nationalobserver--2020-12-29--Why humans aren’t hardwired to respond well to crises

Common wisdom has it that the lesson of COVID-19 is that we are capable of marshalling a mass , evidence-driven response in an emergency .
But the bigger lesson is that we aren ’ t actually very good at this .
It ’ s not a criticism — it ’ s just the way our brains are wired .
For the sake of meeting the challenge of the climate emergency , we need to pay heed to the lessons of COVID-19 and apply them to climate policy .
A couple of months into the COVID-19 crisis , you couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media without another invite to a webinar talking about all the lessons for climate policy-making to be learned from the pandemic response .
Imagine people from coast to coast tuning into a climate scientist at a national podium every day !
Imagine the federal and provincial governments , standing with resolute purpose , calmly outlining sectors of the economy that are putting us at the most climate risk and then just shutting them down !
Imagine the feeling of mass mobilization behind a common goal !
So it was during the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until it all started to unravel .
By June , it was clear we were over tuning in to an endless parade of finger-wagging health officers , ministers , premiers and the occasional mayor .
Twitter offered alternate takes on government information .
Maybe it wasn ’ t that big a deal to visit friends , family or our favourite B.C .
vacation spot .
Even if it was a big deal , we ’ d done our part valiantly , and didn ’ t we deserve a break ?
• This Calgarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainable energy • Ontario ’ s endangered species changes could cause local extinctions , researchers say It sounds like we are bad people .
We aren ’ t .
We are people , and that means our brains are hardwired towards certain cognitive biases .
What is a cognitive bias ?
Simply put , any systematic deviation from what might otherwise be considered a rational decision .
Cognitive bias differs from explicit bias in that it ’ s not intentional — think of it as the hardware we come prepackaged with .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at some point in our evolutionary history , which is how we ended up with them .
But as we ’ ve seen with COVID-19 , some of these biases aren ’ t that well-suited for a modern reality that our collective actions can wipe out all life on Earth .
In June , Scott Halpern , Robert Truog and Franklin Miller published a paper called Cognitive Bias and Public Health Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic .
In it , they outline the four cognitive biases that they believe have most hampered our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We prioritize threats based on whether we think they can harm or kill us or someone we know and care about .
As COVID-19 wore on and no one we knew had died , we became much less concerned about how our actions impacted others .
We were past this threshold on climate years ago .
Optimism bias : Hope is a uniquely human experience , and it stems from our cognitive bias that the best possible outcome is also the most likely one , even when all data clearly points to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bias : You may recognize this as the “ marshmallow test , ” a seminal Stanford University study that looked at whether people would be willing to delay gratification of a small reward in order to get a bigger reward .
Most of us aren ’ t .
`` For the sake of meeting the challenge of the climate emergency , we need to pay heed to the lessons of COVID-19 and apply them to climate policy , '' @ andreareimer writes for @ NatObserver .
# climatechange # COVID19 Omission bias : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also the most pervasive of the four cognitive biases , and it affects virtually everyone .
Essentially , we are hardwired to not take action even when things are going poorly , rather than take action and accept responsibility for the outcomes .
You can see the inherent challenges here for climate action .
If these four biases mean we can ’ t make it through 100 days of responding to a deadly virus without cracking , how will we muster the resolve to take the action we need to save ourselves from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
We know that we have these cognitive biases , and now we know how they sway an emergency response to a planet-wide threat to humanity .
This should allow us to design a climate response to account for them .
For example : Just like we are ( finally ) legislating masks in public places as part of our COVID-19 response , we can say goodbye to our current “ provide information and incentives and hope people act ” approach to climate change strategies .
Legislation is the only way to save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We also know that there are parts of our current economy that can not rationally coexist with a climate safe world , including the extraction of fossil fuels intended for combustion .
Rather than continuing to let optimism and omission bias blind us to the reality , we need to buckle down and create a framework to transition these industries and their workforces .
If we can shut down key sectors of Metro Vancouver ’ s economy — tourism , hospitality , retail — literally overnight , we can figure out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector , which has a fraction of the workforce countrywide .
There are many more areas of climate policy we need to shift to align with the lessons from COVID-19 .
But key to both is first acknowledging that we have a problem we can overcome .
If cognitive bias is the hardware we come with , rational action is the software we can decide to run if we choose to observe and learn .
Andrea Reimer was elected to municipal government in Vancouver for four terms between 2002 and 2018 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of British Columbia 's School of Public Policy and Global Affairs .

