nationalobserver--2020-10-29--CNN's Jim Scuitto on 'The Madman Theory,' Canada and Donald Trump

A second term for President Donald Trump could spell “ enormous consequences ” for America ’ s allies , including Canada , one of the United States ' most senior national security journalists says .
CNN chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto told Canada ’ s National Observer that Trump , if re-elected Tuesday , could be emboldened to pursue even more extreme and unpredictable foreign policy steps .
Sciutto cited suggestions that Trump might want to withdraw from western military alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) as an example .
Video of Jim Sciutto on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 039 ; administration of Donald J. Trump CNN 's Jim Scuitto talks with Linda Solomon Wood about 'The Madman Theory ' Sciutto made the remarks Wednesday in a lengthy conversation with Linda Solomon Wood , editor-in-chief of Canada ’ s National Observer , during a public online event .
The conversation revolved around Sciutto ’ s book on the president ’ s foreign policy , The Madman Theory : Trump Takes on the World , published in August .
• Donald Trump has few friends left in Canada .
What happens if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world back to nature — here 's how The veteran anchor said he bases his remarks on extensive interviews with high-ranking members of the Trump administration and intelligence agencies , which he conducted while writing the book .
“ From folks in the national security community , things that were half-measures in the first term become full measures in a second term , ” Sciutto said .
“ It would not be good for U.S. allies , unless those allies are doing what he wants them to do at any particular moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are enormous consequences.
” Sciutto , 50 , said the book is based on interviews with current and former insiders in Trump ’ s national security and intelligence community .
According to the book ’ s publisher , HarperCollins , Sciutto leveraged his access to a “ wide swath of current and former administration officials to assemble the first comprehensive portrait of the impact of Trump ’ s erratic foreign policy.
” Sciutto ’ s goal was to ascertain whether there is a rationale or pattern to the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s frequent and often inaccurate boasting , glaring inconsistencies , attempts to gain advantage and leverage over others , insults and sudden threats against or concessions to other countries seemingly “ out of the blue.
” “ As commander-in-chief , ( he ’ s ) keeping adversaries on edge by being unpredictable , ” said Sciutto , a two-time Emmy winner for his work in Iraq , where he was the only U.S. reporter allowed to embed with American Special Forces units .
“ It would not be good for U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ( Trump ) wants them to do at any particular moment , '' journalist and 'Madman Theory ' author @ jimsciutto said in conversation with @ Linda_Solomon # cdnpoli # election2020 The notion that unpredictability can work to a statesman ’ s advantage is nothing new .
It even has a name : the so-called “ Madman Theory , ” which originated in the Cold War under disgraced former president Richard Nixon .
Nixon hatched a scheme to convince enemy countries he was unpredictable and possibly even unstable — crazy enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was “ a tool of exercising power on the international stage , which is to convince your adversaries you 're unpredictable .
Maybe a little nuts … and might go further than they might imagine , ” Sciutto told Canada ’ s National Observer .
But Trump has added “ innovations ” to the theory of an unpredictable leader , the CNN anchor said , and that bears deeply on how the U.S. election might impact Canadians .
“ He ’ s just as likely to use it against friends as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed to comments made by Trump declaring Canada a national security threat to justify the imposition of steel tariffs in a trade war .
“ Canada , a national security threat ?
” The Nov. 3 U.S. election is imminent , and despite polls showing a strong Democratic lead , Sciutto reminded the audience that in 2016 , the polls and experts ’ predictions were unreliable .
So for many Canadians asking what the re-election of Trump might mean for their country , Sciutto said to brace for even more erratic foreign policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s far-right sympathizers , whose numbers are growing in Canada , too .
Sciutto cited Trump ’ s televised remark about the extreme-right group the Proud Boys — “ Stand back and stand by ” — and ambiguity around the kidnapping plot against Michigan ’ s Democratic governor as examples of his ability to influence and inspire more extremist followers without overtly directing them .
That , Sciutto said , presents real fears if Trump loses the election .
“ Some of this is cross-border , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white supremacist , it 's conspiracy-theory driven … it feels like ( Trump ’ s ) more a guiding light to folks here ( in the U.S. ) , so I don ’ t know to what degree Canadian groups , too , but it ’ s a concern .
”

A second term for President Donald Trump could spell “enormous consequences” for America’s allies, including Canada, one of the United States' most senior national security journalists says. CNN chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto told Canada’s National Observer that Trump, if re-elected Tuesday, could be emboldened to pursue even more extreme and unpredictable foreign policy steps. Sciutto cited suggestions that Trump might want to withdraw from western military alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as an example. Video of Jim Sciutto on the 'Madman' administration of Donald J. Trump CNN's Jim Scuitto talks with Linda Solomon Wood about 'The Madman Theory' Sciutto made the remarks Wednesday in a lengthy conversation with Linda Solomon Wood, editor-in-chief of Canada’s National Observer, during a public online event. The conversation revolved around Sciutto’s book on the president’s foreign policy, The Madman Theory: Trump Takes on the World, published in August.
The veteran anchor said he bases his remarks on extensive interviews with high-ranking members of the Trump administration and intelligence agencies, which he conducted while writing the book. “From folks in the national security community, things that were half-measures in the first term become full measures in a second term,” Sciutto said. “It would not be good for U.S. allies, unless those allies are doing what he wants them to do at any particular moment … on a whole host of things, there are enormous consequences.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Sciutto, 50, said the book is based on interviews with current and former insiders in Trump’s national security and intelligence community.
According to the book’s publisher, HarperCollins, Sciutto leveraged his access to a “wide swath of current and former administration officials to assemble the first comprehensive portrait of the impact of Trump’s erratic foreign policy.” “It would not be good for U.S. allies, unless those allies are doing what (Trump) wants them to do at any particular moment," journalist and 'Madman Theory' author @jimsciutto said in conversation with @Linda_Solomon #cdnpoli #election2020 Sciutto’s goal was to ascertain whether there is a rationale or pattern to the president’s foreign policy. The CNN correspondent described Trump’s frequent and often inaccurate boasting, glaring inconsistencies, attempts to gain advantage and leverage over others, insults and sudden threats against or concessions to other countries seemingly “out of the blue.” “As commander-in-chief, (he’s) keeping adversaries on edge by being unpredictable,” said Sciutto, a two-time Emmy winner for his work in Iraq, where he was the only U.S. reporter allowed to embed with American Special Forces units. The notion that unpredictability can work to a statesman’s advantage is nothing new. It even has a name: the so-called “Madman Theory,” which originated in the Cold War under disgraced former president Richard Nixon. Nixon hatched a scheme to convince enemy countries he was unpredictable and possibly even unstable — crazy enough to launch a nuclear strike or to invade.
It was “a tool of exercising power on the international stage, which is to convince your adversaries you're unpredictable. Maybe a little nuts … and might go further than they might imagine,” Sciutto told Canada’s National Observer. But Trump has added “innovations” to the theory of an unpredictable leader, the CNN anchor said, and that bears deeply on how the U.S. election might impact Canadians. “He’s just as likely to use it against friends as foes,” Sciutto said. He pointed to comments made by Trump declaring Canada a national security threat to justify the imposition of steel tariffs in a trade war. “Canada, a national security threat?”


nationalobserver--2020-10-29--Concerns raised over COVID-19 response in long-term care; Ontario set to release new virus projectio

Concerns raised over COVID-19 response in long-term care; Ontario set to release new virus projections

Politicians , advocates and public health officials were ringing the alarm Thursday over COVID-19 ’ s impact on long-term care homes , as Ontarians awaited fresh projections of how the virus is expected to spread .
Green Party Leader Annamie Paul urged a national inquiry on long-term care in Canada and said the first thing that should be done is for Ottawa to add long-term care to the Canada Health Act .
Paul , who has said she couldn ’ t visit her father before he died from a non-COVID infection in a long-term care home in May , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and inadequate the system is .
`` If we have arrived at a situation where we need to call in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Red Cross , which is a humanitarian organization that is normally deployed in war zones and in developing countries , '' she said .
`` If we have to deploy those two bodies in order to save lives in our long-term care facilities across Canada , then there is a serious problem . ''
• Donald Trump has few friends left in Canada .
What happens if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world back to nature — here 's how Donna Duncan , CEO of the Ontario Long Term Care Association , said she wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau June 3 to ask for federal cash for capital improvements and human resources before the second wave of COVID-19 .
She said she got a perfunctory response from a policy office at Health Canada just six days ago , with more than 100 outbreaks in long-term care homes across the country again .
Duncan says the system needs dedicated federal help along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for mental health and home care .
Authorities in Quebec said there are five long-term care homes where more than 25 per cent of residents have active cases of COVID-19 — down from eight care homes the day before .
They say there are six private seniors ' residences where more than a quarter of residents have active infections , a situation they describe as `` critical . ''
Quebec reported 1,030 new cases and 25 more deaths in Thursday ’ s update .
Politicians , advocates and public health officials are raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on long-term care homes .
As of Monday , there were 44 active and 42 resolved cases of COVID-19 among residents of the Parkview Place Long Term Care Home in Winnipeg , according to for-profit operator Revera .
At least 19 have died .
Manitoba chief medical officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Wednesday the province is not looking to take control of the home .
`` It ’ s a matter of ensuring all of the recommendations of infection control experts , all of the regional recommendations are being adhered to . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent surge have been linked to people gathering for dinners and other social occasions , and greater restrictions may be in store if the numbers don ’ t drop .
Also Thursday , Ontario Premier Doug Ford and provincial public health officials were set to unveil new COVID-19 modelling projections .
Ford hinted Wednesday it would show the numbers moving `` in the right direction . ''
Projections released late last month showed the province recording 1,000 new daily cases by mid-October .
Ontario passed that threshold last weekend but the numbers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have now been linked to a wedding in the Toronto suburbs earlier this month .
York Region Public Health said more than 100 people attended the wedding at an event centre in Vaughan over two days — Oct. 14 and Oct. 18 .

