interview, Catherine Jefferey from Clean Energy Canada discusses a program designed to reduce costs for Ontario ratepayers by an estimated $1.8 billion to $3.5 billion annually. The discussion also covers progress in utility-scale battery storage, Canada’s adoption of renewables, and the prospects for transitioning away from fossil fuels.

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Rivers & Oceans

Some BC First Nations want to replace the salmon farming ban with their own system — and preserve jobs

Editor’s Note: Four of the 17 First Nations supposedly belonging to the Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship asked that their names be removed when this organization was first announced. They were the Mamalilikulla, Namgis and Kwikwasutinuxw Haxwa’mis First Nations (collectively referred to as the “Broughton First Nations”) and the Klahoose First Nation. This was apparently not done.

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

Some BC First Nations want Ottawa to cancel its ban on open-net salmon farms and hand them the reins of a reformed system that could better protect both wild salmon and jobs in their communities.

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Politics

Should Canada become part of the EU?

During the EU-Canada summit in Brussels last June, Prime Minister Mark Carney declared, “As the most European of the non-European countries, Canada looks first to the European Union to build a better world.” 

This is a sentiment that found surprisingly strong echoes within the Canadian public at large, in an era where President Donald Trump’s economic and political tantrums are prominent. 

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