Common wisdom has it that the lesson of COVID-19 is that we are capable of marshalling a mass, evidence-driven response in an emergency. But the bigger lesson is that we aren’t actually very good at this. It’s not a criticism — it’s just the way our brains are wired. For the sake of meeting the challenge of the climate emergency, we need to pay heed to the lessons of COVID-19 and apply them to climate policy. A couple of months into the COVID-19 crisis, you couldn’t scroll more than two inches on social media without another invite to a webinar talking about all the lessons for climate policy-making to be learned from the pandemic response. Imagine people from coast to coast tuning into a climate scientist at a national podium every day! Imagine the federal and provincial governments, standing with resolute purpose, calmly outlining sectors of the economy that are putting us at the most climate risk and then just shutting them down! Imagine the feeling of mass mobilization behind a common goal! So it was during the first 100 or so days of COVID-19 ... until it all started to unravel. By June, it was clear we were over tuning in to an endless parade of finger-wagging health officers, ministers, premiers and the occasional mayor. Twitter offered alternate takes on government information. Maybe it wasn’t that big a deal to visit friends, family or our favourite B.C. vacation spot. Even if it was a big deal, we’d done our part valiantly, and didn’t we deserve a break?
It sounds like we are bad people. We aren’t. We are people, and that means our brains are hardwired towards certain cognitive biases. What is a cognitive bias? Simply put, any systematic deviation from what might otherwise be considered a rational decision. Cognitive bias differs from explicit bias in that it’s not intentional — think of it as the hardware we come prepackaged with. In general, cognitive biases provided positive benefits at some point in our evolutionary history, which is how we ended up with them. But as we’ve seen with COVID-19, some of these biases aren’t that well-suited for a modern reality that our collective actions can wipe out all life on Earth. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In June, Scott Halpern, Robert Truog and Franklin Miller published a paper called Cognitive Bias and Public Health Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic. In it, they outline the four cognitive biases that they believe have most hampered our response to COVID-19.
Identifiable lives: We prioritize threats based on whether we think they can harm or kill us or someone we know and care about. As COVID-19 wore on and no one we knew had died, we became much less concerned about how our actions impacted others. We were past this threshold on climate years ago. "For the sake of meeting the challenge of the climate emergency, we need to pay heed to the lessons of COVID-19 and apply them to climate policy," @andreareimer writes for @NatObserver. #climatechange #COVID19 Optimism bias: Hope is a uniquely human experience, and it stems from our cognitive bias that the best possible outcome is also the most likely one, even when all data clearly points to a low probability of that outcome. Present bias: You may recognize this as the “marshmallow test,” a seminal Stanford University study that looked at whether people would be willing to delay gratification of a small reward in order to get a bigger reward. Most of us aren’t. Omission bias: This is the hardest to understand but also the most pervasive of the four cognitive biases, and it affects virtually everyone. Essentially, we are hardwired to not take action even when things are going poorly, rather than take action and accept responsibility for the outcomes. You can see the inherent challenges here for climate action. If these four biases mean we can’t make it through 100 days of responding to a deadly virus without cracking, how will we muster the resolve to take the action we need to save ourselves from the climate emergency?
The good news? We know that we have these cognitive biases, and now we know how they sway an emergency response to a planet-wide threat to humanity. This should allow us to design a climate response to account for them. For example: Just like we are (finally) legislating masks in public places as part of our COVID-19 response, we can say goodbye to our current “provide information and incentives and hope people act” approach to climate change strategies. Legislation is the only way to save us from rising climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions. We also know that there are parts of our current economy that cannot rationally coexist with a climate safe world, including the extraction of fossil fuels intended for combustion. Rather than continuing to let optimism and omission bias blind us to the reality, we need to buckle down and create a framework to transition these industries and their workforces.


nationalobserver--2020-12-29--How homeowners can save energy, money from the feds' climate plan