Politicians, advocates and public health officials were ringing the alarm Thursday over COVID-19’s impact on long-term care homes, as Ontarians awaited fresh projections of how the virus is expected to spread. Green Party Leader Annamie Paul urged a national inquiry on long-term care in Canada and said the first thing that should be done is for Ottawa to add long-term care to the Canada Health Act. Paul, who has said she couldn’t visit her father before he died from a non-COVID infection in a long-term care home in May, said the pandemic has just proven how broken and inadequate the system is. "If we have arrived at a situation where we need to call in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Red Cross, which is a humanitarian organization that is normally deployed in war zones and in developing countries," she said. "If we have to deploy those two bodies in order to save lives in our long-term care facilities across Canada, then there is a serious problem."
Donna Duncan, CEO of the Ontario Long Term Care Association, said she wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau June 3 to ask for federal cash for capital improvements and human resources before the second wave of COVID-19. She said she got a perfunctory response from a policy office at Health Canada just six days ago, with more than 100 outbreaks in long-term care homes across the country again. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Duncan says the system needs dedicated federal help along the lines of what was offered in 2017 for mental health and home care.
Authorities in Quebec said there are five long-term care homes where more than 25 per cent of residents have active cases of COVID-19 — down from eight care homes the day before. Politicians, advocates and public health officials are raising concerns over #COVID19's ongoing impact on long-term care homes. They say there are six private seniors' residences where more than a quarter of residents have active infections, a situation they describe as "critical." Quebec reported 1,030 new cases and 25 more deaths in Thursday’s update. As of Monday, there were 44 active and 42 resolved cases of COVID-19 among residents of the Parkview Place Long Term Care Home in Winnipeg, according to for-profit operator Revera. At least 19 have died. Manitoba chief medical officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Wednesday the province is not looking to take control of the home.
"It’s a matter of ensuring all of the recommendations of infection control experts, all of the regional recommendations are being adhered to." Manitoba announced 193 new COVID-19 cases in Thursday’s update, a record daily high. Roussin has said many cases in the recent surge have been linked to people gathering for dinners and other social occasions, and greater restrictions may be in store if the numbers don’t drop.


nationalobserver--2020-10-30--Soils are thinning in B.C.’s breadbasket — and it could hurt farmers' crops

A team of researchers from the University of British Columbia has found that in the past 30 years , the amount of soil organic carbon — decomposed plants , manure and other biological residue in the ground — has dropped in more than 60 per cent of the valley since the 1980s .
That ’ s bad news , as storing carbon in the soil is essential for healthy crops and important for reducing CO2 emissions from Canada ’ s sixth-largest greenhouse-gas-emitting industry .
“ When we have more carbon in the soil , that means the soil is more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it drains ( excess ) water more efficiently , it can hold nutrients very well and , overall , it has better aeration , ” said Siddhartho Paul , a co-author of the study and currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences .
“ It has all these benefits that can improve crop production and certainly can make more profit.
” Soil is complicated .
Nestled between the dirt and rocks are complex ecosystems replete with fungi , rhizomes and bacteria .
Similar to the bacteria that live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vital to the soil ’ s overall health .
They make nutrients more available to the plants growing above and break down organic matter , such as dead plants or manure , which are carbon in solid form .
• CNN 's Jim Scuitto on 'The Madman Theory , ' Canada and Donald Trump • Donald Trump has few friends left in Canada .
What happens if he wins ?
This organic matter is called soil carbon , especially once it ’ s broken into pieces small enough to mix into clay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t eternal like sand or pebbles .
They can be eaten by microorganisms , which , through respiration , will release the carbon contained in the particles into the atmosphere as CO2 .
They can also be washed away by rain or irrigation , where they will often get eaten and turned into CO2 by aquatic microorganisms .
It ’ s an inevitable breakdown , but its pace and overall impact on the total amount of carbon in the soil can be controlled .
The microorganisms turning soil carbon into CO2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given oxygen , which is exactly what happens when fields are tilled and previously buried earth is exposed to fresh air .
Their activity can be slowed by less-invasive agricultural methods , like no-till farming , or by compensating for the loss of soil carbon — or even storing carbon — by planting cover crops or putting down mulch .
And with farmland accounting for roughly 25 per cent of agriculture ’ s total greenhouse gas emissions , changing how the land is managed could have a significant impact , Paul said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in farmland where we can quickly restore some of the carbon that was already released.
” However , according to the study ’ s results , unlocking that potential will take some significant changes to how farms are managed in the Fraser Valley .
That ’ s because most of the soil-carbon loss measured by the team happened in fields that have been used continuously more or less in the same way .
Storing carbon in soil is essential for healthy crops and important for reducing CO2 emissions from agriculture , Canada ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The annual croplands , which are consistently on the same annual crop production ( where ) intensive agricultural production practices like tillage ( are common ) , ” are those most likely to be consistently losing soil carbon , Paul said .
Potatoes and grains , both annual crops , require particularly intensive tillage in the Fraser Valley ’ s heavy , clay-filled soil to succeed .
They also often require underground drainage systems , which also might contribute to the loss of soil carbon , since it gets washed away when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the region , with some dating back decades , said Paul .
And while it might be impossible for farmers to avoid tilling their soil , there are other land management techniques that can help boost the amount of carbon retained in the soil .
“ In agricultural land , when we have riparian buffers … like permanent hedgerows or permanent grassland strips , those are the fields ( that ) have relatively more carbon than crop plants , ” he said .
Letting fields fallow for a few years or planting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retain soil organic matter .
And they are changes that can ’ t come soon enough , said Sean Smukler , a professor of land and food systems at UBC and a co-author of the study .
Delta and the upper part of the Fraser Valley near Chilliwack and Abbotsford saw the most significant losses of soil organic carbon ( SOC ) in the past 30 years .
Map by Paul , S. , et al .
Their results suggest that in the period they studied — 1984 to 2018 — almost six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fraser Valley ’ s soils .
That ’ s equivalent to the annual emissions of about 1.3 million cars , according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency .
“ It ’ s scary .
On the other hand , it ’ s an important opportunity ( because ) we ’ ve demonstrated that there are a lot of potential benefits that could be gained by changing our agricultural practices , ” Smukler said .

The Fraser Valley’s fertility is literally vanishing beneath farmers’ feet. A team of researchers from the University of British Columbia has found that in the past 30 years, the amount of soil organic carbon — decomposed plants, manure and other biological residue in the ground — has dropped in more than 60 per cent of the valley since the 1980s. That’s bad news, as storing carbon in the soil is essential for healthy crops and important for reducing CO2 emissions from Canada’s sixth-largest greenhouse-gas-emitting industry. “When we have more carbon in the soil, that means the soil is more fertile … it holds water well, it drains (excess) water more efficiently, it can hold nutrients very well and, overall, it has better aeration,” said Siddhartho Paul, a co-author of the study and currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. “It has all these benefits that can improve crop production and certainly can make more profit.” Soil is complicated. Nestled between the dirt and rocks are complex ecosystems replete with fungi, rhizomes and bacteria. Similar to the bacteria that live in the human gut, these microorganisms are vital to the soil’s overall health. They make nutrients more available to the plants growing above and break down organic matter, such as dead plants or manure, which are carbon in solid form.
This organic matter is called soil carbon, especially once it’s broken into pieces small enough to mix into clay, sand or dirt. But these particles aren’t eternal like sand or pebbles. They can be eaten by microorganisms, which, through respiration, will release the carbon contained in the particles into the atmosphere as CO2. They can also be washed away by rain or irrigation, where they will often get eaten and turned into CO2 by aquatic microorganisms. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions It’s an inevitable breakdown, but its pace and overall impact on the total amount of carbon in the soil can be controlled. The microorganisms turning soil carbon into CO2 become more active when they’re given oxygen, which is exactly what happens when fields are tilled and previously buried earth is exposed to fresh air. Their activity can be slowed by less-invasive agricultural methods, like no-till farming, or by compensating for the loss of soil carbon — or even storing carbon — by planting cover crops or putting down mulch.
And with farmland accounting for roughly 25 per cent of agriculture’s total greenhouse gas emissions, changing how the land is managed could have a significant impact, Paul said. Storing carbon in soil is essential for healthy crops and important for reducing CO2 emissions from agriculture, Canada’s sixth-largest #greenhousegas-emitting industry. “There’s a huge potential in farmland where we can quickly restore some of the carbon that was already released.” However, according to the study’s results, unlocking that potential will take some significant changes to how farms are managed in the Fraser Valley. That’s because most of the soil-carbon loss measured by the team happened in fields that have been used continuously more or less in the same way. “The annual croplands, which are consistently on the same annual crop production (where) intensive agricultural production practices like tillage (are common),” are those most likely to be consistently losing soil carbon, Paul said. Potatoes and grains, both annual crops, require particularly intensive tillage in the Fraser Valley’s heavy, clay-filled soil to succeed. They also often require underground drainage systems, which also might contribute to the loss of soil carbon, since it gets washed away when it rains. These systems are relatively common in the region, with some dating back decades, said Paul.
And while it might be impossible for farmers to avoid tilling their soil, there are other land management techniques that can help boost the amount of carbon retained in the soil. “In agricultural land, when we have riparian buffers … like permanent hedgerows or permanent grassland strips, those are the fields (that) have relatively more carbon than crop plants,” he said. Letting fields fallow for a few years or planting a winter cover crop can also help retain soil organic matter. And they are changes that can’t come soon enough, said Sean Smukler, a professor of land and food systems at UBC and a co-author of the study.


