nationalobserver--2020-12-17--Hydrogen firm hopes federal strategy will raise technology’s profile

Bill Haberlin hopes Canada ’ s new hydrogen strategy will help popularize the technology as well as grow his Vancouver-based company .
The chief executive officer at Ionomr Innovations , an advanced materials firm on the University Endowment Lands , said the federal government ’ s release of the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada “ elevates our position ” in more ways than one .
“ It provides us with clarity that we have a federal government that ’ s behind a mandate to drive forward to green hydrogen , ” said Haberlin in an interview , referring to hydrogen produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Hopefully , this will allow the federal government to help us drive Canada , and facilitate the growth of us , as well as tangential organizations and the supply chain for hydrogen.
” Natural Resources Minister Seamus O ’ Regan released the 141-page document Wednesday that envisions turning Canada into a global supplier of hydrogen , which can be used in fuel cells that don ’ t generate carbon pollution as exhaust the way gasoline or diesel engines do .
• Canada kicks off massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ont .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses closed from Christmas until at least Jan. 11 • How an Anishinaabe lawyer is helping Indigenous communities strengthen their legal traditions Bill Haberlin is the CEO of Ionomr Innovations , which produces special membranes and polymers used in fuel cells , hydrogen production and other applications .
Photo courtesy of Ionomr O ’ Regan said the government was creating a $ 1.5-billion “ low-carbon and zero-emissions fuels fund ” that would “ increase the production and use of low-carbon fuels , including hydrogen.
” The government considers hydrogen a “ key part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 2050 .
The strategy states that global demand for hydrogen is rising , and the worldwide market is expected to reach $ 2.5 trillion over the next three decades , representing a $ 15-billion export potential for British Columbia alone .
The province is home to the majority , 51 per cent , of hydrogen and fuel cell facilities by region , with Ontario in second place at 18 per cent and Quebec in third with nine per cent , according to the strategy .
B.C .
companies like Ionomr , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel cells , hydrogen production and other applications , could benefit from the strategy ’ s suggestion of turning the province into a hydrogen “ export hub.
” “ I think B.C .
will jump on it , ” said Haberlin of the growth potential for hydrogen in the province .
The federal government released a strategy on Wednesday that envisions turning Canada into a global supplier of # hydrogen .
# cdnpoli He said so far , attention has been focused on Alberta , which has tried to “ take the bull @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a hydrogen economy .
Alberta ’ s Industrial Heartland Hydrogen Task Force , led by the mayors of Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan and Sturgeon , Strathcona and Lamont counties , has been advocating for a hydrogen economy to be based in the region .
Hydrogen gas is already artificially generated in Alberta in large amounts to make things like refined petroleum products and process synthetic crude oil .
Most of the hydrogen in Alberta is made from natural gas through a process that mixes methane with steam and a catalyst under high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per year of carbon pollution , the task force found .
Industry and government officials say this process can be modified to capture and store the carbon being emitted during hydrogen conversion .
They say the captured carbon can then be used to extract more oil from depleted reservoirs .
“ Whether our hydrogen is produced from natural gas or other sources , we are in a strong position to supply the next wave of innovation in heating , transportation and electricity generation with Alberta-made , clean-burning hydrogen , ” said Dale Nally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural gas and electricity .
The federal strategy discusses all of this in detail .
“ Canada is the world ’ s fourth-largest producer and sixth-largest exporter of natural gas , ” it proclaims .
“ Hydrogen production from natural gas offers a unique opportunity to leverage Canada ’ s vast gas reserves to produce a low carbon intensity energy carrier while other production technologies are being scaled.
” All of this has many environmental groups worried .
Alberta sources most of its natural gas from hydraulic fracturing , or fracking , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of methane in the atmosphere , a potent greenhouse gas .
The carbon-capture technology that the strategy relies on also remains an expensive undertaking , and construction is still seen as high-risk by the energy sector , already facing serious economic circumstances .
And even if there does end up being mass deployment of carbon-capture technology to produce hydrogen from natural gas , there still remains the issue of methane leaking from oil and gas equipment , which it does in much higher amounts than previously thought .
Julia Levin , climate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the federal strategy focuses too much on promoting fossil-derived hydrogen .
While other countries are moving to invest in hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources , “ a focus on fossil hydrogen only serves the interests of the oil and gas sector as they seek to create new markets for their products , ” said Levin .
“ This strategy will lock Canada into a future of fossil fuel use , ” she said .
“ We ’ re in the middle of a climate emergency — what ’ s needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from dependence on the dirty oil , coal and gas fuels that are causing this crisis , in a way that fairly respects workers and communities in these sectors.
” Environmental Defence is not alone — in November , 27 organizations urged the federal government in a letter to focus on hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources .
But the government says a hydrogen economy has the “ potential ” to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to 45 megatonnes per year by 2030 .
The strategy also says converting natural gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ carbon intensity of the resulting fuel ” by about 90 per cent .
O ’ Regan said the strategy would also be “ complemented ” by the government ’ s clean fuel standard , which it hopes will incentivize low-carbon fuels .
“ Hydrogen ’ s moment has come .
The economic and environmental opportunities for our workers and communities are real , ” the minister said in a statement .

Bill Haberlin hopes Canada’s new hydrogen strategy will help popularize the technology as well as grow his Vancouver-based company. The chief executive officer at Ionomr Innovations, an advanced materials firm on the University Endowment Lands, said the federal government’s release of the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada “elevates our position” in more ways than one. “It provides us with clarity that we have a federal government that’s behind a mandate to drive forward to green hydrogen,” said Haberlin in an interview, referring to hydrogen produced from renewable energy and not fossil fuels. “Hopefully, this will allow the federal government to help us drive Canada, and facilitate the growth of us, as well as tangential organizations and the supply chain for hydrogen.” Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan released the 141-page document Wednesday that envisions turning Canada into a global supplier of hydrogen, which can be used in fuel cells that don’t generate carbon pollution as exhaust the way gasoline or diesel engines do.
Bill Haberlin is the CEO of Ionomr Innovations, which produces special membranes and polymers used in fuel cells, hydrogen production and other applications. Photo courtesy of Ionomr O’Regan said the government was creating a $1.5-billion “low-carbon and zero-emissions fuels fund” that would “increase the production and use of low-carbon fuels, including hydrogen.” The government considers hydrogen a “key part” of its path to net-zero emissions by 2050. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The strategy states that global demand for hydrogen is rising, and the worldwide market is expected to reach $2.5 trillion over the next three decades, representing a $15-billion export potential for British Columbia alone.
The province is home to the majority, 51 per cent, of hydrogen and fuel cell facilities by region, with Ontario in second place at 18 per cent and Quebec in third with nine per cent, according to the strategy. The federal government released a strategy on Wednesday that envisions turning Canada into a global supplier of #hydrogen. #cdnpoli B.C. companies like Ionomr, which produce special membranes and polymers used in fuel cells, hydrogen production and other applications, could benefit from the strategy’s suggestion of turning the province into a hydrogen “export hub.” “I think B.C. will jump on it,” said Haberlin of the growth potential for hydrogen in the province. He said so far, attention has been focused on Alberta, which has tried to “take the bull by the horns” when it comes to a hydrogen economy. Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Hydrogen Task Force, led by the mayors of Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan and Sturgeon, Strathcona and Lamont counties, has been advocating for a hydrogen economy to be based in the region.
Hydrogen gas is already artificially generated in Alberta in large amounts to make things like refined petroleum products and process synthetic crude oil. Locking Canada into ‘a future of fossil fuel use’ Most of the hydrogen in Alberta is made from natural gas through a process that mixes methane with steam and a catalyst under high pressure. That process generates 18 megatonnes per year of carbon pollution, the task force found.


nationalobserver--2020-12-17--Once abundant sunflower sea star now critically endangered

The magnificent sunflower sea star , once ubiquitous along the Pacific coast , is now critically endangered after more than 90 per cent of the species was wiped out by a marine epidemic ravaging its population .
One of the largest sea stars in the world , the orange or purple Pycnopodia helianthoides is impressively fast and can span up to a metre across with 15 to 24 arms .
Historically located along the coast from Baja California north to Alaska , the sunflower sea star has been decimated by sea star wasting disease ( SSWD ) , which research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to climate change .
The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) listed the sunflower sea star as critically endangered last week based on a population study led by Oregon State University and the Nature Conservancy in partnership with a coalition of more than 60 researchers and institutions .
The B.C .
coast hosts some of last small remaining populations of the sunflower sea star , now almost completely absent from the waters off California and Mexico , Gehman said .
Research to find where these sunflower sea stars still exist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support their recovery , she added .
“ Figuring out where they are will give us an understanding of the areas we might be able to protect , ” Gehman said .
“ This marine wildlife epidemic is responsible for the deaths of over 5.7 billion animals .
That ’ s the equivalent of every single smartphone on the planet disappearing twice over , ” Vienna Saccomanno of @ nature_org says about sunflower sea stars .
“ And an understanding of why they survived can lead to information on how we could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Nations environmental stewardship programs , such as the Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance , have been critical in identifying where sunflower sea star populations remain , Gehman said .
People who spot the sea stars while diving , pulling up crab traps or at low tide can help researchers by recording data around sightings using the iNaturalist app , which can be downloaded to cellphones .
The disappearance of the sunflower sea star was noticed in 2013 when the wasting disease started to decimate populations along the northwest Pacific coast .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starts with white lesions on sea stars that soon cause their limbs to fall off , reducing the creatures to white piles of mush .
A captive breeding program led by the Nature Conservancy and the University of Washington is getting underway in hopes of boosting the sunflower sea star population , Gehman added .
“ A first step is to research on whether we can breed them in captivity safely , ” she said .
Making the IUCN Red List emphasizes the risk the sunflower sea star faces and the research and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gehman said .
Sarah Grave , lead author of the study leading to the sea star ’ s endangered status , agreed more is needed to be done to save the marine animal .