In hopes of getting the country to meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other ministers announced a climate plan on Dec. 11 that includes an investment of $ 2.6 billion over seven years to help homeowners .
The feds plan to provide homeowners with up to $ 5,000 in grants and one million free EnerGuide assessments to make their homes more energy efficient , though no timeline for these initiatives has been announced yet .
Canada ’ s National Observer spoke to two companies in Ontario that do these assessments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they work and how they ’ re environmentally beneficial .
What is an EnerGuide assessment ?
According to Philip Ridge , president of Ridge Energy , an EnerGuide assessment is a “ road map of energy efficiency ” — essentially an audit that tells a homeowner how their home currently uses energy and which upgrades they can make to save energy .
The assessment is performed by private energy advisers and service organizations that use official trademarks and software from Natural Resources Canada ( NRCan ) under a licensing agreement — making the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • This Calgarian ditched the oilpatch for a career in sustainable energy • Why humans aren ’ t hardwired to respond well to crises Besides learning how energy efficient their homes are , an EnerGuide assessment allows homeowners to apply for rebates and incentives .
For example , Green Home is a program by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation that offers a refund of up to 25 per cent on the cost of mortgage loan insurance for homeowners who renovate their homes .
There are also local programs such as the Home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives homeowners up to $ 5,000 in rebates for upgrading insulation and windows , among other renovations .
Currently , assessments cost $ 400 plus tax , according to Ridge , but they ’ ll be free once the feds ’ plan kicks into gear .
There ’ s also another $ 200 assessment that is done after a homeowner makes renovations to see if they ’ re eligible for the incentive programs .
How should a homeowner prepare for an EnerGuide assessment ?
Before an energy adviser conducts an assessment , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Ridge : • All windows and doors must be in place , and broken windows must be air-sealed with taped poly • The home must be on a permanent foundation or be a permanently moored float home • There must be clear access to the attic , as the energy adviser needs to get into the area to take pictures and measure the insulation level • Any wood-burning fireplaces must be cold prior to the assessment and have the ashes swept out • Homeowners must prepare any documents that may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gas bills or contractor invoices The feds have promised to provide one million EnerGuide assessments to homeowners as part of their new # climate plan .
Here ’ s a breakdown of how the assessments work and how they can make your home more energy efficient .
What happens during the assessment ?
During the one- to three-hour assessment , an energy adviser will first measure the windows , doors and other parts of the house , both from the inside and outside .
They will go in the attic to measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basement or crawlspace .
Then the adviser will perform the blower door test , which is used to measure the airtightness of a home .
The blower door itself is a machine with a high-capacity calibrated fan that is installed in an exterior doorway .
When the fan is turned on , it ’ s able to depressurize the home and lets the energy adviser know where there are drafts in the house — the draftier the house , the more air leakage and heat loss .
After the assessment , the homeowner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The first report breaks down how a home consumes energy on an annual basis through cooling , heating , ventilation , lights and appliances .
It also provides a pie chart that shows the areas in the home that lose the most heat .
The second report identifies potential upgrades that a homeowner can make to save energy and money .
The energy adviser will rank the renovations they believe will be the most beneficial , setting out their costs and potential contributions to greenhouse gas emission reductions .
Paul Gagliardi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeowners they don ’ t have to do all renovations at once .
“ If they have a certain budget in mind , they can do some upgrades today , some upgrades in a year from now and further upgrades in a few years , ” Gagliardi said .
However , he advises people be strategic about which renovations they do first .
For example , homeowners should insulate before replacing a heating system .
“ A house that ’ s more energy efficient because of the added insulation will , down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heating system .
So a customer can downgrade their heating system and save additional money , ” Gagliardi explained .
Finally , homeowners are provided with an EnerGuide label that gives the home a rating on energy efficiency and compares the result to a typical new house of a similar size and location .
The rating is calculated by the estimated amount of energy the home uses each year subtracted by the estimated amount of energy generated annually from on-site renewable sources , such as the wind and sun .
The rating is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a unit of energy roughly equivalent to the energy from two standard barbecue propane tanks or 30 litres of gas in a motor vehicle tank .
A home would have a rating of zero if it generates as much energy as it uses , however Ridge says it ’ s unrealistic for people to meet that goal .
“ A rating of 90 GJ is very reasonable for any house , ” Ridge said .
What are the benefits of getting an EnerGuide assessment ?
For Ridge , an assessment is the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Your personalized report can recommend upgrades to help eliminate drafts , reduce noise and provide consistent temperatures and cleaner air , ” Ridge said .
The more costly a renovation , the more energy is saved .
For example , upgrading the hot water system can save about eight GJs every year , while insulating the foundation can save almost triple that amount , according to Ridge .
A good EnerGuide rating can also add value to the price of a home and be a selling point for prospective buyers , Ridge added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will vary depending on the renovations made , Ridge estimates homeowners can save between $ 500 and $ 1,000 each year .
Gagliardi noted the renovations go beyond energy savings .
“ It ’ s also about comfort , ” Gagliardi said .
“ You ’ re going to save money , you ’ re going to save energy , you ’ re going to reduce your carbon footprint , but you ’ re also going to make your house more comfortable and desirable to live in .
”