nationalobserver--2020-10-30--New report questions Trans Mountain expansion’s ‘Asian markets’ rationale

A new study is questioning one of the central rationales for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project — that it would allow Canada to fetch a fair price for its oil .
Practically all of Canada ’ s oil exports , 98 per cent , go to the United States , and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 's government ministers have often said the Trans Mountain expansion ( TMX ) will ensure the country can get a “ fair price ” for its natural resources by opening up non-U.S. markets .
A report released Thursday by the Canadian Centre For Policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the Corporate Mapping Project , claims it is unlikely there will be any price premium selling the oilpatch ’ s heavy sulphur-rich crude oil to Asian nations — and , in fact , it may sell at a discount compared to sales to the United States .
Report author David Hughes said in an interview that he arrived at this conclusion by examining a comparable type of crude oil from Mexico , looking at what prices it has been getting in Asia compared to the U.S. as well as what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alberta oilpatch to either destination .
Putting these two factors together , Hughes calculated that Canadian producers would be taking a loss of US $ 4 to $ 6 per barrel if they sold to Asian refineries through TMX , compared to selling to U.S. refineries .
• CNN 's Jim Scuitto on 'The Madman Theory , ' Canada and Donald Trump • Donald Trump has few friends left in Canada .
What happens if he wins ?
“ What I ’ m trying to do is just process the data as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the past six or so years , ” said Hughes , a retired research manager at the Geological Survey of Canada .
“ It looks like producers are going to lose money using TMX ( to Asia ) .
” The report by Hughes adds to a growing sentiment that the changing dynamics of the fossil fuel industry are eating into the business case for TMX .
The energy firm BP , the International Energy Agency and oil export group OPEC all recently slashed their oil demand forecasts , leading economists and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's viability .
Canada Development Investment Corporation , the Crown corporation that owns and operates the Trans Mountain pipeline and its expansion project , said in a statement that it had not had an opportunity to review the details of the report and is “ therefore not in a position to provide comments on the assertions being made.
” Earth scientist David Hughes concludes that $ 12.6 billion in taxpayer funds would be better spent on emissions reduction not on completing # TMX , in a new report that questions the value of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //t.co/7WEgihp8Op — The CCPA–BC ( @ CCPA_BC ) October 29 , 2020 Hughes examined sales of a similar heavy crude from Mexico by the state-owned oil company to two regions : the “ Far East ” — which is not defined , but reportedly includes China , Japan , India and South Korea — and the United States .
A new @ CCPA_BC report is questioning one of the central rationales for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project — that it would allow Canada to fetch a fair price for its oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Maya , is similar both in density and sulphuric content to Western Canadian Select ( WCS ) , the benchmark blend of oilsands bitumen .
Maya is produced by Petróleos Mexicanos , better known as Pemex .
WCS sold on the U.S. Gulf Coast or in Asia would get prices comparable to Maya , Hughes said .
Over the past six years , Hughes found that Pemex ’ s exports of Maya to Asia sold at an average discount of US $ 4.27 per barrel compared to exports to the U.S. “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent years tells us that Canadian heavy oil exported to Asia is likely to command a lower price than if sold to the U.S. , ” reads the report .
In addition to this discount , Hughes looked at pipeline tolls from Kinder Morgan , the pipeline ’ s former owner , and adjusted for the projected increase in the cost of the expansion project to $ 12.6 billion , as well as inflation , and also examined tanker transport costs .
The result was that projected costs from Alberta to south China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3.52 per barrel more expensive than to the U.S. Gulf Coast , said Hughes , and US $ 5.90 to $ 7.92 per barrel more expensive than to the U.S. Midwest .
Kevin Birn , vice-president of North American crude oil markets at IHS Markit , said global pricing was a complex topic , and while historical pricing “ can be instructive , it may also not always be the best predictor of future value.
” The rationale for TMX providing new market options , and lowering Canada 's reliance on the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fetching a “ fair price ” for oil but also providing price stability and certainty for producers , he said .
The drop in global availability of the kind of heavy sulphuric crude oil that the oilpatch produces is an example of how values are not fixed and may change over time .
“ Once in a marine vessel , Canadian crude would be free to move to the highest price point globally ; this could include Asia , but likely would also include competition from California ” and elsewhere , said Birn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sets the price of Western Canadian crude oil in the Pacific against competitive and comparable source of supply .
”

A new study is questioning one of the central rationales for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project — that it would allow Canada to fetch a fair price for its oil. Practically all of Canada’s oil exports, 98 per cent, go to the United States, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government ministers have often said the Trans Mountain expansion (TMX) will ensure the country can get a “fair price” for its natural resources by opening up non-U.S. markets. A report released Thursday by the Canadian Centre For Policy Alternatives’ B.C. office, as part of the Corporate Mapping Project, claims it is unlikely there will be any price premium selling the oilpatch’s heavy sulphur-rich crude oil to Asian nations — and, in fact, it may sell at a discount compared to sales to the United States. Report author David Hughes said in an interview that he arrived at this conclusion by examining a comparable type of crude oil from Mexico, looking at what prices it has been getting in Asia compared to the U.S. as well as what the projected transportation costs would be from the Alberta oilpatch to either destination. Putting these two factors together, Hughes calculated that Canadian producers would be taking a loss of US$4 to $6 per barrel if they sold to Asian refineries through TMX, compared to selling to U.S. refineries.
“What I’m trying to do is just process the data as they are, and as they have been over the past six or so years,” said Hughes, a retired research manager at the Geological Survey of Canada. “It looks like producers are going to lose money using TMX (to Asia).” The report by Hughes adds to a growing sentiment that the changing dynamics of the fossil fuel industry are eating into the business case for TMX. The energy firm BP, the International Energy Agency and oil export group OPEC all recently slashed their oil demand forecasts, leading economists and policy experts to question the pipeline project's viability. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Canada Development Investment Corporation, the Crown corporation that owns and operates the Trans Mountain pipeline and its expansion project, said in a statement that it had not had an opportunity to review the details of the report and is “therefore not in a position to provide comments on the assertions being made.”
http://twitter.com/CCPA_BC/status/1321934843433807872 Oil to Asia ‘likely to command a lower price’ Hughes examined sales of a similar heavy crude from Mexico by the state-owned oil company to two regions: the “Far East” — which is not defined, but reportedly includes China, Japan, India and South Korea — and the United States. A new @CCPA_BC report is questioning one of the central rationales for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project — that it would allow Canada to fetch a fair price for its oil. #cdnpoli The crude oil, called Maya, is similar both in density and sulphuric content to Western Canadian Select (WCS), the benchmark blend of oilsands bitumen. Maya is produced by Petróleos Mexicanos, better known as Pemex. WCS sold on the U.S. Gulf Coast or in Asia would get prices comparable to Maya, Hughes said. Over the past six years, Hughes found that Pemex’s exports of Maya to Asia sold at an average discount of US$4.27 per barrel compared to exports to the U.S.
“The price data for Mexican Maya in recent years tells us that Canadian heavy oil exported to Asia is likely to command a lower price than if sold to the U.S.,” reads the report. In addition to this discount, Hughes looked at pipeline tolls from Kinder Morgan, the pipeline’s former owner, and adjusted for the projected increase in the cost of the expansion project to $12.6 billion, as well as inflation, and also examined tanker transport costs. The result was that projected costs from Alberta to south China are from US$1.88 to $3.52 per barrel more expensive than to the U.S. Gulf Coast, said Hughes, and US$5.90 to $7.92 per barrel more expensive than to the U.S. Midwest.


nationalobserver--2020-10-30--Quebec lawyer wins Nature Canada award for lifelong commitment to climate justice

