nationalobserver--2020-12-04--Feds, provinces to stage distribution dry run as first vaccine approval nears

Federal and provincial governments will stage a dress rehearsal Monday to test the complex plan to get precious COVID-19 vaccines distributed to every corner of Canada .
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin , who was named last week to lead the Canadian military 's role in the vaccine distribution process , says the dry run is intended to get everyone involved comfortable with the intense requirements of distributing a vaccine that has to be kept below -70 C at all times .
`` We are hard at it in the next couple of weeks to ensure that we are ready , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the idea of being ready before the Christmas time frame so we are certain to be ready when it comes in January . ''
A national operations centre established in Ottawa is quarterbacking the effort , and looking at two phases of a vaccine rollout .
The first will be over the winter , with about six million doses of vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna , enough to vaccinate three million people with two doses each .
The second will start in the spring , when `` millions more '' doses are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely from at least some of the other five vaccines Canada has signed on to buy .
Pfizer 's vaccine could be approved in Canada as early as next week and Moderna 's before the end of December .
Those two vaccines are the sole focus of Canada 's initial rollout plans , and while they use similar technology known as messenger RNA , they have very different storage requirements .
• How scientists saved rare seeds from Syria 's war — and are now helping to feed the world • Studies show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change Pfizer needs to store its vaccine in ultracold temperatures — below -70 C — while Moderna 's can survive only in temperatures below -20 C. Pfizer 's vaccine is so delicate the company built special boxes to transport the vials , packed on dry ice .
Pfizer directs that the thermal shipping boxes should n't be opened more than twice a day and for less than a minute at a time .
Dry ice must be replenished at least once every five days .
Pfizer 's vaccine can survive in a refrigerator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Moderna vaccine can be stored for up to six months in a regular freezer , and can survive after thawing , if kept in a refrigerator , for 30 days .
Fortin said because of the temperature requirements , there are two different supply processes for Canada .
Pfizer will ship the doses directly to provinces , with 14 delivery sites now identified .
At least one of them is in every province .
Eventually there might be 205 of these sites , he said .
Moderna will deliver its vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada is about to contract with a private logistics supplier to then move the doses to the provinces as needed .
The provinces will develop their own processes to distribute to sites across their jurisdictions .
New guidance on who should get the vaccine first is expected in days , said Dr. Howard Njoo , the deputy chief public health officer .
Feds , provinces to stage distribution dry run as approval of first vaccine imminent .
# Pfizer # cdnpoli # CAF # vaccine # Canada Canada 's initial recommendations included too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first batch , so it is being narrowed down .
The United Kingdom , which on Wednesday became the first to approve the Pfizer vaccine , will initially vaccinate people in long-term care homes , and those who care for them , followed by all people over the age of 80 , and front-line health workers .
Fortin said the 14 Pfizer delivery points will be equipped and ready by Dec. 14 for the eventual arrival of the vaccines .
The logistics contract for Moderna will be in place no later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fortin said there have been `` tabletop '' exercises to plan the distribution over the last weeks , including one on Wednesday that involved more than 150 people from all 13 provinces and territories , and eight federal departments and agencies .
The Canadian Armed Forces received formal orders last week to start planning for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines , though the military ’ s top commander says preparations have been underway for longer .
Fortin said the military has been involved on some level since the spring .
A planning directive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance notes the possibility of having to pick up COVID-19 vaccine doses from the United States and Europe on short notice , and outlines concerns the military will be asked to help with distribution while also responding to floods and other emergencies .
Military planners are also preparing to have troops work at vaccine-storage facilities and deliver freezers and other medical supplies to various regions .
But the military remains as much in the dark as everyone else about the specific timing for the doses to start arriving .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ plan become firm when we understand what support will be required by the provinces and territories , ” Vance said in an interview Wednesday .

Federal and provincial governments will stage a dress rehearsal Monday to test the complex plan to get precious COVID-19 vaccines distributed to every corner of Canada. Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, who was named last week to lead the Canadian military's role in the vaccine distribution process, says the dry run is intended to get everyone involved comfortable with the intense requirements of distributing a vaccine that has to be kept below -70 C at all times. "We are hard at it in the next couple of weeks to ensure that we are ready," said Fortin. "I kind of like the idea of being ready before the Christmas time frame so we are certain to be ready when it comes in January." A national operations centre established in Ottawa is quarterbacking the effort, and looking at two phases of a vaccine rollout. The first will be over the winter, with about six million doses of vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, enough to vaccinate three million people with two doses each.
The second will start in the spring, when "millions more" doses are expected from Pfizer and Moderna, and likely from at least some of the other five vaccines Canada has signed on to buy. Pfizer's vaccine could be approved in Canada as early as next week and Moderna's before the end of December. Those two vaccines are the sole focus of Canada's initial rollout plans, and while they use similar technology known as messenger RNA, they have very different storage requirements.
Pfizer needs to store its vaccine in ultracold temperatures — below -70 C — while Moderna's can survive only in temperatures below -20 C. Pfizer's vaccine is so delicate the company built special boxes to transport the vials, packed on dry ice. Pfizer directs that the thermal shipping boxes shouldn't be opened more than twice a day and for less than a minute at a time. Dry ice must be replenished at least once every five days. Pfizer's vaccine can survive in a refrigerator after thawing, for about 24 hours. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The Moderna vaccine can be stored for up to six months in a regular freezer, and can survive after thawing, if kept in a refrigerator, for 30 days.
Fortin said because of the temperature requirements, there are two different supply processes for Canada. Pfizer will ship the doses directly to provinces, with 14 delivery sites now identified. At least one of them is in every province. Eventually there might be 205 of these sites, he said. Feds, provinces to stage distribution dry run as approval of first vaccine imminent. #Pfizer #cdnpoli #CAF #vaccine #Canada Moderna will deliver its vaccine to one national delivery site, and Canada is about to contract with a private logistics supplier to then move the doses to the provinces as needed. The provinces will develop their own processes to distribute to sites across their jurisdictions. New guidance on who should get the vaccine first is expected in days, said Dr. Howard Njoo, the deputy chief public health officer. Canada's initial recommendations included too many people for the initial doses available in the first batch, so it is being narrowed down. The United Kingdom, which on Wednesday became the first to approve the Pfizer vaccine, will initially vaccinate people in long-term care homes, and those who care for them, followed by all people over the age of 80, and front-line health workers.
Fortin said the 14 Pfizer delivery points will be equipped and ready by Dec. 14 for the eventual arrival of the vaccines. The logistics contract for Moderna will be in place no later than Dec. 15, he said. Fortin said there have been "tabletop" exercises to plan the distribution over the last weeks, including one on Wednesday that involved more than 150 people from all 13 provinces and territories, and eight federal departments and agencies. The Canadian Armed Forces received formal orders last week to start planning for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, though the military’s top commander says preparations have been underway for longer.


nationalobserver--2020-12-04--Heating with hydrogen a challenge, projects in Alberta and Ontario show