In hopes of getting the country to meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other ministers announced a climate plan on Dec. 11 that includes an investment of $2.6 billion over seven years to help homeowners. The feds plan to provide homeowners with up to $5,000 in grants and one million free EnerGuide assessments to make their homes more energy efficient, though no timeline for these initiatives has been announced yet. Canada’s National Observer spoke to two companies in Ontario that do these assessments to get a better idea of how they work and how they’re environmentally beneficial. What is an EnerGuide assessment? According to Philip Ridge, president of Ridge Energy, an EnerGuide assessment is a “road map of energy efficiency” — essentially an audit that tells a homeowner how their home currently uses energy and which upgrades they can make to save energy. The assessment is performed by private energy advisers and service organizations that use official trademarks and software from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) under a licensing agreement — making the energy audits standardized across the country.
Besides learning how energy efficient their homes are, an EnerGuide assessment allows homeowners to apply for rebates and incentives. For example, Green Home is a program by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation that offers a refund of up to 25 per cent on the cost of mortgage loan insurance for homeowners who renovate their homes. There are also local programs such as the Home Efficiency Rebate initiative in Ontario, which gives homeowners up to $5,000 in rebates for upgrading insulation and windows, among other renovations. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Currently, assessments cost $400 plus tax, according to Ridge, but they’ll be free once the feds’ plan kicks into gear. There’s also another $200 assessment that is done after a homeowner makes renovations to see if they’re eligible for the incentive programs.
How should a homeowner prepare for an EnerGuide assessment? The feds have promised to provide one million EnerGuide assessments to homeowners as part of their new #climate plan. Here’s a breakdown of how the assessments work and how they can make your home more energy efficient. Before an energy adviser conducts an assessment, a homeowner must do the following things, according to Ridge: All windows and doors must be in place, and broken windows must be air-sealed with taped poly
The home must be on a permanent foundation or be a permanently moored float home
There must be clear access to the attic, as the energy adviser needs to get into the area to take pictures and measure the insulation level
Any wood-burning fireplaces must be cold prior to the assessment and have the ashes swept out
Homeowners must prepare any documents that may be required, such as property tax bills, gas bills or contractor invoices What happens during the assessment?
During the one- to three-hour assessment, an energy adviser will first measure the windows, doors and other parts of the house, both from the inside and outside. They will go in the attic to measure wall insulation, as well as the basement or crawlspace. Then the adviser will perform the blower door test, which is used to measure the airtightness of a home. The blower door itself is a machine with a high-capacity calibrated fan that is installed in an exterior doorway. When the fan is turned on, it’s able to depressurize the home and lets the energy adviser know where there are drafts in the house — the draftier the house, the more air leakage and heat loss. After the assessment, the homeowner gets two reports and an EnerGuide label. The first report breaks down how a home consumes energy on an annual basis through cooling, heating, ventilation, lights and appliances. It also provides a pie chart that shows the areas in the home that lose the most heat.


nationalobserver--2020-12-29--Anita Georgy talks food security during COVID-19, connecting through agriculture

You might find Anita Georgy on a big pile of soil in her front yard , standing proud after digging up her lawn to make space for a garden .
You ’ ll also find her in the FarmFolk CityFolk ( FFCF ) office , working as executive director for the province ’ s largest food and agriculture non-profit organization .
The group has a number of programs aimed at strengthening food systems , helping farmers and mitigating climate change caused by agriculture .
Raised on a farm in southern Ontario , Georgy has been in Vancouver since the early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caught up with her for a chat about FFCF and her thoughts on food systems .
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the conversation around food security ?
It has elevated it dramatically .
People are worried about their basic needs , like what happens if the world as we know it shuts down ?
What if food can ’ t come to our stores ?
People were stocking up on toilet paper , filling their freezers and buying seeds in a way that we have never seen before .
• This Calgarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainable energy • Why humans aren ’ t hardwired to respond well to crises • Ontario ’ s endangered species changes could cause local extinctions , researchers say We saw so much interest in this conversation , and we ’ ve done our best to respond by supporting farmers , many of whom lost sales channels as restaurants were closing this year .
We ’ re thinking about the initial sort of short-term responses , but also the systemic issues that are being unveiled , and figuring out how to move forward with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strengthening Community Supported Agriculture ( CSA ) program .
What is it and how does it connect urban consumers to farmers ?
Community-supported agriculture is an awesome way for urban folks to connect with their local farmers .
The idea is that people purchase a share of the farm ’ s produce at the start of the year .
They pay for it in advance , which means farmers get the resources when they need it , when input costs are the highest .
Then the farmer is assured of a guaranteed sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true CSA program , the purchaser shares the risk and reward of the farming season , so if the farm doesn ’ t do well , then that consumer gets a little bit less food .
If the farm does really well , they get a little bit more .
It ’ s part of sharing that vulnerability with folks .
This year , especially with COVID , we really saw how incredibly important this type of sales channel is for many of our small farmers .
This year , we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help advertise those programs .
We ’ re going to launch a webinar series in the new year to help more farmers adopt this as a sales channel and support them through that process .
You worked with non-profits in the Lower Mainland , such as the Vancouver Farmers Markets and the Richmond Food Security Society , for a decade before joining FFCF .
What does food security mean to you ?
`` Because we all have to eat , it ’ s a chance for us all to think deeply about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the planet and how we value the role different people play and how food comes to us . ''
# foodsystems # foodsecurity Food security work is really about food access and helping people make sure that they have enough to eat .
The heart of the problem is really economics — people need a guaranteed basic income .
There are many Band-Aid solutions that have become commonplace , such as food banks .
In the same way that we ’ ll always need emergency rooms , we ’ re always going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply , but the fact that food banks have become so institutionalized is not something we should be celebrating .
The work FFCF does is more of a food systems orientation .
We ’ re looking at the gaps in flow , how does the sort of larger-scale economics of production and inputs connect with consumers ?
We don ’ t necessarily try to tackle food security — we look more at creating demand and supporting a local food economy that works for farmers and consumers .
Anita Georgy with her brother on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Photo courtesy of Anita Georgy Your bio says that you believe “ food is the most powerful way to connect people with some of the biggest issues of our time.
” Can you explain that sentiment ?
How have you seen it in action ?
It really is something I just believe in so strongly .
Because we all have to eat , it ’ s a chance for us all to think deeply about how we ’ re connected to each other , the planet and how we value the role different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us .
By looking at our food , there are so many different ways that we can stay connected .
For everybody , the entry point is a little bit different , but there ’ s opportunity for everyone to be thinking about what food means .
Questions like what are the impacts of our food choices ?
Some people do n't have choices about the food they eat and must choose solely on the basis of economics .
What does that mean for their health ?
And how did we get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good , healthy food all the time ?
Canadians rely on just four plant species for 60 per cent of the calories in their diets — wheat , maize , rice and potato .
Your BC Seed Security Program is tackling and challenging that lack of biodiversity .
Can you tell me about that program and why it ’ s important ?
It ’ s related to health .
We need diverse foods in our diet .
It ’ s also related to biodiversity .
The planet needs diversity in our fields and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make sure farmers have access to the inputs that they need to grow diverse crops that do well in their region .