Quebec lawyer Michel Bélanger cemented his fame in environmental circles with a 2008 win at the Supreme Court of Canada protecting the rights of citizens to launch class-action lawsuits over environmental harm .
It was a celebrated victory , one so important he might have legitimately rested on his laurels for the remainder of his legal career .
But Bélanger continued to push , and his life ’ s work as an environmental lawyer and advocate recently earned him Nature Canada ’ s pre-eminent 2020 Douglas H. Pimlott Award .
As climate change reaches a tipping point , Bélanger says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be done , and he believes the journey will be arduous .
“ It ’ s difficult to realize that the battle is not finished .
I feel sometimes that it ’ s worse than when I started , ” Bélanger says .
Following in his father ’ s footsteps , the Montreal-based lawyer began his career in the 1980s as a notary but quickly pivoted to environmental law at a time when it was an uncommon field of study .
Bélanger knew he wanted to dedicate his life to defending the environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups in university .
• CNN 's Jim Scuitto on 'The Madman Theory , ' Canada and Donald Trump • Donald Trump has few friends left in Canada .
What happens if he wins ?
“ I chose environmental law for the mission I felt I had to take , ” Bélanger explains.
“ I felt I had to do something that ’ s useful with my life and I never regret it.
” At that time in Quebec , where Bélanger grew up and still resides , there were no specialized environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t get in his way .
He built his own program by selecting courses that related to environmental law within the public law master 's program at the Université de Montréal .
He also earned a diploma in specialized studies in environmental law and territorial management from Université Robert Schuman in France .
Quebec environmental lawyer Michel Bélanger has spent his career fighting for the environment .
Photo submitted by Michel Bélanger In 1989 , he co-founded the Quebec Environmental Law Centre , and since then , Bélanger has undergone a relentless journey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental law at École Polytechnique de Montréal , Sherbrooke University , Laval University and UQAM .
He is president of Nature Québec and founded the law firm Lauzon Bélanger with his associate Yves Lauzon .
Bob Peart , recently retired chair of the Nature Canada board , says Bélanger was selected for the award because his devotion to protect the environment has been backed with a legal approach .
“ A lot of people stand up for nature but you also have to stand up for nature in the courts , ” Peart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we are able to turn ourselves seriously on an urgent matter , ” says Michel Bélanger , this year 's @ naturecanada 2020 Douglas H. Pimlott Award winner .
“ Humanity could work together against an enemy.
” Bélanger has been involved in numerous high-profile actions , but his 2008 Supreme Court win was particularly important .
It created a “ no-fault regime ” in Quebec , making environmental nuisance claims easier to prove , thereby increasing incentives for polluters to comply with environmental regulations to avoid being sued by their neighbours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gift of confidence that they will be taken seriously in court .
“ The award is given to individuals who demonstrated significant contributions throughout their lifetime to protect Canada 's nature .
It was certainly clear that Michel was deserving of the Pimlott , ” Peart says .
Bélanger says being recognized for his accomplishments brings him joy .
However , he paints a grim picture of the future .
With climate change worsening and more animals and plants facing the risk of extinction , Bélanger is afraid action will happen too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s response to the COVID-19 pandemic proves humanity is able to act quickly in a crisis .
The pandemic “ shows us that we are able to turn ourselves seriously on an urgent matter , ” Bélanger says .
“ Humanity could work together against an enemy.
” But he identifies one stark difference between the two emergencies : death .
“ Nobody is clearly dying now because of the climate change crisis , ” he says .
And because solutions to climate change are costly and don ’ t produce instant results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cause .
“ You ’ ll have to make sacrifices but you won ’ t feel the solution , ” Bélanger says .
Despite his fears , Bélanger still sees a sprout of hope , particularly among younger generations , who are increasingly becoming more involved in environmental law and advocacy .
“ There are young people that want to do something .
It might be the urgency of the situation that brings them there , ” Bélanger says .
“ That ’ s an urgency I did n't have when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Quebec lawyer Michel Bélanger cemented his fame in environmental circles with a 2008 win at the Supreme Court of Canada protecting the rights of citizens to launch class-action lawsuits over environmental harm. It was a celebrated victory, one so important he might have legitimately rested on his laurels for the remainder of his legal career. But Bélanger continued to push, and his life’s work as an environmental lawyer and advocate recently earned him Nature Canada’s pre-eminent 2020 Douglas H. Pimlott Award. As climate change reaches a tipping point, Bélanger says there is still much more work to be done, and he believes the journey will be arduous. “It’s difficult to realize that the battle is not finished. I feel sometimes that it’s worse than when I started,” Bélanger says. Following in his father’s footsteps, the Montreal-based lawyer began his career in the 1980s as a notary but quickly pivoted to environmental law at a time when it was an uncommon field of study. Bélanger knew he wanted to dedicate his life to defending the environment after he joined a few environmental advocacy groups in university.
“I chose environmental law for the mission I felt I had to take,” Bélanger explains.“I felt I had to do something that’s useful with my life and I never regret it.” At that time in Quebec, where Bélanger grew up and still resides, there were no specialized environmental law programs, but that didn’t get in his way. He built his own program by selecting courses that related to environmental law within the public law master's program at the Université de Montréal. He also earned a diploma in specialized studies in environmental law and territorial management from Université Robert Schuman in France. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Quebec environmental lawyer Michel Bélanger has spent his career fighting for the environment. Photo submitted by Michel Bélanger
In 1989, he co-founded the Quebec Environmental Law Centre, and since then, Bélanger has undergone a relentless journey fighting to protect nature. He teaches environmental law at École Polytechnique de Montréal, Sherbrooke University, Laval University and UQAM. He is president of Nature Québec and founded the law firm Lauzon Bélanger with his associate Yves Lauzon. The pandemic “shows us that we are able to turn ourselves seriously on an urgent matter,” says Michel Bélanger, this year's @naturecanada 2020 Douglas H. Pimlott Award winner. “Humanity could work together against an enemy.” Bob Peart, recently retired chair of the Nature Canada board, says Bélanger was selected for the award because his devotion to protect the environment has been backed with a legal approach. “A lot of people stand up for nature but you also have to stand up for nature in the courts,” Peart says. Bélanger has been involved in numerous high-profile actions, but his 2008 Supreme Court win was particularly important. It created a “no-fault regime” in Quebec, making environmental nuisance claims easier to prove, thereby increasing incentives for polluters to comply with environmental regulations to avoid being sued by their neighbours. Peart says Bélanger provided citizens with the gift of confidence that they will be taken seriously in court.
“The award is given to individuals who demonstrated significant contributions throughout their lifetime to protect Canada's nature. It was certainly clear that Michel was deserving of the Pimlott,” Peart says. Previous award recipients include George Archibald, David Schindler, Monte Hummel, Greg Mitchell, Harvey Mead and Diane Griffin. Michel Bélanger hiking at Mont Blanc. Photo submitted by Michel Bélanger


nationalobserver--2020-10-30--Toronto youth, student teachers help adults deal with COVID reality

Fourth-year York University student Amorin Amello had been looking forward to this year since getting into the school ’ s concurrent education program while still in Grade 12 .
Amello , who comes from a family of teachers and wants to teach high school history and geography , was eager to spend one day a week in a classroom for her first real-world placement .
But then COVID-19 happened , and last week , those placements were cancelled as teachers and school boards scrambled to make in-person classrooms safe and set up online equivalents for those working at virtual schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year to come , so I ’ m not going to lie , it ’ s kind of sad that it ’ s all online , ” Amello said in a phone interview .
“ Online you 're just sitting in your pyjamas during class , and it 's not the same experience or level of engagement that I 'm used to.
” To get certified as a teacher in Ontario , teaching students must log 80 practicum days , which for Amello and her peers will all be jammed into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which starts in 2022 .
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But for now , Amello ’ s getting credit for teaching her mother how to move her classroom online through an award-winning community engagement program that emerged out of Toronto ’ s Regent Park in 2010 and now boasts several international chapters .
Amorin Amello made an avatar for her mother to use in her TDSB virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Youth Empowering Parents ( YEP ) program has also adapted its methods to the pandemic , adding a more academically rigorous post-secondary component to help fill a dearth of available community placements .
It has proven popular , with 260 York U students ( one-third of Amello ’ s cohort ) and roughly another 100 post-secondary students taking part in a nine-week online course that began last month .
Teaching student @ MissAmello waited years to get into a real-world classroom when COVID-19 hit .
Now , @ YEPeducation is helping her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classroom .
The students join a Zoom training session run by a longtime teacher about different aspects of teaching , which they must then apply and demonstrate by tweeting with the hashtag # LetsTeachAdults .
Amello said last week covered the need to break down lessons into three to five steps , and this week was on differentiated and scaffolded learning — how to make lesson plans to target the average student and modify both for those needing more of a challenge and those needing more support .
“ I get to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet with my learner , I get to post actual things on her Google classroom and show her real skills that I ’ ve learned in class , so honestly , I ’ m really enjoying it .
It ’ s a really good experience , ” Amello said .
“ She was my first teacher , she ’ s my mother , and she has been on my educational journey along with me , so it 's cool that the gears have shifted and I get to teach her something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
YEP also shifted its primary focus , which enables mostly elementary and secondary students to provide volunteer one-on-one tuition largely to strangers in the low-income area east of downtown .
Now they are having them help their parents and other relatives navigate the new reality .
“ They ’ re not just teaching basic tech or English skills , they ’ re also teaching how to apply for government supports , how to isolate safely , proper mask usage ... how to order groceries online or how to do online banking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s co-founder and executive director .
A group of young people who volunteer with the Youth Empowering Parents charity pose for a photo in July 2019 .
Photo supplied by Youth Empowering Parents Other popular topics of the learning sessions include English as a second language and learning to play a musical instrument , he said , noting that a child who has logged 500 hours at the piano can teach it with help to structure their thoughts and explain it clearly .
Soon after starting the program , YEP won a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winners from around the world , Afewerki said , “ where almost every other group that won it had former presidents on their board or had been running for decades ” ) .
Attention from the award led to an expansion to Spain , and chapters have since also been opened in Ethiopia , Niger and Poland .
Back in Regent Park , the program usually works with underachieving schools and students who are struggling to keep up or are acting out , and Afewerki says that giving them that responsibility to teach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an instant gratification of seeing that the adults have learned something , ” he said .
A young volunteer teaches an adult to play the keyboard during an in-person lesson before COVID-19 .
Photo supplied by Youth Empowering Parents In order to make it all work , YEP has created some 1,000 pages of curriculum delivered with simplicity akin to Ikea assembly instructions .
The approach is time-consuming , with an instructor at the entirely donation-driven charity spending 40 hours to prepare one hour of instruction ( versus a typical two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , but Afewerki said it means thousands of kids can then take that same lesson and teach it .
“ You don ’ t have to be a trained carpenter to put together Ikea furniture , ” he said .
“ We take that same approach and apply it to literacy .
”