It seems like a no-brainer to use clean-burning hydrogen to offset the environmental negatives of natural gas for warming homes , but pilot projects to do just that starting next year illustrate nothing is simple about this trendy new energy source .
As companies consider ways to commercialize hydrogen as a cleaner alternative fuel and projects advance in Fort Saskatchewan , Alta.
, and Markham , Ont.
, most observers concede it will take time and government support to overcome its cost competitiveness issues and lack of infrastructure .
`` All hydrogen is not created equal , '' says Tahra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program for B.C .
with environmental think tank The Pembina Institute and co-author of a hydrogen primer published in July .
“ If you blend the lowest carbon hydrogen , you 're going to get a much better outcome in terms of climate benefit . ''
Hydrogen has many advantages as an energy source .
When it burns it leaves only water behind — no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases .
It can be used for high-energy-intensity applications such as trucking , shipping and steelmaking .
It can be compressed for energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and dissipates quickly when released .
• Studies show Canadian banks not so green on climate change • How scientists saved rare seeds from Syria 's war — and are now helping to feed the world But there are disadvantages , too .
Its low ignition temperature and nearly invisible flame when burning pose potential safety issues .
Concentrated hydrogen can damage metal , requiring enhanced protection for pipelines .
The act of creating hydrogen requires energy , whether to tear apart water molecules with the electrolysis method or breaking down natural gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greenhouse gases .
`` The economics in our view for blue and green ( hydrogen ) are challenged right now but support will increase , costs are bound to come down , so ( it 's ) another good opportunity for us to capitalize on our infrastructure , '' said Al Monaco , CEO of pipeline company Enbridge Inc. , on a recent conference call , echoing the cautious stance taken by many industry leaders .
Almost all of the hydrogen created in Canada today is considered `` grey , '' created by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industrial processes such as refining petroleum or producing fertilizer .
Pembina estimates it costs between 91 cents and $ 1.42 per kilogram to make .
If the carbon dioxide and other pollutants from making grey hydrogen are captured and stored , it becomes `` blue '' hydrogen , but the cost jumps to between $ 1.34 and $ 1.85 per kilogram .
`` Green '' hydrogen is separated from water using only renewable electricity and , while it is the most environmentally benign , it is also the most expensive at between $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Pembina .
# Hydrogen 's future remains murky despite home heating projects in # Alberta and # Ontario .
Utility subsidiaries of Enbridge and Atco Ltd. are embarking on plans to inject hydrogen into the natural gas stream leading to home furnaces and water heaters in Markham and Fort Saskatchewan .
Electricity can ’ t be stored as is , but at Enbridge ’ s power-to-gas facility in Markham it is used to create hydrogen from water that can be stored until eventually being turned back into electricity with Enbridge 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Markham 's hydrogen is considered green because it is made with intermittent renewable electricity .
The facility opened in 2018 after investments of $ 4.5 million by an Enbridge partnership and $ 4 million by the federal government .
Its operation is supported by a three-year contract from Ontario ’ s electric system operator to supply surplus renewable power .
The system works to level out energy availability but when more hydrogen is created than can be stored , it has to be vented , says Cynthia Hansen , president of gas distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solution is to blend the surplus at about two per cent into the local natural gas stream to reduce its overall GHG emissions , a $ 5.2-million project ( with $ 221,000 from the federal government ) expected to begin for about 3,600 customers starting next summer .
Atco , meanwhile , is building a $ 6-million hydrogen blending project backed by $ 2.8 million in Alberta provincial grants and expected to be operational in early 2022 .
It is to deliver about five per cent hydrogen in the gas stream to about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small city just northeast of Edmonton , with the hydrogen coming from an unnamed local supplier .
`` When it starts up it will be grey and then it will transition to blue as the supply in the area builds out , ” said Jason Sharpe , Atco 's general manager of natural gas , estimating it will take two to three years for blue hydrogen to become available .
The Fort Saskatchewan area , with its refineries and petrochemical facilities , is ground zero for carbon capture and storage in Alberta .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2015 , has injected more than five million tonnes of carbon dioxide into underground storage from its oilsands upgrader .
The recently completed Alberta Carbon Trunk Line is a pipeline system designed to collect CO2 from industrial sites in the region and take it to mature oilfields where its permanent storage also results in enhanced oil recovery .
The global market for hydrogen could easily triple from current levels of about $ 200 billion per year by 2050 as countries adopt its use as a decarbonization strategy , according to GLJ , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Canada is well-positioned to become an exporter into this growing market because of its current and potential production , GLJ said .
Pembina 's Jutt , however , says hydrogen usage should be targeted .
While it may make sense to use it for home heating in some regions , that application does n't necessarily make sense in B.C.
, where energy from renewable hydroelectric sources is potentially more environmentally friendly .
Much is riding on promised federal and provincial government regulatory , strategic and financial commitments to hydrogen , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada meet its goal of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 , she added .
`` Businesses will do what 's right for them from an economic perspective but I think everyone 's looking to government for signals that it 's good to invest in these things — hydrogen being one of many fuels that we 'll need to reach our 2050 goals . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4 , 2020 .

It seems like a no-brainer to use clean-burning hydrogen to offset the environmental negatives of natural gas for warming homes, but pilot projects to do just that starting next year illustrate nothing is simple about this trendy new energy source. As companies consider ways to commercialize hydrogen as a cleaner alternative fuel and projects advance in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., and Markham, Ont., most observers concede it will take time and government support to overcome its cost competitiveness issues and lack of infrastructure. "All hydrogen is not created equal," says Tahra Jutt, director of the clean economy program for B.C. with environmental think tank The Pembina Institute and co-author of a hydrogen primer published in July. “If you blend the lowest carbon hydrogen, you're going to get a much better outcome in terms of climate benefit." Hydrogen has many advantages as an energy source. When it burns it leaves only water behind — no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. It can be used for high-energy-intensity applications such as trucking, shipping and steelmaking. It can be compressed for energy storage and transportation. It's non-toxic and dissipates quickly when released.
But there are disadvantages, too. Its low ignition temperature and nearly invisible flame when burning pose potential safety issues. Concentrated hydrogen can damage metal, requiring enhanced protection for pipelines. The act of creating hydrogen requires energy, whether to tear apart water molecules with the electrolysis method or breaking down natural gas molecules through thermal processes which themselves create greenhouse gases. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "The economics in our view for blue and green (hydrogen) are challenged right now but support will increase, costs are bound to come down, so (it's) another good opportunity for us to capitalize on our infrastructure," said Al Monaco, CEO of pipeline company Enbridge Inc., on a recent conference call, echoing the cautious stance taken by many industry leaders.
Almost all of the hydrogen created in Canada today is considered "grey," created by burning fossil fuel and then used in industrial processes such as refining petroleum or producing fertilizer. Pembina estimates it costs between 91 cents and $1.42 per kilogram to make. #Hydrogen's future remains murky despite home heating projects in #Alberta and #Ontario. If the carbon dioxide and other pollutants from making grey hydrogen are captured and stored, it becomes "blue" hydrogen, but the cost jumps to between $1.34 and $1.85 per kilogram. "Green" hydrogen is separated from water using only renewable electricity and, while it is the most environmentally benign, it is also the most expensive at between $3 and $5 per kilogram, according to Pembina. Utility subsidiaries of Enbridge and Atco Ltd. are embarking on plans to inject hydrogen into the natural gas stream leading to home furnaces and water heaters in Markham and Fort Saskatchewan. Electricity can’t be stored as is, but at Enbridge’s power-to-gas facility in Markham it is used to create hydrogen from water that can be stored until eventually being turned back into electricity with Enbridge's 2.5-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell when needed.
Markham's hydrogen is considered green because it is made with intermittent renewable electricity. The facility opened in 2018 after investments of $4.5 million by an Enbridge partnership and $4 million by the federal government. Its operation is supported by a three-year contract from Ontario’s electric system operator to supply surplus renewable power. The system works to level out energy availability but when more hydrogen is created than can be stored, it has to be vented, says Cynthia Hansen, president of gas distribution and storage for Enbridge. A partial solution is to blend the surplus at about two per cent into the local natural gas stream to reduce its overall GHG emissions, a $5.2-million project (with $221,000 from the federal government) expected to begin for about 3,600 customers starting next summer.


nationalobserver--2020-12-02--Confidence vote looms over feds' spending plan as provinces seek more health-care cash

Provinces are criticizing the federal Liberals for failing to signal more help for health-care systems and strained provincial coffers in its new spending plans , setting up a potential showdown next week between the prime minister and premiers .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet Dec. 10 with the country 's premiers , who have been demanding a meeting since September to talk about the annual federal transfer payments to provinces and territories for health care .
The fiscal update released Monday , which proposed some $ 25 billion in new spending to top up and expand existing programs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industries , did not detail a bump in health-care spending beyond increases planned before the COVID-19 pandemic .
Federal health transfers to provinces will rise to $ 43.1 billion next year from $ 41.9 billion this year , as part of a prearranged three per cent annual increase .
Provinces say the proposal still falls well short of what is needed to properly fund their systems , not including the added costs associated with COVID-19 .
• How scientists saved rare seeds from Syria 's war — and are now helping to feed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to boost its share of health-care funding by an extra $ 28 billion this year with annual increases of $ 4 billion thereafter .
`` The primary objective of the premiers is to see a structural change in how health care is funded , '' Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips said Tuesday in an interview .
`` And I think they 're going to be successful because it is the No .
1 thing that Canadians are interested in right now , in the middle of a global pandemic , is making sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The Liberals argue they 've sent plenty to the provinces for pandemic-related measures , totalling $ 24 billion to support health-care systems across the country .
On Tuesday , Trudeau said he planned to hear out the provinces about their needs during and after the pandemic , but would n't commit to added spending .
His Liberal government 's fall economic statement must first survive a confidence vote in the House of Commons .
Failure to gather the necessary support would mean the minority government falls , which could plunge the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending plan heads to confidence vote as provinces seek more health-care cash .
# COVID19 # cdnpoli `` I am reasonably confident that none of the opposition parties wants an election right now .
We certainly do n't want one , '' Trudeau told reporters outside his Ottawa residence .
`` We want to get these supports out to Canadians .
And there are certainly things in this fall economic statement that every party should be able to support in terms of helping Canadians . ''
Spending to date is putting the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion this year , but the government 's math says it could close in on $ 400 billion if widespread lockdowns return in the coming weeks .
Pandemic-related spending has sent total federal transfers this year to $ 99.7 billion .
Next year , the amount falls to $ 82.1 billion , near where it was before the pandemic , based on figures in the fall economic statement .
Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said the Liberals ' spending binge pre-pandemic has blown the margin now to increase transfers to lower levels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of room left for other commitments because of ( Trudeau 's ) irresponsible and insatiable appetite for spending other people 's money , '' Poilievre said .
Rebekah Young , Scotiabank 's director of fiscal and provincial economics , wrote in an analysis that one-off transfers to provinces were necessary under the circumstances , but there should be a structural shift in the long term to make the country 's finances sustainable .
`` And the discussion should be broader than expenditure-shifting , as provinces have been reluctant to take up revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent years , '' she wrote .
The Liberals are proposing extra help through a revised fiscal stabilization program that sends money to provinces facing a year-over-year decline in non-resource revenues .