The magnificent sunflower sea star, once ubiquitous along the Pacific coast, is now critically endangered after more than 90 per cent of the species was wiped out by a marine epidemic ravaging its population.
One of the largest sea stars in the world, the orange or purple Pycnopodia helianthoides is impressively fast and can span up to a metre across with 15 to 24 arms. Historically located along the coast from Baja California north to Alaska, the sunflower sea star has been decimated by sea star wasting disease (SSWD), which research suggests is exacerbated by warming oceans tied to climate change.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the sunflower sea star as critically endangered last week based on a population study led by Oregon State University and the Nature Conservancy in partnership with a coalition of more than 60 researchers and institutions.
The sunflower sea star is on the brink of extinction and the scale of the loss is difficult to comprehend, said Vienna Saccomanno, ocean scientist at the Nature Conservancy and a co-author of the study.
“This marine wildlife epidemic is responsible for the deaths of over 5.7 billion animals — that’s the equivalent of every single smartphone on the planet disappearing twice over,” Saccomanno said.


nationalobserver--2020-12-17--COVID-19 hurting Canadians’ food security and mental health: StatCan

About 5.1 million Canadians are food insecure , and many of them are struggling with mental health issues .
And the pandemic has made the situation worse , according to a report released Wednesday by Statistics Canada .
Food insecurity is closely related to mental health , with up to 40 per cent of food-insecure Canadians reporting struggles with depression , anxiety and a suite of other psychological challenges pre-pandemic .
According to the new report , between half and three-quarters of food-insecure Canadians reported poor mental health or anxiety in the past year .
“ These results , sadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Jennifer Black , professor of food , nutrition and health at the University of British Columbia .
“ They are extremely consistent with all the data that has been emerging from the pandemic and all the data that had been emerging before the pandemic.
” Even before the pandemic , about 11 per cent of Canadians were food insecure , and the majority of them were employed , according to 2018 data from Statistics Canada .
But low-wage jobs and precarious work situations — including many that have proved essential during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , care home attendants and delivery drivers — were already leaving many without enough money to cover their basic needs .
In other words , food insecurity is driven by poverty — not by a lack of food .
• Canada kicks off massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ont .
and Quebec • Quebec orders all non-essential businesses closed from Christmas until at least Jan. 11 • How an Anishinaabe lawyer is helping Indigenous communities strengthen their legal traditions And the burden is not shared evenly by all Canadians .
A 2019 report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that Canadians who are Black , Indigenous or people of colour ( BIPOC ) earned significantly less than their white counterparts .
Research by PROOF , an interdisciplinary research team studying effective approaches to reduce food insecurity in Canada , also found that Black and Indigenous households are almost three times as likely to be food insecure as white households .
The impact of being unable to afford food cuts deep , Black explained .
“ We know that there ’ s this co-existence of food insecurity and mental health problems , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and food security problems , ” she said .
“ It ’ s a feedback loop , where one makes the other worse.
” For instance , about 40 per cent of people who need to compromise the quality or quantity of their food — or miss meals — because they can ’ t afford it reported having depressive thoughts , according to research by PROOF .
And adults in Ontario who are food insecure are also almost twice as likely to end up in hospital due to deteriorating mental health than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between hunger and poor mental health also makes it harder for people to heal from both , said Sasha McNicoll , a senior policy specialist at Community Food Centres Canada , an organization that supports community-focused food initiatives across the country .
“ It is a huge stressor .
It affects mood and sleep , it can lower self-esteem and lead to hopelessness .
And that has other repercussions , like people being less likely ... to feel like they can have the kinds of life ambitions or goals that they want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit of a vicious cycle , ” she said .
`` What the pandemic is pointing to is that we have societal responsibilities to ensure basic needs are met , and that you can ’ t dig yourself out of mental health challenges if you don ’ t have the basic necessities of life , ” said UBC prof Jennifer Black .
Food insecurity is directly related to mental health , with Canadians who are forced to go hungry reporting significantly higher rates of mental illness in 2018 .
Graph by PROOF The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic started .
In May , about a fifth of Canadians reported poor mental health or significant anxiety .
Those numbers almost tripled , however , for people in food-insecure households , according to the December StatCan report .
People who had suffered financially due to the pandemic were almost twice as likely to report moderate or severe anxiety than those who kept their jobs .
According to more recent data , a fifth of Canadian households reported they ’ re still struggling to make ends meet .
“ Canadians who reported food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly poorer mental health outcomes , ” noted the report ’ s authors .
“ Food insecurity is a highly stressful experience … In the context of COVID-19 , these feelings may be compounded further by social isolation and worries about new health risks and financial insecurity.
” For Black , the report ’ s findings point to the need for a better social safety net , including the implementation of a basic livable wage .
Not only would that help keep Canadians well fed , she said , it would also reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system .
Beyond effectively and respectfully meeting Canadians ’ basic needs , it ’ s also an approach that acknowledges the truly communal roots of hunger , poverty and , in some cases , mental illness , Black explained .
“ We have ( historically ) treated poverty , food insecurity and mental health as ( issues ) of personal responsibility , ” she said .
“ But what the pandemic is pointing to is that we have societal responsibilities to ensure ( everyone ’ s ) basic needs are met , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you can ’ t dig yourself out of mental health challenges if you don ’ t have the basic necessities of life .
”

About 5.1 million Canadians are food insecure, and many of them are struggling with mental health issues. And the pandemic has made the situation worse, according to a report released Wednesday by Statistics Canada. Food insecurity is closely related to mental health, with up to 40 per cent of food-insecure Canadians reporting struggles with depression, anxiety and a suite of other psychological challenges pre-pandemic. According to the new report, between half and three-quarters of food-insecure Canadians reported poor mental health or anxiety in the past year. “These results, sadly, absolutely did not surprise me,” said Jennifer Black, professor of food, nutrition and health at the University of British Columbia. “They are extremely consistent with all the data that has been emerging from the pandemic and all the data that had been emerging before the pandemic.” Even before the pandemic, about 11 per cent of Canadians were food insecure, and the majority of them were employed, according to 2018 data from Statistics Canada. But low-wage jobs and precarious work situations — including many that have proved essential during the pandemic, like grocery store workers, care home attendants and delivery drivers — were already leaving many without enough money to cover their basic needs. In other words, food insecurity is driven by poverty — not by a lack of food.
And the burden is not shared evenly by all Canadians. A 2019 report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that Canadians who are Black, Indigenous or people of colour (BIPOC) earned significantly less than their white counterparts. Research by PROOF, an interdisciplinary research team studying effective approaches to reduce food insecurity in Canada, also found that Black and Indigenous households are almost three times as likely to be food insecure as white households. The impact of being unable to afford food cuts deep, Black explained. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “We know that there’s this co-existence of food insecurity and mental health problems, as there (is) for chronic health and food security problems,” she said. “It’s a feedback loop, where one makes the other worse.”
For instance, about 40 per cent of people who need to compromise the quality or quantity of their food — or miss meals — because they can’t afford it reported having depressive thoughts, according to research by PROOF. And adults in Ontario who are food insecure are also almost twice as likely to end up in hospital due to deteriorating mental health than the general population. "What the pandemic is pointing to is that we have societal responsibilities to ensure basic needs are met, and that you can’t dig yourself out of mental health challenges if you don’t have the basic necessities of life,” said UBC prof Jennifer Black. The tight link between hunger and poor mental health also makes it harder for people to heal from both, said Sasha McNicoll, a senior policy specialist at Community Food Centres Canada, an organization that supports community-focused food initiatives across the country. “It is a huge stressor. It affects mood and sleep, it can lower self-esteem and lead to hopelessness. And that has other repercussions, like people being less likely ... to feel like they can have the kinds of life ambitions or goals that they want to, and that can lead into a bit of a vicious cycle,” she said. Food insecurity is directly related to mental health, with Canadians who are forced to go hungry reporting significantly higher rates of mental illness in 2018. Graph by PROOF The situation has only gotten worse since the pandemic started. In May, about a fifth of Canadians reported poor mental health or significant anxiety. Those numbers almost tripled, however, for people in food-insecure households, according to the December StatCan report.
People who had suffered financially due to the pandemic were almost twice as likely to report moderate or severe anxiety than those who kept their jobs. According to more recent data, a fifth of Canadian households reported they’re still struggling to make ends meet. “Canadians who reported food insecurity because of financial constraints … reported significantly poorer mental health outcomes,” noted the report’s authors. “Food insecurity is a highly stressful experience … In the context of COVID-19, these feelings may be compounded further by social isolation and worries about new health risks and financial insecurity.” For Black, the report’s findings point to the need for a better social safety net, including the implementation of a basic livable wage. Not only would that help keep Canadians well fed, she said, it would also reduce pressure on an already overburdened mental health-care system. Beyond effectively and respectfully meeting Canadians’ basic needs, it’s also an approach that acknowledges the truly communal roots of hunger, poverty and, in some cases, mental illness, Black explained.