You might find Anita Georgy on a big pile of soil in her front yard, standing proud after digging up her lawn to make space for a garden. You’ll also find her in the FarmFolk CityFolk (FFCF) office, working as executive director for the province’s largest food and agriculture non-profit organization. The group has a number of programs aimed at strengthening food systems, helping farmers and mitigating climate change caused by agriculture. Raised on a farm in southern Ontario, Georgy has been in Vancouver since the early 2000s. Canada’s National Observer caught up with her for a chat about FFCF and her thoughts on food systems. How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the conversation around food security? It has elevated it dramatically. People are worried about their basic needs, like what happens if the world as we know it shuts down? What if food can’t come to our stores? People were stocking up on toilet paper, filling their freezers and buying seeds in a way that we have never seen before.
We saw so much interest in this conversation, and we’ve done our best to respond by supporting farmers, many of whom lost sales channels as restaurants were closing this year. We’re thinking about the initial sort of short-term responses, but also the systemic issues that are being unveiled, and figuring out how to move forward with long-term solutions. Tell me about your Strengthening Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. What is it and how does it connect urban consumers to farmers? Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Community-supported agriculture is an awesome way for urban folks to connect with their local farmers. The idea is that people purchase a share of the farm’s produce at the start of the year. They pay for it in advance, which means farmers get the resources when they need it, when input costs are the highest. Then the farmer is assured of a guaranteed sales channel through the year.
In a true CSA program, the purchaser shares the risk and reward of the farming season, so if the farm doesn’t do well, then that consumer gets a little bit less food. If the farm does really well, they get a little bit more. It’s part of sharing that vulnerability with folks. "Because we all have to eat, it’s a chance for us all to think deeply about how we’re connected to each other, the planet and how we value the role different people play and how food comes to us." #foodsystems #foodsecurity This year, especially with COVID, we really saw how incredibly important this type of sales channel is for many of our small farmers. This year, we’re going to completely revamp that listing and help advertise those programs. We’re going to launch a webinar series in the new year to help more farmers adopt this as a sales channel and support them through that process. You worked with non-profits in the Lower Mainland, such as the Vancouver Farmers Markets and the Richmond Food Security Society, for a decade before joining FFCF. What does food security mean to you? Food security work is really about food access and helping people make sure that they have enough to eat. The heart of the problem is really economics — people need a guaranteed basic income. There are many Band-Aid solutions that have become commonplace, such as food banks. In the same way that we’ll always need emergency rooms, we’re always going to need some sort of emergency food supply, but the fact that food banks have become so institutionalized is not something we should be celebrating.
The work FFCF does is more of a food systems orientation. We’re looking at the gaps in flow, how does the sort of larger-scale economics of production and inputs connect with consumers? We don’t necessarily try to tackle food security — we look more at creating demand and supporting a local food economy that works for farmers and consumers. Anita Georgy with her brother on their family farm in southern Ontario. Photo courtesy of Anita Georgy Your bio says that you believe “food is the most powerful way to connect people with some of the biggest issues of our time.” Can you explain that sentiment? How have you seen it in action?


nationalobserver--2020-12-29--Nova Scotia conservation group purchases 220-hectare wildland near Halifax