Provinces are criticizing the federal Liberals for failing to signal more help for health-care systems and strained provincial coffers in its new spending plans, setting up a potential showdown next week between the prime minister and premiers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet Dec. 10 with the country's premiers, who have been demanding a meeting since September to talk about the annual federal transfer payments to provinces and territories for health care. The fiscal update released Monday, which proposed some $25 billion in new spending to top up and expand existing programs and create new, targeted support for hard-hit industries, did not detail a bump in health-care spending beyond increases planned before the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal health transfers to provinces will rise to $43.1 billion next year from $41.9 billion this year, as part of a prearranged three per cent annual increase. Provinces say the proposal still falls well short of what is needed to properly fund their systems, not including the added costs associated with COVID-19.
They want the federal government to boost its share of health-care funding by an extra $28 billion this year with annual increases of $4 billion thereafter. "The primary objective of the premiers is to see a structural change in how health care is funded," Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips said Tuesday in an interview. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "And I think they're going to be successful because it is the No. 1 thing that Canadians are interested in right now, in the middle of a global pandemic, is making sure we have stable, long-term health-care funding."
The Liberals argue they've sent plenty to the provinces for pandemic-related measures, totalling $24 billion to support health-care systems across the country. Feds spending plan heads to confidence vote as provinces seek more health-care cash. #COVID19 #cdnpoli On Tuesday, Trudeau said he planned to hear out the provinces about their needs during and after the pandemic, but wouldn't commit to added spending. His Liberal government's fall economic statement must first survive a confidence vote in the House of Commons. Failure to gather the necessary support would mean the minority government falls, which could plunge the country into a federal election. "I am reasonably confident that none of the opposition parties wants an election right now. We certainly don't want one," Trudeau told reporters outside his Ottawa residence. "We want to get these supports out to Canadians. And there are certainly things in this fall economic statement that every party should be able to support in terms of helping Canadians."
Spending to date is putting the federal deficit on track to reach $381.6 billion this year, but the government's math says it could close in on $400 billion if widespread lockdowns return in the coming weeks. Pandemic-related spending has sent total federal transfers this year to $99.7 billion. Next year, the amount falls to $82.1 billion, near where it was before the pandemic, based on figures in the fall economic statement. Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said the Liberals' spending binge pre-pandemic has blown the margin now to increase transfers to lower levels of government.


nationalobserver--2020-12-06--Seven members of Doug Ford's Greenbelt Council resign over conservation authority changes

Seven members of the Ontario government 's Greenbelt Council resigned over the weekend in protest of Premier Doug Ford 's moves to limit the power of conservation authorities .
The Greenbelt Council is a government-appointed expert panel that advises the province on issues related to the Greenbelt , a stretch of protected land surrounding the Greater Toronto Area that Ford has promised not to develop .
Chair David Crombie , a respected former Progressive Conservative MP and Toronto mayor , resigned Saturday night , with six more members following suit Sunday morning .
In their resignation letters , all seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservation authorities , agencies that oversee key watershed systems , some of which are in Greenbelt lands .
Critics say if the bill passes , it would undermine the ability of conservation authorities to ensure development in floodplains happens safely .
It could also take away the authorities ’ ability to intervene in controversial cases , like that of a development in Pickering , Ont.
, that would pave over a protected wetland .
The last straw for Crombie came Friday , when the Ford government doubled down on its plans with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chip away at conservation authorities ’ power .
“ They backed up a big truck and dumped a whole bunch of amendments that made it worse , ” he told Canada ’ s National Observer in a phone interview Sunday .
• How scientists saved rare seeds from Syria 's war — and are now helping to feed the world • The water has been bridged : COVID-19 cases on the rise on Vancouver Island • Coastal communities facing climate change need an equitable retreat , geographer says “ The content of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I could not just let it pass… I felt that I had to resign.
” One change would allow the government to use a special mechanism called a Ministerial Zoning Order to force conservation authorities to approve developments , even if the agency had concerns about flooding risk .
( The Ford government has come under fire in recent months for its increased usage of such orders , which override the local planning process and can ’ t be appealed . )
Another measure in the new rewrite would compel conservation authorities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to pay a fee in exchange for the destruction of endangered species habitat .
In a statement Saturday night , Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark thanked Crombie for his service and noted that the chair 's term was set to expire at the end of March 2021 .
And Sunday morning , Clark 's office thanked the other six as well .
`` For months we have been asking the Council for a detailed plan on how we can work together to expand the quality and quantity of the Greenbelt , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet there has been no progress , '' said Adam Wilson , a spokesperson for Clark .
`` We look forward to new perspectives on the Council that are serious about our commitment to expand the quality and quantity of the Greenbelt . ''
More than half of Doug Ford 's Greenbelt Council has resigned in protest of the Ontario government 's plans to limit the powers of conservation authorities .
# onpoli A Saturday evening # onpoli shocker : the chair of Doug Ford ’ s Greenbelt Council , former PC MP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to conservation authorities .
Calls them “ disastrous , and “ high-level bombing ” that “ needs to be resisted.
” pic.twitter.com/qG1ZqhyuUW — Emma McIntosh ( @ EmmaMci ) December 5 , 2020 In a statement Sunday , Ontario NDP climate critic Peter Tabuns called for the Ford government to reverse course on the changes before they become law .
“ People have had enough of Ford working for powerful developers and not in the best interests of the province , ” Tabuns said .
“ The resignations of seven Greenbelt Council members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a massive warning alarm : Ford ’ s attacks will have serious consequences for our climate and our environment.
” Ontario Liberal environment critic Lucille Collard said the “ massive , overwhelming opposition ” to the changes should give the government pause .
“ What they ’ re doing is wrong , ” she said in a phone interview Sunday .
“ It ’ s one thing to not protect the environment , it ’ s another thing to destroy what we have.
” “ I think it just underscores how extreme this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ontario , ” Gray said in a phone interview Sunday .
An eighth member of the Greenbelt Council , environmental biologist and land-use planner Linda Pim , resigned last month over the plans to develop the wetland in Pickering .
The members who resigned were all appointed by the previous Liberal government .
Six people , all Ford government appointees , remain on the council .
Here are the other three pic.twitter.com/ziWgGx5uSr — Emma McIntosh ( @ EmmaMci ) December 6 , 2020 There are 36 conservation authorities in the province .
Mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agencies oversee watershed systems , managing flood control , water quality and permits for construction in areas near waterways .
Ontario created the authorities in 1946 after the province found that decades of poor planning had led to drought , deforestation , erosion and increased flooding .
The current system was designed based on lessons learned in the wake of hurricane Hazel , which struck southern Ontario in 1954 , killing 81 people and destroying homes built on flood-plains .
Flooding and extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent and intense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Ford government introduced the changes to conservation authorities last month as part of Bill 229 , an omnibus piece of legislation meant to enact measures laid out in the province ’ s 2020 budget last month .
The proposal , laid out in schedule 6 of the bill , would allow the province to overrule conservation authorities to approve developments .
The government said the changes would streamline the land planning process , and make conservation authorities more transparent and accountable .
Critics , however , said the new proposed rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure development is done safely .
Conservation authorities spoke out against the bill , joined by a long list of municipalities and a group of 64 environmental organizations .
In a letter to Clark dated Nov. 19 , the Greenbelt Council also raised concerns : “ Any reasonable reading of the proposed legislation would see it as severely limiting the ability of ( conservation authorities ) to carry out their historic roles and undermining decades of environmental stewardship in Ontario.
” Before Conservatives vote to gut conservation authorities , they might want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known is stunning : the average cost per weather-related disaster has soared by 1,250 per cent since the 1970s , and '' .
.
.
# onpoli https : //t.co/0dY4WkAnZh — Mike Schreiner ( @ MikeSchreiner ) December 6 , 2020 Friday ’ s rewrite undercut conservation authorities even more , Gray said .
“ It was an arrogant , aggressive response to public concern , ” he added .
The government has argued that the changes to conservation authorities specifically exclude lands in the Greenbelt .
Instead of listening to stakeholders from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubled downed in his attack on the environment .
https : //t.co/TpPbkD03px — Ian Arthur ( @ IanArthurMPP ) December 4 , 2020 Crombie said the real problem is much more subtle .
The Greenbelt is inextricably connected to the lands that surround it — water runs where it needs to go , he said , and damage to the watershed planning system will harm the overall health of the area .
He also said the changes threaten to silence public debate over developments .
“ It may not be taking a chunk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are basically draining away the value , ” he said .
“ The impact on the Greenbelt is very strong and it 's beyond the Greenbelt as well.
” Doug Ford just lost more members of the Greenbelt Council over him gutting conservation authorities .
He needs to pull Schedule 6 from his budget bill now - Ontarians won ’ t stand for attacks on the environment .
# onpoli # FordBetrayedUs https : //t.co/8IiQdDcZ6r — Steven Del Duca ( @ StevenDelDuca ) December 6 , 2020 Council members raised concerns about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letters , Crombie and the six other council members said they were worried about Bill 229 ’ s effect on the environment .
“ Clearly you do not value ( the Greenbelt Council ’ s advice ) and clearly your government does not value the role that conservation authorities play in public safety and environmental quality , ” wrote Martin-Downs .
“ I believed that being ‘ in the tent ’ was valuable and that I could contribute to good public policy that makes Ontario great .
However , it is now clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a blatant assault on conservation , the environment and transparent governance .
My time and efforts will be better spent protecting the environment and the health and safety of our communities.
” Eby wrote that it was “ particularly troubling ” the government would make such changes in the middle of a pandemic : “ I can not in good conscience continue in this role , ” he said .
“ This is a time when people are focused on livelihoods and their own personal health and safety , ” wrote Caldwell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his decision was influenced by a “ distinct lack of engagement ” from the government on concerns raised by the council .
“ More importantly , the policy direction taken by the government in Schedule 6 of Bill 229 has triggered my decision to remove myself from the Council , ” Moore added .
“ The steps taken in Bill 229 put decades of excellent work across city and regional boundaries at risk.
” Blais wrote that the government ’ s changes “ are short-sighted and will likely generate other economic and environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s actions do not constitute sound , evidence-based public policy nor serve the interests of Ontarians , ” Blais added .
Today I joined David Crombie & other members of the Greenbelt Council resigning my appointment .
We did our best to shine a light on the value of conservation authorities and their relationship with the Greenbelt .
No one was listening.
# RemoveSchedule6 — Deborah Martin-Downs ( @ CVC_CAO ) December 6 , 2020 Morrow wrote that the changes amount to a “ reckless gutting ” of key protections .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that sustain and protect Ontario ’ s Greenbelt , ” she said .
“ You shutter public discourse .
This is not good for the environment , the community or the economy.
” Crombie said he resigned on Saturday to give the government time to reconsider Bill 229 before the legislature debates it Monday and Tuesday .
“ There is the slight possibility that the government could still withdraw it , ” he said .
“ I have no indication they ’ re going to do that.
” Since the Ford government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass .

“They backed up a big truck and dumped a whole bunch of amendments that made it worse,” he told Canada’s National Observer in a phone interview Sunday.
The last straw for Crombie came Friday, when the Ford government doubled down on its plans with a set of new amendments that would further chip away at conservation authorities’ power.
In their resignation letters, all seven cited the government's proposed changes to conservation authorities , agencies that oversee key watershed systems, some of which are in Greenbelt lands. Critics say if the bill passes, it would undermine the ability of conservation authorities to ensure development in floodplains happens safely. It could also take away the authorities’ ability to intervene in controversial cases, like that of a development in Pickering, Ont., that would pave over a protected wetland .
The Greenbelt Council is a government-appointed expert panel that advises the province on issues related to the Greenbelt, a stretch of protected land surrounding the Greater Toronto Area that Ford has promised not to develop . Chair David Crombie, a respected former Progressive Conservative MP and Toronto mayor, resigned Saturday night, with six more members following suit Sunday morning.
Seven members of the Ontario government's Greenbelt Council resigned over the weekend in protest of Premier Doug Ford's moves to limit the power of conservation authorities.
Another measure in the new rewrite would compel conservation authorities to make agreements with developers that would allow them to pay a fee in exchange for the destruction of endangered species habitat.
One change would allow the government to use a special mechanism called a Ministerial Zoning Order to force conservation authorities to approve developments, even if the agency had concerns about flooding risk. (The Ford government has come under fire in recent months for its increased usage of such orders, which override the local planning process and can’t be appealed.)
“The content of what they were doing was so important that I could not just let it pass… I felt that I had to resign.”
In a statement Sunday, Ontario NDP climate critic Peter Tabuns called for the Ford government to reverse course on the changes before they become law.
A Saturday evening #onpoli shocker: the chair of Doug Ford’s Greenbelt Council, former PC MP David Crombie, has resigned over changes to conservation authorities. Calls them “disastrous, and “high-level bombing” that “needs to be resisted.” pic.twitter.com/qG1ZqhyuUW
"We look forward to new perspectives on the Council that are serious about our commitment to expand the quality and quantity of the Greenbelt."
"For months we have been asking the Council for a detailed plan on how we can work together to expand the quality and quantity of the Greenbelt, as we committed to in the budget – yet there has been no progress," said Adam Wilson, a spokesperson for Clark.
In a statement Saturday night, Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark thanked Crombie for his service and noted that the chair's term was set to expire at the end of March 2021. And Sunday morning, Clark's office thanked the other six as well.
Ontario Liberal environment critic Lucille Collard said the “massive, overwhelming opposition” to the changes should give the government pause.
“The resignations of seven Greenbelt Council members should be seen as the sounding of a massive warning alarm: Ford’s attacks will have serious consequences for our climate and our environment.”
“People have had enough of Ford working for powerful developers and not in the best interests of the province,” Tabuns said.
“What they’re doing is wrong,” she said in a phone interview Sunday. “It’s one thing to not protect the environment, it’s another thing to destroy what we have.”
https://twitter.com/SteveClarkPC/status/1335368026863099904
The six members who resigned Sunday are a developer, an environmental expert and a variety of planners. The list includes Credit Valley Conservation Authority chief administrative officer and scientist Deborah Martin-Downs, former Waterloo Region director of community planning Kevin Eby, veteran developer Leith Moore, urban planner Pamela Blais, University of Guelph rural planning professor Wayne Caldwell and planner Lynn Morrow.
The fact that such a range of people oppose the government’s plans is telling, said Tim Gray, the executive director of the green non-profit Environmental Defence.
“I think it just underscores how extreme this attack is on the environmental values of Ontario,” Gray said in a phone interview Sunday.
An eighth member of the Greenbelt Council, environmental biologist and land-use planner Linda Pim, resigned last month over the plans to develop the wetland in Pickering.
The members who resigned were appointed by the previous Liberal government, except Morrow, who was appointed by the Ford government in June. Six people remain on the council. All but one of them were appointed by the Progressive Conservatives.
Here are the other three pic.twitter.com/ziWgGx5uSr — Emma McIntosh (vacation mode) (@EmmaMci) December 6, 2020
Ford government introduced ‘aggressive’ new amendments Friday
There are 36 conservation authorities in the province. Mostly clustered in development-heavy southern Ontario, the agencies oversee watershed systems, managing flood control, water quality and permits for construction in areas near waterways.
Ontario created the authorities in 1946 after the province found that decades of poor planning had led to drought, deforestation, erosion and increased flooding. The current system was designed based on lessons learned in the wake of hurricane Hazel, which struck southern Ontario in 1954, killing 81 people and destroying homes built on flood-plains. Flooding and extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent and intense in Ontario due to the climate crisis.
The Ford government introduced the changes to conservation authorities last month as part of Bill 229, an omnibus piece of legislation meant to enact measures laid out in the province’s 2020 budget last month. The proposal, laid out in schedule 6 of the bill, would allow the province to overrule conservation authorities to approve developments.
The government said the changes would streamline the land planning process, and make conservation authorities more transparent and accountable. Critics, however, said the new proposed rules would undermine conservation authorities’ ability to ensure development is done safely.
Conservation authorities spoke out against the bill, joined by a long list of municipalities and a group of 64 environmental organizations.
In a letter to Clark dated Nov. 19, the Greenbelt Council also raised concerns: “Any reasonable reading of the proposed legislation would see it as severely limiting the ability of (conservation authorities) to carry out their historic roles and undermining decades of environmental stewardship in Ontario.”
Before Conservatives vote to gut conservation authorities, they might want to read this: "What is already known is stunning: the average cost per weather-related disaster has soared by 1,250 per cent since the 1970s, and" . . . #onpoli https://t.co/0dY4WkAnZh — Mike Schreiner (@MikeSchreiner) December 6, 2020
Friday’s rewrite undercut conservation authorities even more, Gray said.
“It was an arrogant, aggressive response to public concern,” he added.
The government has argued that the changes to conservation authorities specifically exclude lands in the Greenbelt.
https://twitter.com/IanArthurMPP/status/1334926162661957633
Crombie said the real problem is much more subtle. The Greenbelt is inextricably connected to the lands that surround it — water runs where it needs to go, he said, and damage to the watershed planning system will harm the overall health of the area. He also said the changes threaten to silence public debate over developments.
“It may not be taking a chunk out of the Greenbelt… (but) you are basically draining away the value,” he said.
“The impact on the Greenbelt is very strong and it's beyond the Greenbelt as well.”
Doug Ford just lost more members of the Greenbelt Council over him gutting conservation authorities. He needs to pull Schedule 6 from his budget bill now - Ontarians won’t stand for attacks on the environment. #onpoli #FordBetrayedUs https://t.co/8IiQdDcZ6r — Steven Del Duca (@StevenDelDuca) December 6, 2020
Council members raised concerns about changes made during pandemic
In their resignation letters, Crombie and the six other council members said they were worried about Bill 229’s effect on the environment.
“Clearly you do not value (the Greenbelt Council’s advice) and clearly your government does not value the role that conservation authorities play in public safety and environmental quality,” wrote Martin-Downs.
“I believed that being ‘in the tent’ was valuable and that I could contribute to good public policy that makes Ontario great. However, it is now clear that the Government’s direction... is a blatant assault on conservation, the environment and transparent governance. My time and efforts will be better spent protecting the environment and the health and safety of our communities.”
Eby wrote that it was “particularly troubling” the government would make such changes in the middle of a pandemic: “I cannot in good conscience continue in this role,” he said.
“This is a time when people are focused on livelihoods and their own personal health and safety,” wrote Caldwell.
Moore, the developer, said his decision was influenced by a “distinct lack of engagement” from the government on concerns raised by the council.
“More importantly, the policy direction taken by the government in Schedule 6 of Bill 229 has triggered my decision to remove myself from the Council,” Moore added.
“The steps taken in Bill 229 put decades of excellent work across city and regional boundaries at risk.”
Blais wrote that the government’s changes “are short-sighted and will likely generate other economic and environmental costs and risks.”
“The government’s actions do not constitute sound, evidence-based public policy nor serve the interests of Ontarians,” Blais added.
Today I joined David Crombie & other members of the Greenbelt Council resigning my appointment. We did our best to shine a light on the value of conservation authorities and their relationship with the Greenbelt. No one was listening.#RemoveSchedule6 — Deborah Martin-Downs (@DebM_D) December 6, 2020
Morrow wrote that the changes amount to a “reckless gutting” of key protections.
“You put at risk the very ecosystems that sustain and protect Ontario’s Greenbelt,” she said.
“You shutter public discourse. This is not good for the environment, the community or the economy.”
Crombie said he resigned on Saturday to give the government time to reconsider Bill 229 before the legislature debates it Monday and Tuesday.
“There is the slight possibility that the government could still withdraw it,” he said. “I have no indication they’re going to do that.”
Since the Ford government has a majority, the legislation is likely to pass.