nationalobserver--2020-12-17--Meet the B.C. prof who's now a UNESCO Chair on Biocultural Diversity and Education

Simon Fraser University professor David Zandvliet has been named a UNESCO Chair on Biocultural Diversity and Education .
Over his four-year term , Zandvliet aims to improve environmental education by collaborating with other educational institutions and incorporating Indigenous practices into study programs .
His goal is to encourage a cultural shift that will allow all of us to live in a more sustainable way .
Canada ’ s National Observer spoke to Zandvliet about his appointment , what biocultural diversity education entails and how it relates to food security .
What does your appointment as UNESCO Chair on Biocultural Diversity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be important .
It will allow me to break out of this proprietary notion of the university .
As a community-minded academic , I ’ m hoping we can create structures where students and the community from different universities work together and learn about the places in which we live .
This will complement inter-institutional research with SFU ’ s Institute for Environmental Learning , where members network and learn together .
It should be possible because we ’ re not on campus , we ’ re in the community .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities strengthen their legal traditions • Canada kicks off massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ont .
and Quebec How would you define biocultural diversity ?
It ’ s the idea that we are all in the environment and there is always an interplay between culture and environment .
I ’ m interested in studying people ’ s cultural backgrounds and how that influences their perceptions of the environment .
Different cultural groups interact with the environment quite differently .
David Zandvliet is a professor in the faculty of education at Simon Fraser University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Learning .
Photo provided by David Zandvliet Biodiversity is predictive of environmental health .
If you have biodiversity , you have healthy populations and you have healthy ecosystems .
Cultural diversity is also a sign of an inclusive society .
As a scholar , it ’ s a good place to start a dialogue with people about the interconnectedness of human cultures and environments around the world and here at home .
The idea is to realize that we need cultural change to live sustainably .
That means changing how we live our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culture , rather than just individuals ?
These are questions I seek to answer through a biocultural diversity lens .
`` We need cultural change to live sustainably .
That means changing how we live our lives , '' says David Zandvliet , new UNESCO Chair on Biocultural Diversity and Education .
`` How can we change the culture , rather than just individuals ? ''
How do you bring about this cultural change ?
School and education are key .
We have this notion that knowledge or attitude or behaviour is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work with schools , families , cohorts and groups of friends .
Then and only then will a cultural change happen within a school .
When individuals leave the school and new ones come in , because you ’ ve changed the culture , they ’ ve developed a new way of thinking .
I believe in experiential learning , because when you spend time in a community , you begin to get some understanding of Canada ’ s dual realities .
It changes you , your experience changes you .
What drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was not a good student in high school myself .
I had a lot of trouble .
My grades were OK , but the classroom environment did not suit me .
A school-based environment doesn ’ t work for everyone .
My first teaching assignment was at a high school in Kitimat and probably half of my class were Haisla students .
I quickly realized that the way schooling — as was then designed — did not work for these students , they were not succeeding .
For the whole two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I did a field trip .
We just got on the bus and went somewhere .
Years later , I was teaching high school equivalency courses on Vancouver Island , and there were a lot of high school dropouts who were trying to make their way to college or university .
This underscored for me again the way the school system doesn ’ t work for a lot of people .
So I thought maybe I can change that .
What challenges would you like to address while working towards this role ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or outside of nature ?
I ’ m often shocked that 80 or 90 per cent of people say : “ Oh , of course , Vancouver is outside of nature .
There ’ s the green line visible a distance away on the North Shore .
That ’ s where nature is … we are outside of nature , living in the city.
” The whole point of my courses is to counter that misconception and for students to understand just how blurred that line is .
If I could get all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think that would be the cultural change that we 're going for .
How does preserving biodiversity relate to food systems and food security ?
Most of what we grow isn ’ t even capable of propagating itself anymore .
We have genetically engineered seeds that are all the same kind , grown in a monoculture .
If a pathogen comes through , it can kill everything .
Whereas in a natural , biodiverse population , if you have some kind of pathogen , you ’ re going to lose only the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathogen .
You have this co-evolution happening .
If you have a variety in your food sources , you are less vulnerable .
Tell me something about food security that surprises you .
Greenhouses are growing gourmet varieties of tomatoes , and you pay a premium price to eat them .
Once I was talking to the CEO of a greenhouse , and he mentioned many local grocery chains would not sell B.C .
hot house tomatoes , as they were too expensive .
So we have trucks of B.C .
tomatoes going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are going to be sold in B.C .
And I was thinking , how is this even possible ?
This is how our food system works .
So in a war or famine , or if something happened in California to the food supply , we wouldn ’ t have any food .
My UNESCO co-chair , Dr. Wiske Rotinsulu from Indonesia , and I operate a field school in Indonesia , which we ’ ll probably run more frequently in the future .
I ’ m in the development stages for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another on Vancouver Island , possibly exploring aspects of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve .
It will be modelled on similar principles as the popular field school I teach yearly in Haida Gwaii and will consider Indigenous cultures alongside environmental issues .

Simon Fraser University professor David Zandvliet has been named a UNESCO Chair on Biocultural Diversity and Education. Over his four-year term, Zandvliet aims to improve environmental education by collaborating with other educational institutions and incorporating Indigenous practices into study programs. His goal is to encourage a cultural shift that will allow all of us to live in a more sustainable way. Canada’s National Observer spoke to Zandvliet about his appointment, what biocultural diversity education entails and how it relates to food security. What does your appointment as UNESCO Chair on Biocultural Diversity and Education mean? The UNESCO brand will be important. It will allow me to break out of this proprietary notion of the university. As a community-minded academic, I’m hoping we can create structures where students and the community from different universities work together and learn about the places in which we live. This will complement inter-institutional research with SFU’s Institute for Environmental Learning, where members network and learn together. It should be possible because we’re not on campus, we’re in the community.
How would you define biocultural diversity? It’s the idea that we are all in the environment and there is always an interplay between culture and environment. I’m interested in studying people’s cultural backgrounds and how that influences their perceptions of the environment. Different cultural groups interact with the environment quite differently. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions David Zandvliet is a professor in the faculty of education at Simon Fraser University and director of the Institute for Environmental Learning. Photo provided by David Zandvliet
Why is biocultural diversity important? "We need cultural change to live sustainably. That means changing how we live our lives," says David Zandvliet, new UNESCO Chair on Biocultural Diversity and Education. "How can we change the culture, rather than just individuals?" Biodiversity is predictive of environmental health. If you have biodiversity, you have healthy populations and you have healthy ecosystems. Cultural diversity is also a sign of an inclusive society. As a scholar, it’s a good place to start a dialogue with people about the interconnectedness of human cultures and environments around the world and here at home. The idea is to realize that we need cultural change to live sustainably. That means changing how we live our lives. How can we change the culture, rather than just individuals? These are questions I seek to answer through a biocultural diversity lens. How do you bring about this cultural change? School and education are key. We have this notion that knowledge or attitude or behaviour is just an individual thing. But educators should work with schools, families, cohorts and groups of friends. Then and only then will a cultural change happen within a school. When individuals leave the school and new ones come in, because you’ve changed the culture, they’ve developed a new way of thinking.
I believe in experiential learning, because when you spend time in a community, you begin to get some understanding of Canada’s dual realities. It changes you, your experience changes you. What drew you to this area of study? I was not a good student in high school myself. I had a lot of trouble. My grades were OK, but the classroom environment did not suit me. A school-based environment doesn’t work for everyone. My first teaching assignment was at a high school in Kitimat and probably half of my class were Haisla students. I quickly realized that the way schooling — as was then designed — did not work for these students, they were not succeeding.