Fourth-year York University student Amorin Amello had been looking forward to this year since getting into the school’s concurrent education program while still in Grade 12. Amello, who comes from a family of teachers and wants to teach high school history and geography, was eager to spend one day a week in a classroom for her first real-world placement. But then COVID-19 happened, and last week, those placements were cancelled as teachers and school boards scrambled to make in-person classrooms safe and set up online equivalents for those working at virtual schools. “I was so excited for this year to come, so I’m not going to lie, it’s kind of sad that it’s all online,” Amello said in a phone interview. “Online you're just sitting in your pyjamas during class, and it's not the same experience or level of engagement that I'm used to.” To get certified as a teacher in Ontario, teaching students must log 80 practicum days, which for Amello and her peers will all be jammed into the second year of the education component, which starts in 2022.
But for now, Amello’s getting credit for teaching her mother how to move her classroom online through an award-winning community engagement program that emerged out of Toronto’s Regent Park in 2010 and now boasts several international chapters. Amorin Amello made an avatar for her mother to use in her TDSB virtual classroom. Photo supplied by Amorin Amello
Shifting gears The Youth Empowering Parents (YEP) program has also adapted its methods to the pandemic, adding a more academically rigorous post-secondary component to help fill a dearth of available community placements. Teaching student @MissAmello waited years to get into a real-world classroom when COVID-19 hit. Now, @YEPeducation is helping her help her mother set up her virtual classroom. It has proven popular, with 260 York U students (one-third of Amello’s cohort) and roughly another 100 post-secondary students taking part in a nine-week online course that began last month. The students join a Zoom training session run by a longtime teacher about different aspects of teaching, which they must then apply and demonstrate by tweeting with the hashtag #LetsTeachAdults. Amello said last week covered the need to break down lessons into three to five steps, and this week was on differentiated and scaffolded learning — how to make lesson plans to target the average student and modify both for those needing more of a challenge and those needing more support.
“I get to make lesson plans every week, I have to meet with my learner, I get to post actual things on her Google classroom and show her real skills that I’ve learned in class, so honestly, I’m really enjoying it. It’s a really good experience,” Amello said. “She was my first teacher, she’s my mother, and she has been on my educational journey along with me, so it's cool that the gears have shifted and I get to teach her something that I know more about,” she added.


nationalobserver--2020-10-30--Canada is investing in green jobs for youth — but it needs to get the word out

However , the article , which calls repeatedly for creating a green jobs strategy for youth , gives the impression that scarce action is being taken in this direction .
In fact , Canada has developed the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy ( YESS ) , which crosses 11 federal departments and agencies and provides funding for youth , and specifically those facing barriers to employment , to enter the labour market .
I read Brennan Strandberg-Salmon ’ s opinion piece in Canada ’ s National Observer with interest .
His point is timely and well taken ; an equitable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and those who already faced barriers to employment before the pandemic , find meaningful work in the green economy .
The following was written in response to a recent opinion piece published by Canada 's National Observer .
You can read the original piece here .
Natural Resources Canada , for its part , has allocated $ 15.8 million of its portion to a green jobs youth fund that does exactly what the article speaks to .
Strandberg-Salmon alludes to this in his mention of “ 500 green youth jobs.
” I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Student Work Placement program have included a significant investment in environmental and electricity post-secondary internship and co-operative education supports .
Energy and natural resources employers , educational institutions and other stakeholders across the country have actively taken up these programs to benefit from the skills and perspectives of young workers , and to develop Canada ’ s next-generation green skills pipeline .
Furthermore , leaders in Canada ’ s electricity sector have called on policy-makers to get economic stimulus right with a focus on electrification — a strategy that would , of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for youth .
Perhaps the call to action for the article should instead be on the importance of advocating for better education of young Canadians in their early years about the incredible variety of green jobs available to them in order to increase interest and enable them to build their skills with intention .
Strandberg-Salmon mentions his own experience of wondering , “ What next ?
” This anecdote resonates with Electricity Human Resources Canada ’ s labour market research .
Only five per cent of the electricity and renewable energy sector workforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet 14 per cent of the Canadian labour market is under 25 more broadly — so there is a gap there and work to be done .
Our recent Generation Impact report found that the lack of interest on the part of young people in pursuing careers in Canada ’ s electricity sector — one of the greenest in the world — stems from a lack of awareness of what the sector offers , rather than the actual availability of opportunity .

The following was written in response to a recent opinion piece published by Canada's National Observer. You can read the original piece here.
I read Brennan Strandberg-Salmon’s opinion piece in Canada’s National Observer with interest. His point is timely and well taken; an equitable economic recovery absolutely depends on supporting youth, and those who already faced barriers to employment before the pandemic, find meaningful work in the green economy.
However, the article, which calls repeatedly for creating a green jobs strategy for youth, gives the impression that scarce action is being taken in this direction. In fact, Canada has developed the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), which crosses 11 federal departments and agencies and provides funding for youth, and specifically those facing barriers to employment, to enter the labour market.
Natural Resources Canada, for its part, has allocated $15.8 million of its portion to a green jobs youth fund that does exactly what the article speaks to. Strandberg-Salmon alludes to this in his mention of “500 green youth jobs.” I would add that federal investments in the Student Work Placement program have included a significant investment in environmental and electricity post-secondary internship and co-operative education supports.
Energy and natural resources employers, educational institutions and other stakeholders across the country have actively taken up these programs to benefit from the skills and perspectives of young workers, and to develop Canada’s next-generation green skills pipeline. Furthermore, leaders in Canada’s electricity sector have called on policy-makers to get economic stimulus right with a focus on electrification — a strategy that would, of course, include further investment in green jobs for youth.


nationalobserver--2020-10-30--O’Regan says he will ‘monitor’ methane rules. Critics say it’s time to strengthen them

Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan says Canada will look “ very closely ” at whether to tighten rules around a potent form of carbon pollution if “ future data and modelling ” convinces him it ’ s warranted .
But data and modelling from Environment and Climate Change Canada have already demonstrated that draft federal deals with Alberta and Saskatchewan meant to restrict that pollution , called methane , won ’ t be enough to meet the government ’ s own target .
As a result , Environmental Defence Canada , the David Suzuki Foundation and other groups called on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those agreements until regulations are strengthened .
Canada committed in 2016 to cutting methane by at least 40 per cent below 2012 levels by 2025 , and the federal government moved ahead with its own rules in 2018 to restrict these emissions .
Following a delay of two years , those rules have now started coming into force in stages through 2023 .
Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act , however , provinces , territories and Indigenous governments can come to an “ equivalency agreement ” with the federal government that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead .
Ottawa is finalizing its approval of provincial plans from Alberta and Saskatchewan that are meant to deliver these equivalent results .
Emissions modelling results released by the federal government related to those results show that Canada would only achieve a 29 per cent cut , rather than the 40 per cent cut that was promised .
Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan says Canada will look “ very closely ” at whether to tighten rules around a potent form of carbon pollution if “ future data and modelling ” convinces him it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s more , noted Marshall , the agreements are for five years , meaning that the government will face obstacles in trying to increase the stringency of methane rules before it hits the 2025 deadline .
“ Once they ’ re in place , it will be really hard to open those up again , ” he said .
The apparent gap that would be established for Canada ’ s methane reduction target is not the government ’ s only climate target gap .
Current Canadian climate policies will miss Canada ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and are also set to miss Canada ’ s 2030 Paris Agreement target by over 70 million tonnes , unless further action is taken .
“ Reducing oil and gas methane is one of the cheapest and easiest climate solutions , and the only one focused on the largest source of carbon emissions : oil and gas companies , ” reads a statement from the environmental groups .
“ Missing the mark on methane means more expensive greenhouse gas reductions have to come from lower-emitting sectors and provinces.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was going to fix the apparent gap in Canada ’ s methane target , O ’ Regan said methane reductions each year will depend on economic conditions , such as the number of oil and gas operations that are active .
He also said the equivalency agreements were a demonstration of Canada ’ s shared federal-provincial jurisdiction over the environment .
“ The regulations and equivalency agreements were established using our best available data , and forecasts will change over time , especially now with the uncertainty created by the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We will be actively monitoring the effectiveness of the regulations , which are that they do achieve the target of 40 to 45 per cent reductions below 2012 levels by 2025 .
If future data and modelling demonstrate that they need to be strengthened over time , then we will look very closely at that .
”

Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan says Canada will look “very closely” at whether to tighten rules around a potent form of carbon pollution if “future data and modelling” convinces him it’s warranted. But data and modelling from Environment and Climate Change Canada have already demonstrated that draft federal deals with Alberta and Saskatchewan meant to restrict that pollution, called methane, won’t be enough to meet the government’s own target. As a result, Environmental Defence Canada, the David Suzuki Foundation and other groups called on the government Thursday to withhold final approval for those agreements until regulations are strengthened. “This issue lies at the feet of the federal government. They now have regulations that are too weak,” said Dale Marshall, national climate program manager at Environmental Defence Canada. “Before you finalize those agreements, take a year, strengthen the federal ones, and then go back to the provinces and say, ‘Our initial regulations weren’t strong enough, here are stronger ones ... you have to match these instead.'”
Canada committed in 2016 to cutting methane by at least 40 per cent below 2012 levels by 2025, and the federal government moved ahead with its own rules in 2018 to restrict these emissions. Following a delay of two years, those rules have now started coming into force in stages through 2023. Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan says Canada will look “very closely” at whether to tighten rules around a potent form of carbon pollution if “future data and modelling” convinces him it’s warranted. #cdnpoli Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, however, provinces, territories and Indigenous governments can come to an “equivalency agreement” with the federal government that would allow them to apply their own rules instead. Ottawa is finalizing its approval of provincial plans from Alberta and Saskatchewan that are meant to deliver these equivalent results. Emissions modelling results released by the federal government related to those results show that Canada would only achieve a 29 per cent cut, rather than the 40 per cent cut that was promised. What’s more, noted Marshall, the agreements are for five years, meaning that the government will face obstacles in trying to increase the stringency of methane rules before it hits the 2025 deadline. “Once they’re in place, it will be really hard to open those up again,” he said. The apparent gap that would be established for Canada’s methane reduction target is not the government’s only climate target gap.
Current Canadian climate policies will miss Canada’s 2020 target by over 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and are also set to miss Canada’s 2030 Paris Agreement target by over 70 million tonnes, unless further action is taken. “Reducing oil and gas methane is one of the cheapest and easiest climate solutions, and the only one focused on the largest source of carbon emissions: oil and gas companies,” reads a statement from the environmental groups. “Missing the mark on methane means more expensive greenhouse gas reductions have to come from lower-emitting sectors and provinces.”


nationalobserver--2020-10-30--Meet the streamkeepers protecting Canada's wild salmon

With just a little bit of arm flailing and much nonchalance , Frank Gleeson regains his balance after slipping on a wet rock lodged in a steep embankment along Village Bay Creek .
Gleeson and his buddy , Pete Calverley , continue to clamber over and under trees , scramble up slopes and wade through underbrush in their search for spawning salmon .
Gleeson and Calverley , aged 71 and 78 , descend into a clearing at the creek ’ s edge and excitedly point out about 45 chum salmon milling not far from shore .
“ This is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says with enthusiasm .
“ It ’ s a really good chum year.
” Gleeson and Calverley are members of the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society , or QISES .
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Quadra streamkeeper Pete Calverley ducks under a tree as he makes his way to take a look at salmon along Village Bay Creek .
Photo by Rochelle Baker The volunteer group , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eco-centre , monitors fish populations and conducts watershed enhancement activities on five of Quadra ’ s most productive spawning streams .
The bulk of the group ’ s active members are seniors .
Calverley guffaws at the idea that such strenuous shenanigans might be too tough for the younger set .
“ We have a little trouble recruiting the youngsters , ” Gleeson acknowledges .
“ If they ’ re around , they tend to be working and not available.
” Most of the streamkeepers are either nature lovers or fishers , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how and why they flourish , flounder or return , Gleeson says .
Village Bay Creek , like most salmon streams on the island , mostly sees chum and coho runs from the beginning of October to mid-November .
Volunteer streamkeepers with the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society faithfully monitor and protect local streams and fish populations , providing valuable data to Fisheries and Oceans [ email protected ] _Pacific # BC # wildsalmon It ’ s a short window of opportunity for the salmon enthusiasts to delight in the magic of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We all kind of live for the fall , ” says Gleeson .
Chum tend to linger and spawn in the lower reaches of the island ’ s watersheds , while the coho move through fast in a sprint upwards to the lakes and the smaller streams beyond , Gleeson says .
This year ’ s chum spawners are the result of a strong parent run four years ago , says Calverley .
The fish are impressively large , two feet long and likely weighing 10 pounds , but despite their size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to see along the rocky stream bed — unless they ’ ve spent longer in the fresh water , then the tell-tale white flash of decaying flesh makes them easier to spot .
Gleeson has been walking the Bay Creek for a decade , while Calverley has monitored various streams on the island for close to 40 years .
He has watched returns of chum and coho ebb and flow over the years , but overall , the population seems quite stable , he says .
“ It goes up and down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Calverley says , noting Hyacinthe Bay Creek populations are presently good , while the Drew Creek watershed seems to be struggling .
But Calverley was one of the longtime islanders to witness the extinction of the sockeye run into the Village Bay lake chain .
“ I probably saw the last decent run of sockeye back in the ’ 90s , ” he says .
“ It really wouldn ’ t be wise to try to bring that run back because the summer water temperatures are so high that they would never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a host of cumulative impacts tied to climate change : increasing water temperatures , ocean acidification , increased pathogens , changes in the marine food web and low stream flows .
Pollution , habitat destruction and pressures from aquaculture operations only compound the problems .
Calverley says it was sad to see the sockeye disappear , but it hasn ’ t quashed his optimism that other runs can be preserved .
“ Well , it 's a shame .
We have to be concerned about ( the sockeye loss ) , that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some good-news situations , like the coho runs in the ( Village Bay ) lakes , ” Calverley says .
The salmon enhancement society ’ s motion-camera fish-counting system clocked 450 coho spawners so far this year , almost triple the parent run three years ago .
“ So that gives me cause for optimism , ” Calverley says .
“ The other reason I 'm hopeful is , you know , we ’ ve done a number of things to improve returns.
” Frank Gleeson , president of the Quadra Island Salmon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each autumn to count spawning chum salmon .
Photo by Rochelle Baker QISES is one of the hundreds of community and First Nations steward organizations that the federal government relies on to help monitor the health of salmon populations across the Pacific coast , says Andrew Pereboom of Fisheries and Oceans Canada ( DFO ) .
The groups improve salmon habitat in local streams and provide invaluable data to DFO , allowing it to track salmon abundance in small systems over time , says Pereboom , who 's involved in salmon stock assessments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he says , adding it ’ s impossible for DFO to do restoration projects and monitor thousands of small creeks .
“ Without streamkeepers , we probably wouldn ’ t get half this chum ( data ) .
” DFO does provide some funding to streamkeepers to defray the costs for salmon enhancement projects , Pereboom says .
“ But streamkeepers are super important because their hearts are in it , too , ” he says .
The Drew Creek stream renovation and the group ’ s video-monitor fish-counting system are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pereboom adds .
Gleeson agrees the group is motivated and aims to punch above its weight in an effort to protect salmon .
In addition , to its projects and stream walks , QISES also monitors and records water temperatures in key salmon creeks , Gleeson notes .
DFO tends to measure conditions in bigger systems with large commercial fishing values , but monitoring smaller streams is imperative to maintaining the diversity , health and resiliency of salmon populations , says Gleeson .
“ All the spawning takes place off in the little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s where all the action is .
”