nationalobserver--2020-12-06--Speaker Rota and the virtual Parliament

Speaker Rota and the virtual Parliament

Anthony Rota is marking his first anniversary as Speaker of the House of Commons by , as he puts it , having his throat slit .
He 's having surgery this coming week to remove his thyroid gland , which was damaged by radiation treatment he received almost 35 years ago for the first of two bouts of Hodgkin lymphoma .
But it seems a perversely fitting conclusion to a tumultuous year in which Rota has presided over Canada 's first-ever pandemic Parliament .
He has been forced to oversee an unprecedented overhaul of Commons operations to allow for hybrid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chamber and the other 250 or so MPs participating virtually and voting remotely .
`` It 's not what I signed up for but it is what it is , '' Rota said in an interview .
• The water has been bridged : COVID-19 cases on the rise on Vancouver Island • How scientists saved rare seeds from Syria 's war — and are now helping to feed the world `` It 's been an interesting trip , I got ta tell you .
It 's been an interesting challenge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ always bound to be a baptism by fire , riding herd on a Commons in which the governing Liberals hold only a minority of seats — a surefire recipe for hyper partisanship and cliffhanger confidence votes .
But no one could have imagined all the normal operations of the chamber would be upended by the advent of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March .
These days , when he sits in the Speaker 's chair , Rota has to pay attention not just to the MPs sitting physically distanced from one another in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screens .
They show him how much time the current speaker has left , who 's up next , and the names of all 338 MPs who signal him with a little , blue `` raised hand '' feature when they want to talk .
He has to repeatedly remind MPs to mute or unmute , speak louder , activate their cameras and adjust their headsets so interpreters can hear them properly .
He 's had to chide MPs for using partisan backdrops or displaying props ( in one case , a dog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or being improperly attired while speaking or voting online .
He 's even had to instruct MPs driving in their cars to pull over before voting .
Speaker Rota reflects on first year presiding over unprecedented virtual Parliament .
# Cdnpoli `` One of the things you 've got to remember too is we really did start from scratch and we were in uncharted territory so we did n't really know how things were going to go , '' Rota said .
Indeed , House technicians are currently doing test runs with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electronic voting easier and faster .
Fortunately , Rota has always been a tech geek .
Even in high school , he was building electronic devices and fooling around with computers before they were `` in vogue . ''
`` I just enjoy the challenge … My interest in technology is something that has made this ( pandemic Parliament ) interesting , '' he said .
Rota credits the Commons ' IT team , which he says worked night and day , for pulling off what has been a remarkably smooth transition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberal and opposition MPs alike believe Rota 's fascination with new technologies has made him ideally suited to the role of Speaker in these unprecedented times .
They also praise his calm , good-humoured and patient approach to refereeing proceedings in what most seem to feel is a non-partisan manner , even though he 's a veteran Liberal .
He has represented the northern Ontario riding of Nipissing-Timiskaming since 2004 , except for a four-year hiatus after being defeated in the 2011 election .
Conservative House leader Gerard Deltell declined to comment on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job .
But the House leaders for all other parties in the Commons were unstinting in their praise .
`` It is a complex task to establish a virtual Parliament , '' Bloc House leader Alain Therrien told The Canadian Press .
`` The challenges were numerous and we were able to find in Mr. Rota a collaborator anxious to implement effective solutions to the problems that we encountered .
In all my interactions with Mr. Rota , I have dealt with a man of great kindness , fairness and respect . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ normally takes a new Speaker a year or two to become `` seasoned , '' a task infinitely more complicated for Rota because he had to simultaneously deal with a minority Parliament in the midst of a `` once-in-a-century pandemic . ''
`` I think Anthony just basically got thrown into the deep end … You would think that that would have been an impossible hill to climb but he 's done it admirably . ''
Julian said Rota 's ability to remain affable and `` very , very calm '' has helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic and minority Parliament .
Similarly , veteran Green MP Elizabeth May said Rota is a `` lovely person '' who has been `` a calming influence when things are out of control . ''
He can be firm when necessary but is gentle when he chides MPs for bad behaviour and rarely loses his temper , she said .
Rota was elected Speaker one year ago , largely because the Conservatives threw their votes behind him in a bid to defeat the previous Speaker , Liberal MP Geoff Regan , whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisan machinations that won him the job , May said : `` Against the odds , Anthony has managed to maintain what I think is being accepted by all sides of the House as a non-partisan hand in all this . ''
Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez , who used to be seat mates with Rota back when the Liberals were in opposition , said Rota has never been particularly partisan .
`` He 's a gentleman .
He 's likable .
It 's hard not to like him .
Again , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has the respect of everyone on both sides of the House , '' Rodriguez said .
`` He 's a great human being and that reflects in the way he treats people and how he 's able to motivate people just by being who he is . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5 , 2020 .

Anthony Rota is marking his first anniversary as Speaker of the House of Commons by, as he puts it, having his throat slit. He's having surgery this coming week to remove his thyroid gland, which was damaged by radiation treatment he received almost 35 years ago for the first of two bouts of Hodgkin lymphoma. But it seems a perversely fitting conclusion to a tumultuous year in which Rota has presided over Canada's first-ever pandemic Parliament. He has been forced to oversee an unprecedented overhaul of Commons operations to allow for hybrid sittings, with some 80-odd MPs in the chamber and the other 250 or so MPs participating virtually and voting remotely. "It's not what I signed up for but it is what it is," Rota said in an interview.
"It's been an interesting trip, I gotta tell you. It's been an interesting challenge." Rota's debut as Speaker was always bound to be a baptism by fire, riding herd on a Commons in which the governing Liberals hold only a minority of seats — a surefire recipe for hyper partisanship and cliffhanger confidence votes. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions But no one could have imagined all the normal operations of the chamber would be upended by the advent of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March.
These days, when he sits in the Speaker's chair, Rota has to pay attention not just to the MPs sitting physically distanced from one another in the chamber but to three different computer screens. They show him how much time the current speaker has left, who's up next, and the names of all 338 MPs who signal him with a little, blue "raised hand" feature when they want to talk. Speaker Rota reflects on first year presiding over unprecedented virtual Parliament. #Cdnpoli He has to repeatedly remind MPs to mute or unmute, speak louder, activate their cameras and adjust their headsets so interpreters can hear them properly. He's had to chide MPs for using partisan backdrops or displaying props (in one case, a dog in an MP's lap), or being improperly attired while speaking or voting online. He's even had to instruct MPs driving in their cars to pull over before voting. "One of the things you've got to remember too is we really did start from scratch and we were in uncharted territory so we didn't really know how things were going to go," Rota said. "We're constantly adjusting it."
Indeed, House technicians are currently doing test runs with a new voting app that aims to make electronic voting easier and faster. Fortunately, Rota has always been a tech geek. Even in high school, he was building electronic devices and fooling around with computers before they were "in vogue." "I just enjoy the challenge … My interest in technology is something that has made this (pandemic Parliament) interesting," he said.