nationalobserver--2020-12-17--Federal fisheries minister announces phaseout of Discovery Islands fish farms

Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan announced Thursday that controversial fish farms in the Discovery Islands on the West Coast will be phased out over the next 18 months .
Jordan ’ s decision follows consultations with seven First Nations whose traditional territories fall within the Discovery Islands and heated public debate around the fate of the fish farms and the harms they might pose to dramatically declining wild salmon stocks .
“ This is a very difficult decision , but it reflects the wishes of the seven First Nations in the area because they were very concerned about those farms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jordan told Canada ’ s National Observer .
“ This plan means that there will be no new fish of any size transferred to these facilities.
” The 19 salmon farms in the Discovery Islands — nine of which are already empty — will have their licences renewed until the end of June 2022 .
• How an Anishinaabe lawyer is helping Indigenous communities strengthen their legal traditions • Canada kicks off massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ont .
and Quebec • Quebec orders all non-essential businesses closed from Christmas until at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new licences in the Discovery Islands will be issued .
The renewal of the current licences is to allow already existing fish on the farms to reach market size , and the majority will be harvested well before the deadline , Jordan said .
“ Nobody wants to see three million fish culled .
We are looking at a phasing-out approach , ” Jordan said .
“ This is actually going to happen in a relatively quick timeline.
” Approximately 80 per cent of the fish will be ready for harvest by April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re working with industry to make sure that this is a fair transition for them , ” the fisheries minister said .
“ But it is a very difficult decision because we know that this impacts people ’ s livelihoods , it impacts the industry and impacts our coastal communities.
” The 19 salmon farms in the Discovery Islands — nine of which are already empty — will have their licences renewed until the end of June 2022 .
The decision followed consultations by Fisheries and Oceans Canada ( DFO ) with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ómoks , Kwiakah , Tla ’ amin , We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum First Nations , which ended at the beginning of the month , about whether to renew licences for the fish farms that operate in their traditional territories .
“ The support ( of First Nations ) was overwhelming with regards to making sure that the fish farms are removed , and so that is my intention , ” Jordan said , adding that for confidentiality reasons she could not say whether the decision was unanimous .
The timeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B.C .
provincial government ’ s move to require the consent of area First Nations on land tenure approvals for aquaculture operators as of June 2022 , the DFO stated .
First Nations in the Discovery Islands will be kept in the loop as the fish farms are phased out and are welcome to participate in monitoring the process , said Jordan .
The majority of the Discovery Islands region fish farms are owned by Mowi Canada West , which has 13 operations , nine of which are empty , operating in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to DFO .
Cermaq Canada , Grieg Seafood and two smaller firms own the remainder of the impacted farms in the Discovery Islands .
The plan not to allow any new fish at the farms in the region may mean fish being reared in hatcheries or smolts in entry pens will have to be raised at other farm sites or culled by companies , DFO stated in a press release .
Jordan did not clarify whether the federal government will have to compensate industry operators for the decision to phase out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re willing to work with industry , knowing full well that there will be impacts on them , ” said Jordan .
“ Those are going to be ongoing discussions .
And we 'll be doing that over the weeks and months to come.
” The BC Salmon Farmers Association ( BCSFA ) said the ministry decision had significant implications for the industry and puts the salmon farming sector in B.C .
and across Canada at risk .
“ This comes at a bad time , during a pandemic when local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never been more important , ” said the association in a statement Thursday .
The phaseout is limited to the Discovery Islands and will not impact fish farms elsewhere , Jordan said .
However , widespread consultations with industry , First Nations , conservationists and other stakeholders to formulate a 2025 plan to transition away from open-net pen salmon farms on the Pacific coast will continue in the new year , she said .
Terry Beech , Burnaby North-Seymour MP and parliamentary secretary to the fisheries minister , is heading the process and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the spring .
Fish farm opponents have long called for the removal of sites from the Discovery Islands region because they sit along a critical migration route for juvenile Fraser River sockeye salmon , which critics say are at risk from disease and parasites from the aquaculture operations .
Fraser River sockeye salmon runs have experienced the lowest back-to-back returns on record , dropping from millions of fish in the past to less than 300,000 this year .

Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan announced Thursday that controversial fish farms in the Discovery Islands on the West Coast will be phased out over the next 18 months. Jordan’s decision follows consultations with seven First Nations whose traditional territories fall within the Discovery Islands and heated public debate around the fate of the fish farms and the harms they might pose to dramatically declining wild salmon stocks. “This is a very difficult decision, but it reflects the wishes of the seven First Nations in the area because they were very concerned about those farms being located in their territory,” Jordan told Canada’s National Observer. “This plan means that there will be no new fish of any size transferred to these facilities.” The 19 salmon farms in the Discovery Islands — nine of which are already empty — will have their licences renewed until the end of June 2022.
Following that date, no new licences in the Discovery Islands will be issued. The renewal of the current licences is to allow already existing fish on the farms to reach market size, and the majority will be harvested well before the deadline, Jordan said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “Nobody wants to see three million fish culled. We are looking at a phasing-out approach,” Jordan said. “This is actually going to happen in a relatively quick timeline.”
Approximately 80 per cent of the fish will be ready for harvest by April 2021, she said. The 19 salmon farms in the Discovery Islands — nine of which are already empty — will have their licences renewed until the end of June 2022. “We’re working with industry to make sure that this is a fair transition for them,” the fisheries minister said. “But it is a very difficult decision because we know that this impacts people’s livelihoods, it impacts the industry and impacts our coastal communities.” The decision followed consultations by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) with the Homalco, Klahoose, K’ómoks, Kwiakah, Tla’amin, We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum First Nations, which ended at the beginning of the month, about whether to renew licences for the fish farms that operate in their traditional territories. “The support (of First Nations) was overwhelming with regards to making sure that the fish farms are removed, and so that is my intention,” Jordan said, adding that for confidentiality reasons she could not say whether the decision was unanimous.
The timeline of the decision also coincides with the B.C. provincial government’s move to require the consent of area First Nations on land tenure approvals for aquaculture operators as of June 2022, the DFO stated. First Nations in the Discovery Islands will be kept in the loop as the fish farms are phased out and are welcome to participate in monitoring the process, said Jordan. The majority of the Discovery Islands region fish farms are owned by Mowi Canada West, which has 13 operations, nine of which are empty, operating in the waters near Campbell River on Vancouver Island, according to DFO.


nationalobserver--2020-12-17--A Canada without emissions requires massive effort: Jonathan Wilkinson

Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson appears ready to deal with opposition parties to secure the votes he needs to get his net-zero legislation through Parliament next year .
The proposed legislation would bind Canada to hitting five-year emissions targets starting in 2035 , and reaching net zero by 2050 .
Wilkinson told The Canadian Press this week he is open to opposition amendments to introduce earlier reporting requirements , within the next decade , to show progress made .
Actually getting Canada to net zero by the middle of the century will be the hard part .
It will mean finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 24 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually for the next three decades — about equal to taking five million cars off the road every year .
• How an Anishinaabe lawyer is helping Indigenous communities strengthen their legal traditions • Canada kicks off massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ont .
and Quebec • Quebec orders all non-essential businesses closed from Christmas until at least Jan. 11 And all this in a Canada that has been promising to cut emissions for more than 30 years , but has never actually done it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of effort and a lot of investment .
But it is what we need to do to stop global warming , '' said Taryn Fransen , a senior fellow in the global climate program at the World Resources Institute .
`` There is no other alternative . ''
Reaching net zero involves a combination of eliminating emissions and , where they are still produced , capturing them rather than leaving them to linger in the atmosphere , where they help trap heat and contribute to global warming .
The Paris Agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change conference said avoiding catastrophic global warming requires keeping that as close to 1.5 C as possible , and absolutely no more than 2 C. The 1.5 C goal requires wealthier and heavier-emitting nations to get to net-zero emissions by 2050 .
For Canada , that means finding a way to eliminate or capture 729 million tonnes of greenhouse gases over the next 30 years .
Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says getting to # netzero emissions will require massive effort .
# ClimateChange # cdnpoli The Paris Agreement saw Canada commit to getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the five years since that was signed , Canada 's emissions actually went up .
Dale Beugin , vice-president of research at the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices , said he is hopeful that this time , Canada 's climate action will be real .
`` For the first time , federally , we have policies that are consistent with our ambition , with our rhetoric , '' he said .
Beugin pointed to the $ 15-billion federal climate action plan unveiled last week , which includes hiking the carbon price and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change , introduced in 2016 , at best only got Canada two-thirds of the way to its 2030 goal .
The new plan , on paper , aims slightly higher , to 503 million tonnes .
In Canada , more than eight in every 10 tonnes of emissions come from burning fossil fuels .
That includes driving cars , heating houses , keeping the lights on at work and extracting , refining and shipping the fuels to do it .
Beugin said a net-zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life in Canada .
`` Canadians are still doing what they 're doing , they 're still moving from one place to another , they 're still heating their houses , but they 're using less energy to do it , '' he said .
Some of that involves better-insulated public buildings , helping people afford electric cars and building charging networks to convince people they wo n't be stranded on the side of the road with a dead battery .
It also means expanding and introducing non-emitting energy sources like hydrogen and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan on Wednesday and a strategy for small nuclear reactors is expected by year 's end .
It will also mean major changes for the oil sector , particularly in Alberta .
Extracting oil and gas alone accounted for about one-sixth of Canada 's 2018 emissions .
Shifting to cleaner energy is already happening — coal as an electricity source is being phased out in the next decade , replaced with lower-emitting natural gas , or renewables like hydro and wind .
If coal is still used , its emissions have to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place at the Boundary Dam in Saskatchewan .
The technology is currently expensive and limited , but Michael Bernstein , executive director at the non-profit climate think tank Clean Prosperity , says Wilkinson 's plan to more than triple the carbon price between 2022 and 2030 will make it attractive .
Bernstein says hiking the carbon price by the planned $ 15 a year could get Canada 60 per cent of the way to net zero .
Making it expensive to pollute and giving businesses an incentive to invest in pollution-curbing technologies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bid to slow global warming , said Bernstein .
The big wrinkle in that plan is politics and the law .
Conservative politicians in Canada almost universally loathe the carbon tax .
Federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole promises to scrap it , and Alberta , Saskatchewan and Ontario have gone to court to stop it .
The Supreme Court is set to rule on the matter next year .
Wilkinson 's plan to reach the 2030 goal depends heavily on the carbon tax .
He says he is confident the court ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says he believes strongly that Canada , and the world , has now passed a tipping point on climate action .
Even if there is not total agreement on how to do it , the fights have mostly moved beyond whether anything must be done .
`` I just feel like we finally got to the point where we 're not pushing the rock up the hill anymore , '' he said .
`` We 're actually watching it start to go down the hill .
And that 's exactly the place that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all hoped that we get to . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16 , 2020 .

Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson appears ready to deal with opposition parties to secure the votes he needs to get his net-zero legislation through Parliament next year. The proposed legislation would bind Canada to hitting five-year emissions targets starting in 2035, and reaching net zero by 2050. Wilkinson told The Canadian Press this week he is open to opposition amendments to introduce earlier reporting requirements, within the next decade, to show progress made. Actually getting Canada to net zero by the middle of the century will be the hard part. It will mean finding a way to eliminate or capture more than 24 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually for the next three decades — about equal to taking five million cars off the road every year.
And all this in a Canada that has been promising to cut emissions for more than 30 years, but has never actually done it. "It's going to require a lot of effort and a lot of investment. But it is what we need to do to stop global warming," said Taryn Fransen, a senior fellow in the global climate program at the World Resources Institute. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "There is no other alternative."
Reaching net zero involves a combination of eliminating emissions and, where they are still produced, capturing them rather than leaving them to linger in the atmosphere, where they help trap heat and contribute to global warming. Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says getting to #netzero emissions will require massive effort. #ClimateChange #cdnpoli The Paris Agreement adopted at the 2015 United Nations climate change conference said avoiding catastrophic global warming requires keeping that as close to 1.5 C as possible, and absolutely no more than 2 C. The 1.5 C goal requires wealthier and heavier-emitting nations to get to net-zero emissions by 2050. For Canada, that means finding a way to eliminate or capture 729 million tonnes of greenhouse gases over the next 30 years. The Paris Agreement saw Canada commit to getting to 511 million tonnes by 2030. In the five years since that was signed, Canada's emissions actually went up. Dale Beugin, vice-president of research at the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices, said he is hopeful that this time, Canada's climate action will be real.
"For the first time, federally, we have policies that are consistent with our ambition, with our rhetoric," he said. Beugin pointed to the $15-billion federal climate action plan unveiled last week, which includes hiking the carbon price and investing in clean energy and zero-emissions technology. The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, introduced in 2016, at best only got Canada two-thirds of the way to its 2030 goal. The new plan, on paper, aims slightly higher, to 503 million tonnes.


nationalobserver--2020-12-17--Advocates call for national safe supply over fears overdose crisis will worsen in 2021

With overdose deaths rising across Canada , advocates for drug users are calling for the implementation of a national safe supply program as part of an effort to save lives .
Failing to do so , they say , will lead to more deaths from overdoses across the country .
A public health emergency was declared in 2016 , a year that saw 991 deaths .
More than 1,500 people have died in British Columbia from illicit drug overdoses in 2020 .
Ontario 's chief coroner 's office estimates 50 to 80 people per week are dying of overdoses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply program in March , allowing doctors and nurses to prescribe pharmaceutical alternatives to illicit drugs .
• Canada kicks off massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ont .
and Quebec • Quebec orders all non-essential businesses closed from Christmas until at least Jan. 11 • How an Anishinaabe lawyer is helping Indigenous communities strengthen their legal traditions Karen Ward , a drug policy and poverty reduction consultant with the City of Vancouver , said the concept of the program needs to be expanded across the country .
`` It 's like you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said in an interview , referring to the number of overdoses in B.C .
Experts say COVID-19 has exacerbated the situation as the supply of illicit drugs became more toxic when the border was closed and more drugs were made or altered in Canada .
The pandemic has also impeded access to key harm reduction services , such as supervised consumption sites .
The federal government issued data on Wednesday showing 17,602 people have died from opioid overdoses between January 2016 and June 2020 .
Between January and June of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all opioid overdose deaths occurred in British Columbia , Alberta or Ontario .
`` It will get worse .
It will , definitely .
Unless we stop talking and do some very specific things , '' said Ward .
`` Let 's do safe supply .
Nothing is perfect , but let 's find ways to prescribe in your community , in your area , right away .
Or it will get worse . ''
With overdose deaths rising across Canada , advocates for drug users call for a national safe supply program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overdosecrisis # Vancouver # healthCanada Along with a national safe supply program , Ward argues decriminalization is something governments should be considering .
It would mean police would n't charge someone caught with a small amount of drugs and they would not seize the substance .
She is also critical of the scope of B.C .
's safe supply program , arguing health professionals need to be more willing to prescribe pharmaceutical alternatives .
`` We need a variety of ways to access the health benefits that we have decided are necessary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced $ 9.5 million in funding for four safe supply pilot projects in Ontario in September , but advocates say that the small size of the project does n't do enough .
Last month , Vancouver council voted unanimously to ask the federal government to decriminalize small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use .
Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu was unavailable for an interview , but her office sent a statement saying it is reviewing Vancouver 's proposal .
`` The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the ongoing opioid crisis .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all levels of government must redouble our efforts to save lives , '' she said in the statement .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in September that he supported safe supply but maintained his stance against drug decriminalization .
Dr. Mark Tyndall , a professor at the school of population and public health at the University of British Columbia , said more support is needed for safe supply programs and decriminalization efforts .
`` Safe supply , to me , is the only real practical thing to do , '' he said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see governments and public health agencies not put as much effort as they could into saving the lives of drug users , said Tyndall , who used to head B.C .
's Centre for Disease Control and worked to launch an opioid vending machine in Vancouver 's Downtown Eastside .
`` I 'm pretty pessimistic , '' he said on what the next year holds for drug users .
`` The chance of you overdosing from street drugs are probably higher than they were five years ago ... we have n't really made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safer . ''
Zoe Dodd , a co-organizer with the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society , said governments need to understand the wider impact that overdoses are having .
`` If we do n't seriously address the overdose crisis , we will lose a workforce , '' she said .
Along with safe supply and decriminalization , more support is needed for people who work and volunteer at overdose prevention sites .
Safe supply , combined with drug decriminalization , is needed to truly make a difference , Dodd said .
This report by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 , 2020 .