HALIFAX — The recent purchase of a huge swath of land just outside Nova Scotia 's capital city marks a “ huge win ” for conservation efforts in the province , according to a local environmental advocate .
On Tuesday , the Nova Scotia Nature Trust said it had successfully completed the purchase of the Blue Mountain Wilderness Connector , a 220-hectare private plot of wildland west of Halifax .
The group ’ s executive director , Bonnie Sutherland , said the purchase will help protect thousands of untouched hectares of wilderness from future industrial , residential and logging development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landscape level connectivity that 's so important for the long term for nature to survive and thrive , ” Sutherland said Tuesday .
“ It 's a huge win for conservation.
” The group said the formerly private land is located between two sections of the provincially protected Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area .
The newly purchased plot of land includes forests , bogs and wetlands and supports over 150 different bird species .
Sutherland said the group raised $ 2.8 million over the last two years to complete the purchase , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partners included the City of Halifax , the Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust and the Canada Nature Fund .
• This Calgarian supports Albertans transitioning to work in a greener economy The protection of the area is a crucial step in warding off encroaching urban expansion , Sutherland said .
“ If you look at an aerial view , you can see that there are intense developments right up to the edges of what 's been protected in almost every direction so those pressures are real . ''
The protected area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreation , ” including hiking , paddling and swimming , Sutherland added .
Momentum for the protection of nature has been steadily growing over the past decade , she said .
“ Twenty-five years ago , there was just a sense that we have tons of nature and we do n't really need to protect it , ” she said .
Sutherland 's group said it plans to protect more than 12,000 hectares across the province by the end of 2023 .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a huge swath of land just outside Nova Scotia 's capital city marks a “ huge win ” for conservation efforts in the province , according to a local environmental advocate .
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship .

HALIFAX — The recent purchase of a huge swath of land just outside Nova Scotia's capital city marks a “huge win” for conservation efforts in the province, according to a local environmental advocate.
On Tuesday, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust said it had successfully completed the purchase of the Blue Mountain Wilderness Connector, a 220-hectare private plot of wildland west of Halifax.
The group’s executive director, Bonnie Sutherland, said the purchase will help protect thousands of untouched hectares of wilderness from future industrial, residential and logging development. “It helps to provide that landscape level connectivity that's so important for the long term for nature to survive and thrive,” Sutherland said Tuesday. “It's a huge win for conservation.”
The group said the formerly private land is located between two sections of the provincially protected Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area. The newly purchased plot of land includes forests, bogs and wetlands and supports over 150 different bird species.
Sutherland said the group raised $2.8 million over the last two years to complete the purchase, which went through in mid-December. Funding partners included the City of Halifax, the Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust and the Canada Nature Fund.


nationalobserver--2020-12-29--Ontario increases vaccinations after facing criticism; Moderna vaccine arrives in the North

Ontario is ramping up its COVID-19 vaccinations after facing criticism for scaling down operations over the holidays , while the Moderna vaccine has started arriving in Canada 's North .
Retired Gen. Rick Hillier , who is leading Ontario 's vaccine program , said the decision to close clinics over Christmas Day and Boxing Day was the wrong one .
`` We 've heard the voices of the people of Ontario saying 'get on with this ' and that 's what we are going to do , '' he said at a news conference Tuesday .
`` We will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillier said more than 14,000 people in the province have received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot as of Tuesday morning .
• This Calgarian supports Albertans transitioning to work in a greener economy He said he has also asked Health Canada to look into whether the Moderna vaccine could be used as a single dose rather than two .
`` Maybe with the high efficiency that protects you in the first needle , it would be best for the entire population if we went with just a one-shot vaccination program with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved , he said , it could potentially allow millions of people to get immunized faster .
Health Canada 's chief medical adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma , who is tasked with overseeing approval of vaccines , said last week that officials are still recommending a second dose .
`` For the Pfizer vaccine , the second dose is given after 21 days , '' she said at the time .
`` For the Moderna , it 's after a month , about 28 days .
`` We would say give the first dose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second dose in a month . ''
Ontario is ramping up its COVID-19 vaccinations after facing criticism for scaling down operations over the holidays , while the Moderna vaccine has started arriving in Canada 's North .
Sharma said officials would n't recommend a significant delay in the second dose , but there is some flexibility .
Hillier said Ontario is expected to receive roughly 50,000 doses of the Moderna shot by Wednesday , with vaccinations in long-term care homes set to follow within 48 to 72 hours .
The Moderna vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has already started arriving in the North .
Both the Northwest Territories and Yukon have received their first shipments .
The Public Health Agency of Canada said in a tweet that the first doses arrived in Yellowknife late Monday , while Yukon Health Social Services Minister Pauline Frost said the territory also received its first shipment of the Moderna vaccine .
Frost said 7,200 doses arrived Monday and more shipments are expected in early January .
She said teams are being trained on safe storage , handling and delivery of the doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable groups first , such as high-risk long-term care residents and staff .
Yukon has had 60 total cases of COVID-19 , but none are currently active and 11 test results are pending .
There were two new COVID-19 cases each Tuesday in Nova Scotia , New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island , while Ontario reported nearly 4,500 new cases in the past two days .
Quebec said it had 2,381 new infections in the past 24 hours .
Manitoba said it identified 133 new cases .