nationalobserver--2020-12-06--Canada's COVID-19 cases hit new records

Canada's COVID-19 cases hit new records

Canada ’ s top doctor urged cautious optimism — and a healthy dose of patience — on Saturday , even as the second wave of COVID-19 continued its unsettling rise .
There is still a `` long road ahead '' in the battle to contain the virus , Dr. Theresa Tam said in her daily update , but she added that an initial vaccine supply is expected to hit Canada early next year .
`` There is some good news on the horizon , '' she said .
`` An initial supply of vaccines is expected to become available in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited at the outset , Canada is well-positioned to provide access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for all Canadians . ''
Tam ’ s comments came as some provinces reported new single-day highs of new COVID-19 cases and related deaths .
Quebec saw its daily report in total new cases climb above 2,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic , though the figure was inflated by some diagnoses that weren ’ t captured in Friday ’ s tally .
• How scientists saved rare seeds from Syria 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feed the world • The water has been bridged : COVID-19 cases on the rise on Vancouver Island • Coastal communities facing climate change need an equitable retreat , geographer says Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube urged people to adhere to local COVID-19 measures to prevent further spread of the virus .
`` Now is not the time to relax our efforts over the past few months , it is with everyone 's collaboration that we will be able to curb the spread of the virus , '' he wrote on Twitter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new COVID-19 cases , coming above the 1,855 case-high reached last month , as well as 20 new deaths .
Alberta broke its own record for the third time this week , logging 1,879 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday .
It also counted six new deaths .
Manitoba set a single-day peak for virus-related deaths in the province , reporting 19 alongside 354 new COVID-19 infections .
# COVID19 cases hit new records as Tam urges perseverance , promises # vaccine on the way .
Saskatchewan did not report any new virus-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nunavut , meanwhile , tallied eight new cases of the virus , all of which are in Arviat .
The remote community has served as the virus 's epicentre in Nunavut , accounting for 172 of the territory 's 214 cases .
Figures were lower in Atlantic Canada , but all of the country 's eastern-most provinces continued to see their regional infection rates creep upward .
New Brunswick reported two new cases , bringing the provincial total of active diagnoses to 98 .
Prince Edward Island logged three new cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working in Charlottetown restaurants , while officials in Newfoundland and Labrador reported four new infections .
In Nova Scotia , six new cases were reported , while Premier Stephen McNeil reminded people now is n't the time to cave to the temptations of the holiday season .
`` Weekends are usually filled with friends , family & shopping , but this year must be different , '' he wrote on Twitter .
`` We need to limit our social contacts & non-essential travel , and follow all the public health protocols to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The prospect of an imminent vaccine should be encouraging , added Tam , but she noted that recent troubling numbers reinforce the need for ongoing adherence to public health protocols meant to stem the spread of the virus .
“ We don ’ t have a COVID-19 vaccine just yet and we must be prepared to address a range of logistical and operational challenges , ” she said .
“ Canada must continue with the collective effort of individuals and public health authorities to sustain the response , while balancing the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon a vaccine will arrive in Canada is still uncertain .
Procurement Minister Anita Anand said that information will be shared with Canadians once it 's certain , but that dates will depend on when Health Canada approves the vaccine and other factors such as shipment and storage necessities .
`` That is what 's happening now , '' she said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press .
`` We are going to have vaccines in this country , as expeditiously as possible . ''
This report by The Canadian Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Canada’s top doctor urged cautious optimism — and a healthy dose of patience — on Saturday, even as the second wave of COVID-19 continued its unsettling rise. There is still a "long road ahead" in the battle to contain the virus, Dr. Theresa Tam said in her daily update, but she added that an initial vaccine supply is expected to hit Canada early next year. "There is some good news on the horizon," she said. "An initial supply of vaccines is expected to become available in early 2021 and although supply will be limited at the outset, Canada is well-positioned to provide access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for all Canadians." Tam’s comments came as some provinces reported new single-day highs of new COVID-19 cases and related deaths. Quebec saw its daily report in total new cases climb above 2,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic, though the figure was inflated by some diagnoses that weren’t captured in Friday’s tally.
The province recorded 2,031 cases and 48 deaths. Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube urged people to adhere to local COVID-19 measures to prevent further spread of the virus. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "Now is not the time to relax our efforts over the past few months, it is with everyone's collaboration that we will be able to curb the spread of the virus," he wrote on Twitter.
Ontario also broke its record with 1,859 new COVID-19 cases, coming above the 1,855 case-high reached last month, as well as 20 new deaths. #COVID19 cases hit new records as Tam urges perseverance, promises #vaccine on the way. Alberta broke its own record for the third time this week, logging 1,879 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday. It also counted six new deaths. Manitoba set a single-day peak for virus-related deaths in the province, reporting 19 alongside 354 new COVID-19 infections. Saskatchewan did not report any new virus-related deaths, but saw 202 new cases. Nunavut, meanwhile, tallied eight new cases of the virus, all of which are in Arviat.
The remote community has served as the virus's epicentre in Nunavut, accounting for 172 of the territory's 214 cases. Figures were lower in Atlantic Canada, but all of the country's eastern-most provinces continued to see their regional infection rates creep upward. New Brunswick reported two new cases, bringing the provincial total of active diagnoses to 98.


nationalobserver--2020-12-07--Meng's lawyers fight on against extradition despite reports of proposed plea deal

The legal fight against extradition to the United States for Meng Wanzhou is back on in a Vancouver court amid @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department is discussing a deal in the case .
A Wall Street Journal report @ @ @ @ @ an agreement that would see the Huawei executive admit guilt to some of the allegations @ @ @ @ @ extradition request .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would n't comment on the report Friday , @ @ @ @ @ absolute priority is the safe release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor , whose arrests @ @ @ @ @ linked to Canada 's detention of Meng .

The legal fight against extradition to the United States for Meng Wanzhou is back on in a Vancouver court amid a report that the American Justice Department is discussing a deal in the case.
A Wall Street Journal report says U.S. officials were discussing an agreement that would see the Huawei executive admit guilt to some of the allegations in exchange for dropping the extradition request.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wouldn't comment on the report Friday, except to say Canada's absolute priority is the safe release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, whose arrests and charges have been widely linked to Canada's detention of Meng.
Lawyers for Meng are in B.C. Supreme Court today gathering evidence for an abuse of process claim they expect to make next year.
Her lawyers have alleged officers with the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency hatched a plan to unlawfully search and interrogate her when she was arrested at Vancouver's airport on Dec. 1, 2018.


nationalobserver--2020-12-07--Jobs remain elusive for young women amid COVID-19 second wave

In bars , restaurants and retail stores across the country , young women typically feature heavily among the workers who serve customers .
With COVID-19 ’ s varying public health constraints , they have struggled to find and keep their jobs .
While young men have also found it harder than older folk to return to work after sharp blanket restrictions were imposed in March and April , the resumption of construction and other manual labour jobs has helped , Statistics Canada employment data for November showed on Friday .
Overall , there were 20,000 more jobs for youth aged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0.9 per cent gain , while the youth unemployment rate fell 1.4 percentage points to 17.4 per cent .
Participation fell back mostly due to young women exiting the workforce , the data showed , while more youth were in school than a year ago .
Employment for women aged 15 to 24 was still 11 per cent below February levels , it said , with little change last month , while 34,000 more full-time jobs were filled by young men .
( They also shed 19,000 part-time jobs . )
• How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war — and are now helping to feed the world • Denmark 's 'oil and gas valves will be turned off for good' • This Nova Scotia woman is ridding the ocean of 'ghost gear ' The discrepancy is due to a variety of reasons , one employment industry participant said , including women carrying more caregiving responsibilities and gender bias affecting available work amid a pandemic weighing most heavily on young women , non-white Canadians and newcomers .
“ Tourism and hospitality are both sectors that provide key entry-level opportunities to young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Akosua Alagaratnam , executive director of youth employment network First Work .
“ Women are also taking on child care and other caregiving activities at rates higher than men , speaking to societal inequities which still need to be overcome.
” The unemployment rate of 18.2 per cent for young men was still the highest of all major demographic groups , but the rate is 6.6 percentage points higher for women versus a year ago and only 5.1 points higher for men .
Employment among young women is still down 11 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Statistics Canada “ With recovery projects focused on infrastructure and capital , women are inherently at a disadvantage in that labour market as gender bias and previous work experience favours male candidates in that sector , ” Alagaratnam said .
The NDP ’ s Catherine Fife , the Opposition party ’ s critic for economic growth and job creation , said the provincial government has seen the trend emerging and provided no new money for education and child-care services that would help women return to work .
Young women are more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any other age-gender demographic tracked by @ StatCan_eng , with a stark gap in the first wave of the pandemic returning with the second one .
“ Without a she-covery , Ontario ’ s economy will continue to falter , ” she said in a statement .
“ The Ford government needs to invest in women and their families as the priority by expanding access to child care and making our schools safer .
This will allow women to get back to their jobs and drive the economic growth that our province desperately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for workers in Ontario overall , but 0.5 per cent growth in the province was much slower than the 3.1 per cent monthly average from June to September .
Employment was at a standstill in the Toronto census area , which includes six million people and stretches to Lake Simcoe in the north , Ajax in the east and Burlington in the west , after increasing for five consecutive months .
Provincial and municipal governments imposed more restrictive public health measures on Toronto and neighbouring Peel Region in October after COVID-19 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Young women took the hardest initial job losses in March and April , when retail and hospitality businesses were shuttered to try to contain the spread of COVID-19 .
Youth employment remains down by a third versus a year ago in the information , culture and recreation sectors , and by a quarter in accommodation and food services as the countries wrestles with a second wave of infections that has eclipsed the volume of the first .
Losses in these two industries , which typically account for about a quarter of youth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an overall gain in the construction industry compared to November 2019 .
“ This trend of inequity is particularly problematic when we take into account that those already removed from the labour force before the pandemic are being even further isolated from the workforce during this time , ” said First Work ’ s Alagaratnam .