With overdose deaths rising across Canada, advocates for drug users are calling for the implementation of a national safe supply program as part of an effort to save lives. Failing to do so, they say, will lead to more deaths from overdoses across the country. A public health emergency was declared in 2016, a year that saw 991 deaths. More than 1,500 people have died in British Columbia from illicit drug overdoses in 2020. Ontario's chief coroner's office estimates 50 to 80 people per week are dying of overdoses. British Columbia's government created a safe supply program in March, allowing doctors and nurses to prescribe pharmaceutical alternatives to illicit drugs.
Karen Ward, a drug policy and poverty reduction consultant with the City of Vancouver, said the concept of the program needs to be expanded across the country. "It's like you're struggling to tread water in a tsunami," she said in an interview, referring to the number of overdoses in B.C. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Experts say COVID-19 has exacerbated the situation as the supply of illicit drugs became more toxic when the border was closed and more drugs were made or altered in Canada. The pandemic has also impeded access to key harm reduction services, such as supervised consumption sites.
The federal government issued data on Wednesday showing 17,602 people have died from opioid overdoses between January 2016 and June 2020. With overdose deaths rising across Canada, advocates for drug users call for a national safe supply program to save lives. #safesupply #overdosecrisis #Vancouver #healthCanada Between January and June of this year, 86 per cent of all opioid overdose deaths occurred in British Columbia, Alberta or Ontario. "It will get worse. It will, definitely. Unless we stop talking and do some very specific things," said Ward. "Let's do safe supply. Nothing is perfect, but let's find ways to prescribe in your community, in your area, right away. Or it will get worse." Along with a national safe supply program, Ward argues decriminalization is something governments should be considering. It would mean police wouldn't charge someone caught with a small amount of drugs and they would not seize the substance.
She is also critical of the scope of B.C.'s safe supply program, arguing health professionals need to be more willing to prescribe pharmaceutical alternatives. "We need a variety of ways to access the health benefits that we have decided are necessary," Ward said. The federal government announced $9.5 million in funding for four safe supply pilot projects in Ontario in September, but advocates say that the small size of the project doesn't do enough.


nationalobserver--2020-12-17--Trudeau says Liberals seeking options for vulnerable youth facing CERB clawbacks

Marie Christian recalls the confusion that reigned as the young people she works with tried to navigate government aid at the onset of the pandemic .
The program director for Voices : Manitoba 's Youth in Care Network , works with those aged 12 to 30 who are or have been in foster care .
Many who aged out of care lost their part-time jobs during the first wave of COVID-19 .
They were encouraged to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit when the $ 500-a-week income support was rolled out amid historic job losses this spring .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed them to take a breath , '' Christian said .
`` Not only did it help them to provide food and keep a roof over their head for themselves , and maybe for their young family , it just helped them to catch up a little bit , maybe pay off a little bit more of that hydro bill to make sure that their lights can stay on . ''
• Quebec orders all non-essential businesses closed from Christmas until at least Jan. 11 • How an Anishinaabe lawyer is helping Indigenous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kicks off massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ont .
and Quebec They are now among the 441,000 people who have received letters from the Canada Revenue Agency questioning their eligibility for the CERB , and warning they may owe back some of the payments .
Groups that support them are warning repayment efforts could lead many to become homeless , and asking the government to grant amnesty for any of these youth who received the CERB .
`` You would receive amnesty from repayment as a measure of recognizing your particular vulnerability , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Child Welfare League of Canada .
`` It should not be that hard . ''
Faced with the issue , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government did n't give aid to vulnerable people to pay the bills through the pandemic `` to then claw it back afterwards . ''
`` We need to have a system that goes after people who are deliberately trying to defraud the system , '' he said in an interview with The Canadian Press .
`` But people who received money that they needed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , should not worry about it . ''
PM # Trudeau says feds looking for options for vulnerable youth receiving # CERB repayment notices .
# pandemic # cdnpoli # COVID19 The letters have created a groundswell of anxiety as the Canada Revenue Agency questions whether some of the nearly nine million CERB recipients met eligibility rules for the payments .
The government has always said it would check afterward on eligibility and recoup wrongful payments .
While self-employed people have received much attention over a dispute about eligibility , letters have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 7,000 young people who aged out of care each year — meaning they turn 18 or 19 , depending on provincial rules , and are left to a patchwork of supports .
Christian said her group helped young people connect with officials and experts to understand the eligibility requirements before deciding whether to apply .
`` We were all searching , we were all scrambling trying to figure out how to survive during the pandemic , '' she said .
`` The different rules and the different recommendations that were put out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Gouin said repayments may not be an option for many of these youth because they do n't have much to start with .
Nor do they have families to turn to , she said .
The CRA said any recipients found ineligible will have to eventually pay money back , but noted that collection efforts wo n't happen until `` it is responsible to do so . ''
Child-welfare groups have quietly raised concerns to federal cabinet ministers , but left meetings without any hint something would be done .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to repay something that they desperately needed to survive in the pandemic to me is atrocious .
It 's inhumane , to be honest , '' said Melanie Doucet , a McGill University researcher probing the effects on youth aging out of care during the pandemic .
Trudeau said in the Wednesday interview that the government will have more to say in the coming months about what the medium-term path for this group of aid recipients could look like , without going into further detail .
`` We will be evaluating and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable and make sure that we get through this , all of us , as best as we possibly can , '' Trudeau said .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17 , 2020 .

Marie Christian recalls the confusion that reigned as the young people she works with tried to navigate government aid at the onset of the pandemic. The program director for Voices: Manitoba's Youth in Care Network, works with those aged 12 to 30 who are or have been in foster care. Many who aged out of care lost their part-time jobs during the first wave of COVID-19. They were encouraged to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit when the $500-a-week income support was rolled out amid historic job losses this spring. And many did. "Receiving CERB finally allowed them to take a breath," Christian said. "Not only did it help them to provide food and keep a roof over their head for themselves, and maybe for their young family, it just helped them to catch up a little bit, maybe pay off a little bit more of that hydro bill to make sure that their lights can stay on."
They are now among the 441,000 people who have received letters from the Canada Revenue Agency questioning their eligibility for the CERB, and warning they may owe back some of the payments. Groups that support them are warning repayment efforts could lead many to become homeless, and asking the government to grant amnesty for any of these youth who received the CERB. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "You would receive amnesty from repayment as a measure of recognizing your particular vulnerability," said Rachel Gouin, executive director of the Child Welfare League of Canada.
"It should not be that hard." PM #Trudeau says feds looking for options for vulnerable youth receiving #CERB repayment notices. #pandemic #cdnpoli #COVID19 Faced with the issue, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government didn't give aid to vulnerable people to pay the bills through the pandemic "to then claw it back afterwards." "We need to have a system that goes after people who are deliberately trying to defraud the system," he said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "But people who received money that they needed, or made good-faith mistakes about the application, should not worry about it." The letters have created a groundswell of anxiety as the Canada Revenue Agency questions whether some of the nearly nine million CERB recipients met eligibility rules for the payments. The government has always said it would check afterward on eligibility and recoup wrongful payments.
While self-employed people have received much attention over a dispute about eligibility, letters have also gone to some of the estimated 6,000 to 7,000 young people who aged out of care each year — meaning they turn 18 or 19, depending on provincial rules, and are left to a patchwork of supports. Christian said her group helped young people connect with officials and experts to understand the eligibility requirements before deciding whether to apply. "We were all searching, we were all scrambling trying to figure out how to survive during the pandemic," she said. "The different rules and the different recommendations that were put out caused a little bit of confusion."


nationalobserver--2020-12-17--B.C. sets new 2025 emissions target to stay on track

The British Columbia government is setting a new target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 after determining it is further from reaching its goals than previously forecasted .
The new emissions target requires greenhouse gases in B.C .
to fall 16 per cent below 2007 levels by 2025 .
It also provides benchmarks to reach the province 's legislated emission targets for 2030 , 2040 and 2050 of 40 , 60 and 80 per cent below 2007 levels , respectively .
`` We are continuing to do significant work to deliver a detailed road map to our 2030 target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of next year . ''
The announcement came as B.C .
released its 2020 Climate Change Accountability Report .
It shows that in 2018 — the most recent year for which data is available — gross greenhouse gas emissions were 67.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent .
This represents an increase of 4.5 megatonnes from 2007 levels , and was three per cent higher than 2017 emissions , the report says .
B.C .
admits falling behind , sets new # GHG emissions targets to reach its goal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ models suggest emissions were expected to begin stabilizing in 2019 before decreasing in 2020 as CleanBC programs begin to take hold along with the effects of COVID-19 .
Karen Tam Wu , B.C .
director at the Pembina Institute , called the report a `` sobering '' wake-up call .
`` The report offers a frank assessment : our climate plan has a gaping hole that we must fill , '' she said in a statement .
Environmental group Stand.earth said the gap to B.C .
's legislated 2030 target has increased from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between 7.2 and 11.2 megatonnes .
`` Clearly this is a major setback for the government 's plan to meet our climate targets , '' Sven Biggs , the group 's Canadian oil and gas program director , said in a news release .
Andrew Radzik , energy campaigner at the Georgia Strait Alliance , said the government ca n't expand fracking and the LNG Canada project if it 's serious about meeting its climate goals .
The report shows that while other sectors have reduced their emissions , oil and gas emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' rate , he said .
Heyman said LNG Canada , which is not yet operational , is not responsible for the gap in reaching the provincial targets .
The government has no plans to rule out future LNG expansion so long as it fits within the CleanBC targets .
`` This is n't a light switch , this is like a dimmer , we 're transitioning , '' he said .
`` To transition , you want to support industries that exist today and make them less carbon intensive and promote and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy of the future . ''
Data in the report is from 2018 and does not yet reflect the effects of what has already been done under CleanBC , he said .