Ontario is ramping up its COVID-19 vaccinations after facing criticism for scaling down operations over the holidays, while the Moderna vaccine has started arriving in Canada's North. Retired Gen. Rick Hillier, who is leading Ontario's vaccine program, said the decision to close clinics over Christmas Day and Boxing Day was the wrong one. "We've heard the voices of the people of Ontario saying 'get on with this' and that's what we are going to do," he said at a news conference Tuesday. "We will not take any more days off." Hillier said more than 14,000 people in the province have received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot as of Tuesday morning.
He said he has also asked Health Canada to look into whether the Moderna vaccine could be used as a single dose rather than two. "Maybe with the high efficiency that protects you in the first needle, it would be best for the entire population if we went with just a one-shot vaccination program with Moderna," he said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions If approved, he said, it could potentially allow millions of people to get immunized faster.
Health Canada's chief medical adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma, who is tasked with overseeing approval of vaccines, said last week that officials are still recommending a second dose. Ontario is ramping up its COVID-19 vaccinations after facing criticism for scaling down operations over the holidays, while the Moderna vaccine has started arriving in Canada's North. "For the Pfizer vaccine, the second dose is given after 21 days," she said at the time. "For the Moderna, it's after a month, about 28 days. "We would say give the first dose and then make sure you can give a second dose in a month." Sharma said officials wouldn't recommend a significant delay in the second dose, but there is some flexibility. Hillier said Ontario is expected to receive roughly 50,000 doses of the Moderna shot by Wednesday, with vaccinations in long-term care homes set to follow within 48 to 72 hours.
The Moderna vaccine, which doesn't require extreme-cold storage, has already started arriving in the North. Both the Northwest Territories and Yukon have received their first shipments. The Public Health Agency of Canada said in a tweet that the first doses arrived in Yellowknife late Monday, while Yukon Health Social Services Minister Pauline Frost said the territory also received its first shipment of the Moderna vaccine.


nationalobserver--2020-12-29--Leadership rumblings in Manitoba politics

The COVID-19 pandemic will shape Manitoba politics in many ways in 2021 .
There will be an ongoing attempt to control outbreaks of the novel coronavirus and to keep hospitals from being overwhelmed .
Decisions will need to be made about how many strict limits on business openings and public gatherings should remain to slow the spread of infection .
And there will be questions about whether Premier Brian Pallister can bounce back from low polling numbers and widespread criticism of the Progressive Conservative government 's response to a spike in cases in the late summer and fall .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face of the government 's response .
He owns it , '' Royce Koop , a professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba , said in reference to Pallister 's many news conferences on COVID-19 .
`` So when it has n't gone well , it 's been Pallister that 's kind of eaten it , entirely by himself . ''
• This Calgarian supports Albertans transitioning to work in a greener economy • Ontario increases vaccinations after facing criticism ; Moderna vaccine arrives in the North For many weeks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provinces in the per-capita rate of new infections .
Wait times at testing sites were long and hospitals appeared to be in a scramble to open up more intensive care beds .
Outbreaks erupted at personal care homes .
Pallister , in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press , pointed out his government was among the first to bring in low limits on public gatherings .
And unlike other provinces in Central Canada and the West , Manitoba instituted mandatory self-isolation for travellers arriving from some other regions .
Still , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Restaurants , bars and other businesses were open .
By the end of October , the daily number of new cases jumped to more than 300 from less than 100 .
`` We were n't ready for the spike that happened , almost spontaneously , in that early couple of weeks of November '' , Pallister said .
The government closed bars and restaurants except for takeout and delivery and limited public gatherings even in private homes — first in Winnipeg and then across the province .
The number of new daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later .
But by then Manitoba was already on the way to posting the second-highest per-capita death rate from COVID-19 , behind Quebec .
The current set of public health orders , which includes a ban on most social gatherings in private homes and a shutdown of non-essential stores , is to expire Jan. 8 .
Pallister said the decision to force businesses to close is not an easy one .
The # COVID19 # pandemic will shape # Manitoba # politics in many ways in 2021 .
# Cdnpoli `` Many times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us we should have shut down the economy sooner do n't have to face the consequences of losing their job , '' he said .
`` It 's hard to take a person and tell them they 're going to be unemployed for the not easily foreseeable future . ''
Pallister has also signalled a possible cabinet shuffle soon that would add a second health minister to his inner circle to help share the workload of the pandemic .
There is also a decision to be made about his own future .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve out a full term until the next provincial vote in October 2023 .
When asked if he still intends to do that , he would only say he will stay on until the pandemic is dealt with .
Koop said that signal will prompt any Tories with leadership aspirations to start organizing .
`` They would have been doing that before ( quietly ) … but now that he 's said this outright , it 's much more of a green light to start moving in that direction . ''
A recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tories has fallen behind that of the NDP for the first time in years , most notably in Winnipeg , where most legislature seats are .
NDP Leader Wab Kinew said his party is focusing on putting forward an alternative vision to the government 's .
`` There is a lot of anger towards the current government .
There is a lot of openness to hear what we 're saying , '' Kinew said .