In bars, restaurants and retail stores across the country, young women typically feature heavily among the workers who serve customers. With COVID-19’s varying public health constraints, they have struggled to find and keep their jobs. While young men have also found it harder than older folk to return to work after sharp blanket restrictions were imposed in March and April, the resumption of construction and other manual labour jobs has helped, Statistics Canada employment data for November showed on Friday. Overall, there were 20,000 more jobs for youth aged 15 to 24 in November, a 0.9 per cent gain, while the youth unemployment rate fell 1.4 percentage points to 17.4 per cent. Participation fell back mostly due to young women exiting the workforce, the data showed, while more youth were in school than a year ago. Employment for women aged 15 to 24 was still 11 per cent below February levels, it said, with little change last month, while 34,000 more full-time jobs were filled by young men. (They also shed 19,000 part-time jobs.)
The discrepancy is due to a variety of reasons, one employment industry participant said, including women carrying more caregiving responsibilities and gender bias affecting available work amid a pandemic weighing most heavily on young women, non-white Canadians and newcomers. “Tourism and hospitality are both sectors that provide key entry-level opportunities to young people, particularly young women,” said Akosua Alagaratnam, executive director of youth employment network First Work. “Women are also taking on child care and other caregiving activities at rates higher than men, speaking to societal inequities which still need to be overcome.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The unemployment rate of 18.2 per cent for young men was still the highest of all major demographic groups, but the rate is 6.6 percentage points higher for women versus a year ago and only 5.1 points higher for men.
Employment among young women is still down 11 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels. Source: Statistics Canada “With recovery projects focused on infrastructure and capital, women are inherently at a disadvantage in that labour market as gender bias and previous work experience favours male candidates in that sector,” Alagaratnam said. Young women are more likely to remain jobless due to COVID-19 than any other age-gender demographic tracked by @StatCan_eng, with a stark gap in the first wave of the pandemic returning with the second one. The NDP’s Catherine Fife, the Opposition party’s critic for economic growth and job creation, said the provincial government has seen the trend emerging and provided no new money for education and child-care services that would help women return to work. “Without a she-covery, Ontario’s economy will continue to falter,” she said in a statement. “The Ford government needs to invest in women and their families as the priority by expanding access to child care and making our schools safer. This will allow women to get back to their jobs and drive the economic growth that our province desperately needs.” Employment increased for young men and for workers in Ontario overall, but 0.5 per cent growth in the province was much slower than the 3.1 per cent monthly average from June to September.
Employment was at a standstill in the Toronto census area, which includes six million people and stretches to Lake Simcoe in the north, Ajax in the east and Burlington in the west, after increasing for five consecutive months. Provincial and municipal governments imposed more restrictive public health measures on Toronto and neighbouring Peel Region in October after COVID-19 cases spiked. They remain at record-high levels. Young women took the hardest initial job losses in March and April, when retail and hospitality businesses were shuttered to try to contain the spread of COVID-19.


nationalobserver--2020-12-07--How B.C. universities are fighting campus food insecurity

As students at Canadian universities struggle with high rates of food insecurity , some post-secondary institutions in B.C .
are testing out new strategies to support students ’ access to food .
Food insecurity is one of Canada ’ s major health issues .
One in eight Canadian households experiences inadequate or insecure access to food .
Between 2008 and 2018 , an additional one million people reported being food insecure , bringing the total to a staggering 4.4 million .
The problem is even more prevalent among university students .
According to Meal Exchange Canada , approximately 40 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some degree of food insecurity , which is four times higher than the general population .
At the University of British Columbia , data continues to show the number of students experiencing food insecurity is three times higher than the general population in B.C.
, where 12.4 per cent of the population was food insecure in 2017-18 .
What are universities in B.C .
doing to help their students during the pandemic ?
• How scientists saved rare seeds from Syria 's war — and are now helping to feed the world • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be turned off for good' • This Nova Scotia woman is ridding the ocean of 'ghost gear ' To bring food closer to students living on Simon Fraser University ’ s mountaintop campus in Burnaby , the school opened the SFU Food Hub in mid-July as a three-month pilot program .
The program , which ran in collaboration with Burnaby Neighbourhood House and the Simon Fraser Student Society ( SFSS ) , ended in early October and fed around 1,000 people .
Tara Flynn , SFU ’ s civic and community engagement co-ordinator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure students felt comfortable accessing the program .
“ One of them was to change the name ; it was not a food bank , it was a food pantry , ” she said .
The pantry was modelled as a grocery shop so that students weren ’ t handed pre-packaged food bags , but could choose the items they needed .
“ People want to be able to have someone who will listen to their story , and will understand that they ’ re having a tough time , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neighbourhood House and co-ordinator of food security for the City of Burnaby .
Brandl believes by building connections between people , food hubs can become places they can go to without feeling humiliation .
She says the pilot program succeeded on that front .
“ All of our friends who came together , they appreciated it , and they felt comfortable interacting , ” Samad Raza , vice-president of external relations at the SFSS , said .
Students at Canadian universities are experiencing food insecurity at four times the rate of the general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B.C .
doing to help ?
# foodsecurity Although the pilot project was designed to respond to an uptick in food insecurity brought on by COVID-19 , it managed to start a larger conversation about long-term solutions , Flynn said .
SFU is working with Embark , which runs sustainable food initiatives at the university , such as Learning Garden programming where students grow and harvest from their own plots .
Farm to Campus and Food Rescue are initiatives where imperfect produce rejected by supermarkets for its appearance is redistributed to the university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have included the President ’ s Pandemic Recovery Initiative , which gives students access to emergency funds ; the Graduate Student Society Student Emergency Funds ; the Student Wellbeing Fund ; and early distribution of excellence awards by enrolment services .
The university is also designing a digital food hub — an online platform where students can learn about available emergency food supports and resources and gain food literacy , said Sara Kozicky , food security project manager .
Sara Kozicky is the food security project manager at the University of British Columbia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has plans to launch a digital meal donation program early next year for its Vancouver and Okanagan campuses where students can access food dollars directly on their UBC student card when faced with a food emergency .
“ It 's meant to be a low-barrier , stigma-free way to access emergency food , ” Kozicky said .
Students can sign up for the program by filling out a form , and “ just like anyone else , they can walk up to a food outlet and buy something on their UBC card .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency support , ” she said .
The Food Security Initiative at UBC attempts to deepen food security knowledge , alleviate immediate pressures of food insecurity and further policy and advocacy work at UBC and beyond .
Infographic designed by Ophir Moshkovitz for UBC Wellbeing Over the summer , UBC handed out community food hampers and led a pilot trial with the AMS Food Bank and UBC Botanical Garden to distribute the garden ’ s excess produce .
The university envisions a physical food hub where students can have communal kitchens and lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post-secondary students , in particular international students , show higher food insecurity rates compared to the general B.C .
population .
A food security initiative was launched in February to further policy and advocacy work and practices .
Built on student research , the program aims to alleviate the immediate pressures of campus-related food insecurity with dignified solutions for students to access healthy , culturally appropriate food .
The university ’ s commitment to promoting food security has led to the creation of a food security project manager role and an applied research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education institution in Canada to have two positions focused on food security .
Kozicky ultimately wants to have a coalition of post-secondary institutions where schools can work together to address complex food security issues .
Flynn agrees .
“ I really feel like all the universities could ... keep sharing these ideas and really branch it out , ” she said .