The British Columbia government is setting a new target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 after determining it is further from reaching its goals than previously forecasted. The new emissions target requires greenhouse gases in B.C. to fall 16 per cent below 2007 levels by 2025. It also provides benchmarks to reach the province's legislated emission targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050 of 40, 60 and 80 per cent below 2007 levels, respectively. Environment Minister George Heyman said completing a plan to reach the legislated targets in the CleanBC program has been more challenging than anticipated. The biggest factor in the gap was a change in data and methodology at the federal level that lowered B.C.'s 2007 baseline estimates, he said Wednesday.
A government report also says emissions rose in 2018 due to increases in fuel consumed in heavy-duty diesel vehicles, oil and gas extraction, off-road industrial transport and light-duty gasoline-powered trucks. Heyman said more needs to be done to meet the targets and the province will set industry-specific targets by March 31. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "The gap that we see today signals the need to redouble our efforts to reduce emissions and to achieve our targets," Heyman told a news conference.
"We are continuing to do significant work to deliver a detailed road map to our 2030 target and we're committed to delivering that by the end of next year." B.C. admits falling behind, sets new #GHG emissions targets to reach its goal. #ClimateChange #GHG #bcpoli The announcement came as B.C. released its 2020 Climate Change Accountability Report. It shows that in 2018 — the most recent year for which data is available — gross greenhouse gas emissions were 67.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. This represents an increase of 4.5 megatonnes from 2007 levels, and was three per cent higher than 2017 emissions, the report says. The models suggest emissions were expected to begin stabilizing in 2019 before decreasing in 2020 as CleanBC programs begin to take hold along with the effects of COVID-19. Karen Tam Wu, B.C. director at the Pembina Institute, called the report a "sobering" wake-up call.
"The report offers a frank assessment: our climate plan has a gaping hole that we must fill," she said in a statement. Environmental group Stand.earth said the gap to B.C.'s legislated 2030 target has increased from 5.5 megatonnes in the 2019 report to between 7.2 and 11.2 megatonnes. "Clearly this is a major setback for the government's plan to meet our climate targets," Sven Biggs, the group's Canadian oil and gas program director, said in a news release.


nationalobserver--2020-12-18--Federal ministers discuss need for anti-racism training for all justice system employees

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says a need for anti-racism training for all people working in the criminal justice system was a focus of conversation with his counterparts from across the country at a two-day meeting .
Blair said there was recognition among public safety and justice ministers that police , prosecutors and judges could `` benefit from a better understanding '' of the cultural realities of Indigenous and racialized people in Canada .
At a news briefing after the meeting , Blair noted the need to be respectful of judicial independence , but indicated that should not stand in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There was a very fulsome acknowledgment that we need to do better and that all of us have a responsibility here , '' Blair said .
The recent throne speech pledged federal legislation and money to address systemic inequities in all phases of the criminal justice system .
• Qualtrough quells anxiety about CERB notices , saying no requirement to repay now • Will superweeds become stronger with rising temperatures ?
The commitments came amid mounting concerns about unfair treatment of Black and Indigenous people , who are overrepresented in courts and jails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues ranging from sentencing and rehabilitation to improved civilian oversight of the RCMP and standards on police use of force .
The planned measures also include modern training for police and other law-enforcement agencies , as well as broader RCMP reforms that emphasize a shift toward community-led policing .
In addition , the Liberals promised to speed up work on a legislative framework for First Nations policing as an essential service , seen as crucial to ensuring safety in Indigenous communities .
`` I 've had initial meetings with Indigenous leaders across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blair said Thursday .
`` And we are seized with the urgency of ensuring that all Indigenous people receive culturally competent , adequate and effective police service which is respectful of their jurisdiction , accountable to the people and will serve to keep them safe . ''
Federal ministers discuss need for anti-racism training for all people working in the criminal justice system .
# racism # RCMP # Cdnpoli Ministers also discussed police wearing body cameras as one way to try to contribute to greater accountability , including the RCMP 's plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
In a report released this week , the RCMP watchdog found the national police force 's policies lacked clear guidance when it comes to collection , use and retention of information related to civil protest events .
The RCMP signalled its intention to reform data-handling practices in a way that could better protect rights of activists .
Blair said Thursday there is `` clearly work that needs to be done '' to ensure the RCMP and other police services are transparent and accountable to the people they serve .
This report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 17 , 2020 .

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says a need for anti-racism training for all people working in the criminal justice system was a focus of conversation with his counterparts from across the country at a two-day meeting.
Blair said there was recognition among public safety and justice ministers that police, prosecutors and judges could "benefit from a better understanding" of the cultural realities of Indigenous and racialized people in Canada.
At a news briefing after the meeting, Blair noted the need to be respectful of judicial independence, but indicated that should not stand in the way of educational efforts.
"There was a very fulsome acknowledgment that we need to do better and that all of us have a responsibility here," Blair said.
The recent throne speech pledged federal legislation and money to address systemic inequities in all phases of the criminal justice system.


nationalobserver--2020-12-18--Ontario reports new daily COVID-19 record and new measures take effect in Saskatchewan

Ontario hit a record Thursday for new daily COVID-19 cases as hospitals urged a month-long lockdown , while tougher restrictions took effect in Saskatchewan , Alberta recorded its highest death toll and a vaccine maker said vials may yield more doses than expected .
Priority groups such as health-care workers and seniors began receiving Canada 's first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this week .
`` The amount of any excess vaccine left in the vial can vary based on provider technique and ancillary supplies , '' Pfizer Canada spokeswoman Christina Antoniou said in an email .
`` There may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawal of five doses , which in some cases may leave enough volume for an additional dose . ''
In the United States , news website Politico reported the extra amounts could increase the vaccine supply in the U.S. by 40 per cent .
• Will superweeds become stronger with rising temperatures ?
• Qualtrough quells anxiety about CERB notices , saying no requirement to repay now Health Canada said in a statement that it 's aware vials may contain more than the five doses of 0.3 millilitres indicated on the label .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ losses in volume that can happen during storage , preparation and administration of the vaccine , and that can result in an extra dose or two .
`` Health Canada has no objections to health-care professionals drawing up an additional dose or two from each vial , where possible , '' the agency said .
`` However , it is important to note that the mixing or pooling of volumes from separate vials is not recommended as it could result in cross contamination , loss of product sterility or improper dosing . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported 2,432 new infections and 23 deaths .
To protect the health-care system from a surge in patients , the Ontario Hospital Association pushed for a four-week lockdown in every public health unit with an infection rate of 40 or higher per 100,000 people .
# Ontario reports new daily # COVID19 record as new measures take effect in # Saskatchewan .
# vaccine `` We are now in the holiday season and if members of the public choose to ignore public health measures and gather outside their households , the consequences risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the association said .
`` Every health-care system has its breaking point . ''
Premier Doug Ford said his Progressive Conservative government would continue to consult with hospital leadership .
`` It 's very , very concerning , the situation we 're facing right now , '' Ford said .
`` Right now everything is on the table and we always take advice from the medical experts . ''
He said there would be additional help for small business owners affected by any expanded health measures .
In Saskatchewan , residents awoke to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer having guests in their homes , with a few exceptions .
It 's one of several new rules in place until at least Jan. 15 .
There is also a 10-person cap on outdoor socializing .
Starting Saturday , bingo halls and casinos must also close , and personal care services , such as hairdressers , have to cut their capacity in half .
Retailers have until Christmas Day before they also need to drop to 50 per cent capacity .
Larger stores will be limited to 25 per cent .
Seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , pushing total fatalities to more than 100 .
Saskatchewan recorded another 238 cases and 126 people were in hospital .
Alberta reported 30 additional deaths — its highest daily tally yet — bringing its total to 790 .
There were 1,571 new cases , 763 people hospitalized and 138 of those in intensive care .
Chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw said extra vaccine in vials would be given when possible .
`` If you have a very skilled immunization administrator , who 's able to withdraw exactly the amount needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that some vials may be able to provide enough for six doses of vaccine , '' she said .
Quebec Health Department spokesman Robert Maranda echoed that sentiment .
`` Rest assured that no doses of vaccine will be left . ''
That province was preparing to open another 21 COVID-19 vaccination sites by Monday in addition to two that opened earlier this week at long-term care homes in Montreal and Quebec City .
The province reported 1,855 new cases and 22 more deaths Thursday .
There were also more than 1,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time since June .
Manitoba had 221 new cases and 14 additional deaths .
Daily case counts have been on a downward trend since restrictions were imposed on gatherings and businesses last month .
British Columbia 's top doctor advised people with chronic health conditions to contact their family doctor to determine if they should get vaccinated for COVID-19 .
Dr. Bonnie Henry said the Pfizer vaccine was tested primarily on healthy people of varying ages and it 's not known if it will work or is safe for those with chronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Henry said 1,215 health-care workers have so far been vaccinated in the province , and about 380,000 people are expected to be immunized by March .
B.C .
announced 673 new cases of COVID-19 and 21 more deaths .
A Statistics Canada report released Thursday said 97 per cent of Canadians surveyed in September reported they wore a mask in public when physical distancing was difficult .
The analysis , part of the Canadian Community Health Survey , also found three-quarters would get a COVID-19 vaccine when available .
The willingness was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Alberta .
— With files from Mia Rabson in Ottawa .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17 , 2020 .