With just a little bit of arm flailing and much nonchalance, Frank Gleeson regains his balance after slipping on a wet rock lodged in a steep embankment along Village Bay Creek. Gleeson and his buddy, Pete Calverley, continue to clamber over and under trees, scramble up slopes and wade through underbrush in their search for spawning salmon. Gleeson and Calverley, aged 71 and 78, descend into a clearing at the creek’s edge and excitedly point out about 45 chum salmon milling not far from shore. “This is the tell-all pool right here,” Gleeson says with enthusiasm. “It’s a really good chum year.” Gleeson and Calverley are members of the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society, or QISES.
Quadra streamkeeper Pete Calverley ducks under a tree as he makes his way to take a look at salmon along Village Bay Creek. Photo by Rochelle Baker The volunteer group, established in 1978, runs a salmon eco-centre, monitors fish populations and conducts watershed enhancement activities on five of Quadra’s most productive spawning streams. The bulk of the group’s active members are seniors. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Calverley guffaws at the idea that such strenuous shenanigans might be too tough for the younger set.
“We have a little trouble recruiting the youngsters,” Gleeson acknowledges. “If they’re around, they tend to be working and not available.” Volunteer streamkeepers with the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society faithfully monitor and protect local streams and fish populations, providing valuable data to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.@DFO_Pacific #BC #wildsalmon Most of the streamkeepers are either nature lovers or fishers, or have a scientific curiosity around salmon and how and why they flourish, flounder or return, Gleeson says. Village Bay Creek, like most salmon streams on the island, mostly sees chum and coho runs from the beginning of October to mid-November. It’s a short window of opportunity for the salmon enthusiasts to delight in the magic of the fish they work year-round to protect. “We all kind of live for the fall,” says Gleeson.
Chum tend to linger and spawn in the lower reaches of the island’s watersheds, while the coho move through fast in a sprint upwards to the lakes and the smaller streams beyond, Gleeson says. This year’s chum spawners are the result of a strong parent run four years ago, says Calverley. The fish are impressively large, two feet long and likely weighing 10 pounds, but despite their size, the mottled grey fish are surprisingly hard to see along the rocky stream bed — unless they’ve spent longer in the fresh water, then the tell-tale white flash of decaying flesh makes them easier to spot.


nationalobserver--2020-10-30--Film reviews: Three scary movies for Halloween, others taken from real life

In the theatres this week , you ’ ll find a lot of horror movies in time for the spooky night .
A lot of them are recent titles like the Conjuring and Annabelle films , while the Rio has interesting selections , including Carrie and The Exorcist , leading up to an in-theatre viewing of what it calls “ the most spine-tingling of them all , ” the U.S. election on Tuesday .
If you go to the website to read about it , stay for the notes on the Federico Fellini films Cinematheque is showing starting Sunday to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They start with La Dolce Vita , naturally , and will be showing all his big titles and some obscure ones in the series that will go on into December .
SPELL : Here ’ s a scary movie with something new .
It ’ s more truthful than usual about Black American society .
There are distinct class divisions in that the family here is definitely upper middle class .
The father is a rich lawyer , who flies his own private plane .
He ’ s cut off from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his father has died , is forced to reconnect with it and encounters far more than he wanted .
Larry is also an outcast , just wants a friend and will terrorize to get one .
And that he does .
He ’ s just a spectre through most of the film , and puts messages onscreen that if anyone dares get in his way , “ they ’ ll surely face their end.
” Suspense and tingly thrills build as mom and son have to hide from him .
Dad has inexplicably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes on far too suddenly .
Family problems often drive these films , and this one adds that new fear of technological control .
The film is scary , but gentle enough for most kids , and features a nice performance by Azhy Robertson as the boy named Oliver .
He conveys a lot without being able to speak .
Gillian Jacobs and John Gallagher Jr. play the parents , and the director , Jacob Chase , originally told the story in a short film .
It ’ s hardly innovative , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scotiabank , Marine Gateway and suburban theatres ) 3 out of 5 COME PLAY : “ There ’ s something in the house.
” Ah , that familiar forewarning we ’ ve heard in so many horror movies is back again , but with a few new elements this time .
Sure , lights go off and on , and doors open and close by themselves immediately before .
The words , though , are spoken by an artificial voice on a smartphone activated by a young boy who can ’ t speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autism , shunned at school and desperately lonely .
He spends most of his time online and becomes another kind of victim .
Something is trying to contact him , a demonic creature named Larry from a children ’ s book .
HIS HOUSE : The third scary movie this week joins in with a recent trend : using the conventions of horror movies to explore social issues .
Here we follow a refugee couple from Sudan , who try to fit in with society in England .
Not easy , is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as the couple , are welcomed warmly but tentatively by immigration officials .
They have to live by onerous rules , and the council home they ’ re assigned is a garbage-strewn mess .
Worse , at night there are clunks and noises in the walls and the paper falls off revealing holes in the drywall .
There ’ s a demon of some sort in there .
Omari Hardwick plays the man with the grand name , Marquis T. Woods .
He has been estranged from his dad and his Appalachian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On his way to the funeral , he crash lands , wakes up in a woodsy home tended to by a nice lady , but with no word on what happened to his wife and two kids , who were also on the plane .
Slowly , a scene of ancient magic is revealed to him , and though it seems benign , in that Ms. Eloise ( Loretta Devine ) is nursing him back from a leg injury , it turns sinister .
She uses a voodoo figure she calls Boogity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and skin .
She presides over a sacrificial ritual in a barn , and she keeps him trapped .
“ Your better self is calling you , ” she tells him and promises a resolution during the “ blood moon ” in a few days .
She ’ s not played villainous enough , but the Southern Gothic atmosphere is thick and the primitive spiritual tradition is fascinating .
Together , they ’ re highly involving .
It ’ s an American story directed by a Brit ( Mark Tonderai ) in South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in a few theatres , though none that I know of around here ) 3½ out of 5 It ’ s a tangible representation of asylum seekers suffering with trauma they ’ ve brought with them .
Several flashback visions show what they lived through , including gunmen arriving in Land Rovers , boats capsizing in a dark ocean and their losing a young daughter on the trip .
These dream sequences are chilling .
There ’ s squalour in the house and racism outside , but the local contact ( Matt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more recently Prince Philip in The Crown ) says live with it .
“ Be one of the good ones , ” he says .
The film shows exactly how hard that can be .
It is extremely well-acted and there ’ s plenty of uncertainty and empathy .
British director Remi Weekes helmed it and also co-wrote the screenplay .
( Netflix ) 4 out of 5 QUEEN OF THE MORNING CALM : I ’ m not sure what the title means or why some of the things in this movie happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a heartfelt exploration of one type of marginalized person .
Debra is a single mother in Toronto trying to rise up from the sad life she ’ s living .
She works as a stripper ( and occasionally as a prostitute ) to support her daughter .
Problems keep coming at her .
She ’ s being hounded for rent .
The man who is the father of her child is away most of the time , losing his money in a casino , but talking big about an “ opportunity ” coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have always been “ looking out for us … for our family.
” Gloria Ui Young Kim , former reporter at Maclean 's and now a writer-director , has worked in incidents from her own life , and that ’ s probably why the film has a warm , authentic feel .
You root for these people .
Mom is studying to become an accountant and almost lands a job .
Things happen , though , and others happen most every time she has a chance to improve her life .
Her daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in their life .
She can ’ t see through his pretensions .
The owner of an antiquities thrift store does help , although it ’ s not clear why .
Not everything makes sense , but the story is moving anyway .
Tina Jung , of CBC ’ s Kim ’ s Convenience , stars , and newcomer Eponine Lee makes a strong impression as her daughter .
( Available to stream from VIFF Connect .
Check viff.org ) 3½ out of 5 HAPPY PLACE : Another film about overcoming trauma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on the suffering of it .
It ’ s set in a private care facility where several women live , talk in therapy sessions and try to move on in their lives .
We soon learn they ’ ve all tried to commit suicide .
Samira , played by Clark Backo , was sexually assaulted and relives the memory in her dreams .
A man with a crowbar comes down the hall and breaks in her door in these visions .
She says she was tortured .
“ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she says .
“ I keep thinking there must be a way to bring back what I was before — but she ’ s dead.
” The story is based on the real experiences of the writer , Pamela Mala Sinha , who created a one-woman stage show and then the script for this film .
Helen Shaver directed it ; her first full-length feature .
The other women in the group include Mary Walsh , Sheila McCarthy , Liisa Repo-Martell and Jennifer Wigmore , all with attitudes and stories of their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , is on Samira and her painful struggle to retrieve the details of what happened to her .
That ’ s a common need among trauma victims .
The film depicts it well , with an eerie chill in the flashbacks and with one compensation .
It shows how the group , even arguing and disagreeing , comes together to support everyone in it .
It ’ s hard to take at times , but moving when it counts .
( Available Nov. 3 on digital and on demand ) 3½ out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an intriguing documentary , short ( only 45 minutes ) , but fascinating about what it tells us .
First of all , there are citizen scientists who uncovered the details .
They ’ re one step up from amateurs , but have technology and know-how , and discovered a unique cache while diving in Howe Sound .
They found glass sponge reefs that date back to dinosaur times and were thought to have become extinct .
Not so .
“ It ’ s a hidden world that no one knew about , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apparently , these reefs are not found anywhere else in the world and it ’ s now urgent to protect them .
They are powerful filters that clean the ocean water .
That makes them more than just a curiosity ; they do a job for us .
The film takes us on the boat with a crew of these “ scientists , ” underwater with the divers and to planning sessions about the need to report infractions .
Prawn fishermen throw traps down there not knowing the damage they may be causing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slaco , touts the find as “ beyond science fiction.
” ( Oct. 31 on CBC , and after that on CBC Gem ) 4 out of 5 THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF WOLFBOY : Here ’ s a well-meaning , but not-that-attractive , film with a message : Don ’ t reject people who are different ; accept them .
The problem here is a condition called congenital hypertrichosis , which causes excess hair to grow on the face and on the body .
It ’ s rare , and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are creeped out by the boy who has it .
He ’ s an outcast at school , the kids gave him the name Wolfboy and joke that he ’ s a mongrel conceived by a father and a dog .
His mother is gone away , and when he gets a letter inviting him to come hear an explanation , he goes looking for her .
He only encounters more heartbreak .
Jaeden Martell is sympathetic playing him and Chris Messina does his best to be an understanding father .
Chloe Sevigny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very standard reason to tell when he eventually finds her .
But it ’ s John Turturro who pumps up the cringe factor as a carnival impresario who lures him into working in a freak show .
The point the film makes is valid .
It just feels strained and uncomfortable .
( Digital and on demand ) 2½ out of 5