As students at Canadian universities struggle with high rates of food insecurity, some post-secondary institutions in B.C. are testing out new strategies to support students’ access to food. Food insecurity is one of Canada’s major health issues. One in eight Canadian households experiences inadequate or insecure access to food. Between 2008 and 2018, an additional one million people reported being food insecure, bringing the total to a staggering 4.4 million. The problem is even more prevalent among university students. According to Meal Exchange Canada, approximately 40 per cent of students at Canadian universities experience some degree of food insecurity, which is four times higher than the general population. At the University of British Columbia, data continues to show the number of students experiencing food insecurity is three times higher than the general population in B.C., where 12.4 per cent of the population was food insecure in 2017-18. What are universities in B.C. doing to help their students during the pandemic?
To bring food closer to students living on Simon Fraser University’s mountaintop campus in Burnaby, the school opened the SFU Food Hub in mid-July as a three-month pilot program. The program, which ran in collaboration with Burnaby Neighbourhood House and the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS), ended in early October and fed around 1,000 people. Tara Flynn, SFU’s civic and community engagement co-ordinator, said organizers made some deliberate changes to ensure students felt comfortable accessing the program. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “One of them was to change the name; it was not a food bank, it was a food pantry,” she said. The pantry was modelled as a grocery shop so that students weren’t handed pre-packaged food bags, but could choose the items they needed.
“People want to be able to have someone who will listen to their story, and will understand that they’re having a tough time,” said Simone Brandl, program director of Burnaby Neighbourhood House and co-ordinator of food security for the City of Burnaby. Students at Canadian universities are experiencing food insecurity at four times the rate of the general population. What are post-secondary schools in B.C. doing to help? #foodsecurity Brandl believes by building connections between people, food hubs can become places they can go to without feeling humiliation. She says the pilot program succeeded on that front. “All of our friends who came together, they appreciated it, and they felt comfortable interacting,” Samad Raza, vice-president of external relations at the SFSS, said. Although the pilot project was designed to respond to an uptick in food insecurity brought on by COVID-19, it managed to start a larger conversation about long-term solutions, Flynn said. SFU is working with Embark, which runs sustainable food initiatives at the university, such as Learning Garden programming where students grow and harvest from their own plots. Farm to Campus and Food Rescue are initiatives where imperfect produce rejected by supermarkets for its appearance is redistributed to the university community.
At UBC, emergency solutions have included the President’s Pandemic Recovery Initiative, which gives students access to emergency funds; the Graduate Student Society Student Emergency Funds; the Student Wellbeing Fund; and early distribution of excellence awards by enrolment services. The university is also designing a digital food hub — an online platform where students can learn about available emergency food supports and resources and gain food literacy, said Sara Kozicky, food security project manager. Sara Kozicky is the food security project manager at the University of British Columbia. Photo provided by Sara Kozicky


nationalobserver--2020-12-07--Farmers call on Ottawa to boost funding for green agriculture

Electric tractors and more payments for ecological services — that ’ s what dreams are made of for Arzeena Hamir , who says more government money toward climate solutions in agriculture would mean big steps toward reducing emissions on her Comox Valley farm .
Hamir is the co-chair of Farmers for Climate Solutions , a Canada-wide organization advocating for advancing climate-based agricultural policies , as well as an owner of Amara Farms in Courtenay , B.C .
Days after the federal government unveiled its fiscal update , proposing $ 98.4 million in funding toward climate solutions in agriculture over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solutions sent a recommendation to the federal government : set aside $ 300 million in the 2021 budget for agri-environmental spending .
`` As farmers , we see the impact of climate change incredibly intimately , '' said Hamir .
`` So , on my farm here in the Comox Valley , we 're seeing just incredibly unpredictable weather .
And so I 'm incentivized to get involved in this . ''
In 2018 , agriculture made up eight per cent of the country ’ s greenhouse gas emissions , with the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers .
• Denmark 's 'oil and gas valves will be turned off for good' • How scientists saved rare seeds from Syria 's war — and are now helping to feed the world • MP urges Ottawa to suspend rule , $ 12K fines for passengers remaining in cars on BC Ferries Amara Farms , an organic produce operation , has made environmentally friendly strides — it adds carbon-based fertilizers to its soil , reduces tillage to keep more carbon in the ground and has installed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s only so much a small farm can do without financial incentives .
Things like electric farm vehicles are out of their price range .
`` The $ 300-million ask is really to get some policy in place that directly impacts some of the climate change ... repercussions of agriculture .
So it incentivizes farmers to change their practices , '' Hamir said .
Karen Ross , director of Farmers for Climate Solutions , echoed Hamir ’ s sentiments .
She said although the announcement of almost $ 100 million is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more needs to be done to help farmers reduce emissions in Canada .
“ Most of this money ... goes towards current existing programs run by Agriculture Canada that helped to build the research base on climate change impacts and climate mitigation practices in agriculture , ” said Ross .
Of the $ 98.4 million in funding for climate solutions announced last Monday , $ 85 million is set to maintain existing programs .
“ So what we need now is investments in farmers and ranchers to change practices on farms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build resilience .
And we have n't yet seen that in a budget.
” Days after the federal government unveiled its fiscal update , Farmers for Climate Solutions sent a recommendation to the federal government : set aside $ 300 million in the 2021 budget for agri-environmental spending .
# agriculture In terms of what the $ 98-million fiscal update announcement actually means for people like Hamir and Ross , the Department of Finance Canada said the details will be provided at a later date .
“ This measure announced in the fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of practices on farms that will support the long-term removal of CO2 pollution ( carbon sequestration ) on agricultural lands , ” Benoit Mayrand , a spokesperson for the department , wrote in an email .
“ These include creation of grasslands , the improvement of shelterbelts and hedgerows , and the cultivation of cover crops .
As mentioned in the FES , it will be developed in collaboration with partners .
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will provide more information on this initiative in due course.
” In Ross ’ eyes , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs , but also for education .
She says that ’ s one way to catalyze change in the agricultural community .
“ The way farming works , it takes a lot of guts to try something new .
But if you see a neighbour doing something new , then all of a sudden you ’ re like , ‘ Hey , the sky didn ’ t fall .
It ’ s possible.
’ In fact , that neighbor is doing a little better .
And then that ’ s how we see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ So for us , it 's like that $ 300 million goes a long way towards starting to shift the cultural and social ideas around what it means to do climate-friendly farming in Canada .
”

Electric tractors and more payments for ecological services — that’s what dreams are made of for Arzeena Hamir, who says more government money toward climate solutions in agriculture would mean big steps toward reducing emissions on her Comox Valley farm. Hamir is the co-chair of Farmers for Climate Solutions, a Canada-wide organization advocating for advancing climate-based agricultural policies, as well as an owner of Amara Farms in Courtenay, B.C. Days after the federal government unveiled its fiscal update, proposing $98.4 million in funding toward climate solutions in agriculture over the next 10 years, Farmers for Climate Solutions sent a recommendation to the federal government: set aside $300 million in the 2021 budget for agri-environmental spending. "As farmers, we see the impact of climate change incredibly intimately," said Hamir. "So, on my farm here in the Comox Valley, we're seeing just incredibly unpredictable weather. And so I'm incentivized to get involved in this." In 2018, agriculture made up eight per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, with the majority of those emissions coming from livestock digestion and the use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers.
Amara Farms, an organic produce operation, has made environmentally friendly strides — it adds carbon-based fertilizers to its soil, reduces tillage to keep more carbon in the ground and has installed solar panels. However, Hamir says there’s only so much a small farm can do without financial incentives. Things like electric farm vehicles are out of their price range. "The $300-million ask is really to get some policy in place that directly impacts some of the climate change ... repercussions of agriculture. So it incentivizes farmers to change their practices," Hamir said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Karen Ross, director of Farmers for Climate Solutions, echoed Hamir’s sentiments. She said although the announcement of almost $100 million is a positive sign of commitment from decision-makers, more needs to be done to help farmers reduce emissions in Canada.
“Most of this money ... goes towards current existing programs run by Agriculture Canada that helped to build the research base on climate change impacts and climate mitigation practices in agriculture,” said Ross. Days after the federal government unveiled its fiscal update, Farmers for Climate Solutions sent a recommendation to the federal government: set aside $300 million in the 2021 budget for agri-environmental spending. #agriculture Of the $98.4 million in funding for climate solutions announced last Monday, $85 million is set to maintain existing programs. “So what we need now is investments in farmers and ranchers to change practices on farms, so that they can reduce emissions and build resilience. And we haven't yet seen that in a budget.” In terms of what the $98-million fiscal update announcement actually means for people like Hamir and Ross, the Department of Finance Canada said the details will be provided at a later date. “This measure announced in the fall economic statement will focus on the adoption of practices on farms that will support the long-term removal of CO2 pollution (carbon sequestration) on agricultural lands,” Benoit Mayrand, a spokesperson for the department, wrote in an email.
“These include creation of grasslands, the improvement of shelterbelts and hedgerows, and the cultivation of cover crops. As mentioned in the FES, it will be developed in collaboration with partners. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will provide more information on this initiative in due course.” In Ross’ eyes, more money is needed not only for pilot programs, but also for education. She says that’s one way to catalyze change in the agricultural community. “The way farming works, it takes a lot of guts to try something new. But if you see a neighbour doing something new, then all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Hey, the sky didn’t fall. It’s possible.’ In fact, that neighbor is doing a little better. And then that’s how we see change in our sector,” she said.