Ontario hit a record Thursday for new daily COVID-19 cases as hospitals urged a month-long lockdown, while tougher restrictions took effect in Saskatchewan, Alberta recorded its highest death toll and a vaccine maker said vials may yield more doses than expected. Priority groups such as health-care workers and seniors began receiving Canada's first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this week. "The amount of any excess vaccine left in the vial can vary based on provider technique and ancillary supplies," Pfizer Canada spokeswoman Christina Antoniou said in an email. "There may be excess vaccine in the vial after withdrawal of five doses, which in some cases may leave enough volume for an additional dose." In the United States, news website Politico reported the extra amounts could increase the vaccine supply in the U.S. by 40 per cent.
Health Canada said in a statement that it's aware vials may contain more than the five doses of 0.3 millilitres indicated on the label. It said there are safeguards against potential losses in volume that can happen during storage, preparation and administration of the vaccine, and that can result in an extra dose or two. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "Health Canada has no objections to health-care professionals drawing up an additional dose or two from each vial, where possible," the agency said.
"However, it is important to note that the mixing or pooling of volumes from separate vials is not recommended as it could result in cross contamination, loss of product sterility or improper dosing." #Ontario reports new daily #COVID19 record as new measures take effect in #Saskatchewan. #vaccine Meanwhile, Canada's most populous province reported 2,432 new infections and 23 deaths. To protect the health-care system from a surge in patients, the Ontario Hospital Association pushed for a four-week lockdown in every public health unit with an infection rate of 40 or higher per 100,000 people. "We are now in the holiday season and if members of the public choose to ignore public health measures and gather outside their households, the consequences risk overwhelming Ontario’s hospitals," the association said. "Every health-care system has its breaking point."
Premier Doug Ford said his Progressive Conservative government would continue to consult with hospital leadership. "It's very, very concerning, the situation we're facing right now," Ford said. "Right now everything is on the table and we always take advice from the medical experts." He said there would be additional help for small business owners affected by any expanded health measures.


nationalobserver--2020-12-18--Boeing 737 Max aircraft get the OK in Canada, but planes still grounded

Boeing 's 737 Max aircraft is a step closer to returning to Canadian skies , nearly two years after being grounded due to technical issues that resulted in two deadly crashes involving foreign airlines .
Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau told reporters Thursday that Transport Canada has approved design changes to the plane , among them allowing pilots to disable a faulty warning system that was found to be central to the crashes in 2018 and 2019 .
`` Today is the validation , which means that we recognize the modifications that have been made to fix the problem with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` However , there 's still another step to take , and that will be done in January , when we will , as Canada , emit what we call an airworthiness directive . ''
After the government issues the directive , airlines will be permitted to fly the Boeing Max again in Canada , provided that they meet Ottawa 's criteria for procedures and training .
The government 's announcement comes several weeks after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration cleared the Max for flight , as long as carriers implement certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pilots .
• Qualtrough quells anxiety about CERB notices , saying no requirement to repay now • Will superweeds become stronger with rising temperatures ?
Transport Canada said at the time that its independent review process would impose requirements on the Max that go above and beyond those by U.S. authorities .
In particular , Transport Canada will require that Max pilots in Canada be allowed to disable a `` loud and intrusive '' warning system that will reduce workload for pilots in the event of a problem , the agency said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are still worried about flying aboard the aircraft should know that Canada has played a leadership role in contributing to the fix being put into place .
“ This plane has been looked at very , very carefully because we want to make sure that we absolutely fix it , '' he said .
`` We feel very confident that we have done our homework properly.
” Countries around the world have been conducting independent review processes regarding whether to recertify the Max for flight .
The planes were grounded worldwide in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which killed 18 Canadians in Ethiopia .
Subsequent investigations found that the crashes were caused by a faulty sensor that pushed the plane 's nose downward in flight .
Boeing 's 737 Max aircraft gets the OK from Canada , but ca n't fly yet .
# MCAS # cdnpoli # 737MAX # Boeing Morgan Bell , a spokeswoman for WestJet , which has 13 Max aircraft in its fleet , said its planes will only return to service once they have met the requirements and the airline is certain that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an important first step in the eventual return to service of this aircraft in Canadian airspace , '' Bell said .
`` There are remaining steps to take and measures to put in place before Transport Canada officially reopens the skies for passenger service . ''
Pascale Dery , a spokeswoman for Air Canada , said the carrier will be finalizing its plans for returning the Max to service once regulators approve it to operate in Canada .
Sunwing Airlines said it was working closely with Transport Canada to ensure its four Max @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family members of Canadians who died in the Max crashes denounced the government 's decision on Thursday , saying in a statement that the aircraft is still dangerous .
John Gradek , a lecturer at McGill University and the head of its Global Aviation Leadership Program , said the additional changes to the Max that Canada will require are intended to ensure that pilots are n't overwhelmed by sirens and other noises in case of an issue with the aircraft .
`` What Transport Canada has done , which goes above and beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tone down the alerts , '' Gradek said .
Gradek said the approval will be a boon for airlines , who , since the grounding orders , have had to replace the Max with older , less profitable airplanes .
The aircraft 's grounding caused significant headaches for WestJet , Sunwing , and Air Canada , which grounded 24 planes , delayed delivery of 26 and cancelled an order for 11 planes .

Boeing's 737 Max aircraft is a step closer to returning to Canadian skies, nearly two years after being grounded due to technical issues that resulted in two deadly crashes involving foreign airlines. Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau told reporters Thursday that Transport Canada has approved design changes to the plane, among them allowing pilots to disable a faulty warning system that was found to be central to the crashes in 2018 and 2019. "Today is the validation, which means that we recognize the modifications that have been made to fix the problem with the Max 8," Garneau said. "However, there's still another step to take, and that will be done in January, when we will, as Canada, emit what we call an airworthiness directive." After the government issues the directive, airlines will be permitted to fly the Boeing Max again in Canada, provided that they meet Ottawa's criteria for procedures and training. The government's announcement comes several weeks after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration cleared the Max for flight, as long as carriers implement certain design fixes and provide specialized training to pilots.
Transport Canada said at the time that its independent review process would impose requirements on the Max that go above and beyond those by U.S. authorities. In particular, Transport Canada will require that Max pilots in Canada be allowed to disable a "loud and intrusive" warning system that will reduce workload for pilots in the event of a problem, the agency said in a statement Thursday. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Garneau said Canadians who are still worried about flying aboard the aircraft should know that Canada has played a leadership role in contributing to the fix being put into place.
“This plane has been looked at very, very carefully because we want to make sure that we absolutely fix it," he said. "We feel very confident that we have done our homework properly.” Boeing's 737 Max aircraft gets the OK from Canada, but can't fly yet. #MCAS #cdnpoli #737MAX #Boeing Countries around the world have been conducting independent review processes regarding whether to recertify the Max for flight. The planes were grounded worldwide in March 2019 after two crashes, one of which killed 18 Canadians in Ethiopia. Subsequent investigations found that the crashes were caused by a faulty sensor that pushed the plane's nose downward in flight. Morgan Bell, a spokeswoman for WestJet, which has 13 Max aircraft in its fleet, said its planes will only return to service once they have met the requirements and the airline is certain that they are safe. "This validation is an important first step in the eventual return to service of this aircraft in Canadian airspace," Bell said. "There are remaining steps to take and measures to put in place before Transport Canada officially reopens the skies for passenger service."
Pascale Dery, a spokeswoman for Air Canada, said the carrier will be finalizing its plans for returning the Max to service once regulators approve it to operate in Canada. Sunwing Airlines said it was working closely with Transport Canada to ensure its four Max airplanes can return to service. Several family members of Canadians who died in the Max crashes denounced the government's decision on Thursday, saying in a statement that the aircraft is still dangerous.