If you go to the website to read about it, stay for the notes on the Federico Fellini films Cinematheque is showing starting Sunday to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth. They start with La Dolce Vita, naturally, and will be showing all his big titles and some obscure ones in the series that will go on into December.
In the theatres this week, you’ll find a lot of horror movies in time for the spooky night. A lot of them are recent titles like the Conjuring and Annabelle films, while the Rio has interesting selections, including Carrie and The Exorcist, leading up to an in-theatre viewing of what it calls “the most spine-tingling of them all,” the U.S. election on Tuesday.
Larry is also an outcast, just wants a friend and will terrorize to get one. And that he does. He’s just a spectre through most of the film, and puts messages onscreen that if anyone dares get in his way, “they’ll surely face their end.” Suspense and tingly thrills build as mom and son have to hide from him. Dad has inexplicably gone away; a plot point that comes on far too suddenly. Family problems often drive these films, and this one adds that new fear of technological control. The film is scary, but gentle enough for most kids, and features a nice performance by Azhy Robertson as the boy named Oliver. He conveys a lot without being able to speak. Gillian Jacobs and John Gallagher Jr. play the parents, and the director, Jacob Chase, originally told the story in a short film. It’s hardly innovative, but is effective. (5th Avenue, Scotiabank, Marine Gateway and suburban theatres) 3 out of 5
COME PLAY : “There’s something in the house.” Ah, that familiar forewarning we’ve heard in so many horror movies is back again, but with a few new elements this time. Sure, lights go off and on, and doors open and close by themselves immediately before. The words, though, are spoken by an artificial voice on a smartphone activated by a young boy who can’t speak himself. He’s afflicted with autism, shunned at school and desperately lonely. He spends most of his time online and becomes another kind of victim. Something is trying to contact him, a demonic creature named Larry from a children’s book.
SPELL: Here’s a scary movie with something new. It’s more truthful than usual about Black American society. There are distinct class divisions in that the family here is definitely upper middle class. The father is a rich lawyer, who flies his own private plane. He’s cut off from his history, and when he gets word his father has died, is forced to reconnect with it and encounters far more than he wanted.
Courtesy of Paramount Film Corp.
Omari Hardwick plays the man with the grand name, Marquis T. Woods. He has been estranged from his dad and his Appalachian home since he was a kid. On his way to the funeral, he crash lands, wakes up in a woodsy home tended to by a nice lady, but with no word on what happened to his wife and two kids, who were also on the plane. Slowly, a scene of ancient magic is revealed to him, and though it seems benign, in that Ms. Eloise (Loretta Devine) is nursing him back from a leg injury, it turns sinister. She uses a voodoo figure she calls Boogity, which she made out of his blood and skin. She presides over a sacrificial ritual in a barn, and she keeps him trapped. “Your better self is calling you,” she tells him and promises a resolution during the “blood moon” in a few days. She’s not played villainous enough, but the Southern Gothic atmosphere is thick and the primitive spiritual tradition is fascinating. Together, they’re highly involving. It’s an American story directed by a Brit (Mark Tonderai) in South Africa. (Available on premium video-on-demand and in a few theatres, though none that I know of around here) 3½ out of 5
HIS HOUSE: The third scary movie this week joins in with a recent trend: using the conventions of horror movies to explore social issues. Here we follow a refugee couple from Sudan, who try to fit in with society in England. Not easy, is an understatement. Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Mosaku, as the couple, are welcomed warmly but tentatively by immigration officials. They have to live by onerous rules, and the council home they’re assigned is a garbage-strewn mess. Worse, at night there are clunks and noises in the walls and the paper falls off revealing holes in the drywall. There’s a demon of some sort in there.
Courtesy of Netflix
It’s a tangible representation of asylum seekers suffering with trauma they’ve brought with them. Several flashback visions show what they lived through, including gunmen arriving in Land Rovers, boats capsizing in a dark ocean and their losing a young daughter on the trip. These dream sequences are chilling. There’s squalour in the house and racism outside, but the local contact (Matt Smith, the former Doctor Who and more recently Prince Philip in The Crown) says live with it. “Be one of the good ones,” he says. The film shows exactly how hard that can be. It is extremely well-acted and there’s plenty of uncertainty and empathy. British director Remi Weekes helmed it and also co-wrote the screenplay. (Netflix) 4 out of 5
QUEEN OF THE MORNING CALM: I’m not sure what the title means or why some of the things in this movie happen. But I enjoyed it anyway as a heartfelt exploration of one type of marginalized person. Debra is a single mother in Toronto trying to rise up from the sad life she’s living. She works as a stripper (and occasionally as a prostitute) to support her daughter. Problems keep coming at her. She’s being hounded for rent. The man who is the father of her child is away most of the time, losing his money in a casino, but talking big about an “opportunity” coming his way. He also claims to have always been “looking out for us … for our family.”
Courtesy of Gloryous Films
Gloria Ui Young Kim, former reporter at Maclean's and now a writer-director, has worked in incidents from her own life, and that’s probably why the film has a warm, authentic feel. You root for these people. Mom is studying to become an accountant and almost lands a job. Things happen, though, and others happen most every time she has a chance to improve her life. Her daughter, meanwhile, cries to have dad back in their life. She can’t see through his pretensions. The owner of an antiquities thrift store does help, although it’s not clear why. Not everything makes sense, but the story is moving anyway. Tina Jung, of CBC’s Kim’s Convenience, stars, and newcomer Eponine Lee makes a strong impression as her daughter. (Available to stream from VIFF Connect. Check viff.org) 3½ out of 5
HAPPY PLACE: Another film about overcoming trauma, with great emphasis, of course, on the suffering of it. It’s set in a private care facility where several women live, talk in therapy sessions and try to move on in their lives. We soon learn they’ve all tried to commit suicide. Samira, played by Clark Backo, was sexually assaulted and relives the memory in her dreams. A man with a crowbar comes down the hall and breaks in her door in these visions. She says she was tortured. “I don’t fit anywhere in the world,” she says. “I keep thinking there must be a way to bring back what I was before — but she’s dead.” The story is based on the real experiences of the writer, Pamela Mala Sinha, who created a one-woman stage show and then the script for this film. Helen Shaver directed it; her first full-length feature.
Courtesy of Pacific Northwest Films
The other women in the group include Mary Walsh, Sheila McCarthy, Liisa Repo-Martell and Jennifer Wigmore, all with attitudes and stories of their own to tell. The main focus, though, is on Samira and her painful struggle to retrieve the details of what happened to her. That’s a common need among trauma victims. The film depicts it well, with an eerie chill in the flashbacks and with one compensation. It shows how the group, even arguing and disagreeing, comes together to support everyone in it. It’s hard to take at times, but moving when it counts. (Available Nov. 3 on digital and on demand) 3½ out of 5
MOONLESS OASIS: This is an intriguing documentary, short (only 45 minutes), but fascinating about what it tells us. First of all, there are citizen scientists who uncovered the details. They’re one step up from amateurs, but have technology and know-how, and discovered a unique cache while diving in Howe Sound. They found glass sponge reefs that date back to dinosaur times and were thought to have become extinct. Not so.
Courtesy of CBC Gem
“It’s a hidden world that no one knew about,” one of them tells us. Apparently, these reefs are not found anywhere else in the world and it’s now urgent to protect them. They are powerful filters that clean the ocean water. That makes them more than just a curiosity; they do a job for us. The film takes us on the boat with a crew of these “scientists,” underwater with the divers and to planning sessions about the need to report infractions. Prawn fishermen throw traps down there not knowing the damage they may be causing. The film, directed by Nate Slaco, touts the find as “beyond science fiction.” (Oct. 31 on CBC, and after that on CBC Gem) 4 out of 5
THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF WOLFBOY: Here’s a well-meaning, but not-that-attractive, film with a message: Don’t reject people who are different; accept them. The problem here is a condition called congenital hypertrichosis, which causes excess hair to grow on the face and on the body. It’s rare, and it’s no wonder that people in this story are creeped out by the boy who has it. He’s an outcast at school, the kids gave him the name Wolfboy and joke that he’s a mongrel conceived by a father and a dog.
Courtesy of Vertical Entertainment
His mother is gone away, and when he gets a letter inviting him to come hear an explanation, he goes looking for her. He only encounters more heartbreak. Jaeden Martell is sympathetic playing him and Chris Messina does his best to be an understanding father. Chloe Sevigny, as his mother, has a very standard reason to tell when he eventually finds her. But it’s John Turturro who pumps up the cringe factor as a carnival impresario who lures him into working in a freak show. The point the film makes is valid. It just feels strained and uncomfortable. (Digital and on demand) 2½ out of 5