The COVID-19 pandemic will shape Manitoba politics in many ways in 2021. There will be an ongoing attempt to control outbreaks of the novel coronavirus and to keep hospitals from being overwhelmed. Decisions will need to be made about how many strict limits on business openings and public gatherings should remain to slow the spread of infection. And there will be questions about whether Premier Brian Pallister can bounce back from low polling numbers and widespread criticism of the Progressive Conservative government's response to a spike in cases in the late summer and fall. "Pallister is well and truly the public face of the government's response. He owns it," Royce Koop, a professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba, said in reference to Pallister's many news conferences on COVID-19. "So when it hasn't gone well, it's been Pallister that's kind of eaten it, entirely by himself."
For many weeks in the fall, Manitoba led all other provinces in the per-capita rate of new infections. Wait times at testing sites were long and hospitals appeared to be in a scramble to open up more intensive care beds. Outbreaks erupted at personal care homes. Pallister, in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, pointed out his government was among the first to bring in low limits on public gatherings. And unlike other provinces in Central Canada and the West, Manitoba instituted mandatory self-isolation for travellers arriving from some other regions. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Still, the virus spread as people continued to mingle. Restaurants, bars and other businesses were open. By the end of October, the daily number of new cases jumped to more than 300 from less than 100.
"We weren't ready for the spike that happened, almost spontaneously, in that early couple of weeks of November", Pallister said. The #COVID19 #pandemic will shape #Manitoba #politics in many ways in 2021. #Cdnpoli The government closed bars and restaurants except for takeout and delivery and limited public gatherings even in private homes — first in Winnipeg and then across the province. The number of new daily cases started to drop a few weeks later. But by then Manitoba was already on the way to posting the second-highest per-capita death rate from COVID-19, behind Quebec. The current set of public health orders, which includes a ban on most social gatherings in private homes and a shutdown of non-essential stores, is to expire Jan. 8. Pallister said the decision to force businesses to close is not an easy one. "Many times, I notice that people who tell us we should have shut down the economy sooner don't have to face the consequences of losing their job," he said. "It's hard to take a person and tell them they're going to be unemployed for the not easily foreseeable future." Pallister has also signalled a possible cabinet shuffle soon that would add a second health minister to his inner circle to help share the workload of the pandemic.
There is also a decision to be made about his own future. In the last election, Pallister promised to serve out a full term until the next provincial vote in October 2023. When asked if he still intends to do that, he would only say he will stay on until the pandemic is dealt with. Koop said that signal will prompt any Tories with leadership aspirations to start organizing.


nationalobserver--2020-12-29--Canada surpasses 15,000 deaths related to COVID-19

Canada surpassed 15,000 COVID-19 deaths on Monday , and at least one infectious disease expert says the somber milestone should be a wake-up call to anyone who thinks the dangers of the disease are overhyped .
Quebec reported 37 deaths Monday , pushing Canada past 15,000 .
Health officials in that province said seven deaths took place in the last 24 hours , 27 occurred between Dec. 21 and Dec. 26 , and three were from unspecified dates .
Alberta followed later in the day , announcing that 112 people died over the course of the holidays between Dec. 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 30 deaths on Dec. 23 and a low of 17 on Christmas .
More than 1,000 people have now died in Alberta since the pandemic began .
`` This tragic milestone is more than a number or statistic , '' Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said in a statement .
• Ontario increases vaccinations after facing criticism ; Moderna vaccine arrives in the North • This Calgarian supports Albertans transitioning to work in a greener economy `` It represents more than 1,000 mothers , wives , fathers , husbands – empty spaces around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Each one means that there is a family that is grieving , a friend who has lost someone they loved , a child who lost their parent , a partner who lost their true love . ''
Reaching more than 15,000 deaths in the nine months since the pandemic began highlights just how serious COVID-19 is , said Dr. Gerald Evans , chair of the infectious diseases division at Queen 's University in Kingston , Ont .
Canada had earlier surpassed 10,000 COVID-19 deaths on Oct. 27 and passed the 5,000 mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing exactly what 's being seen around the world , which is that there are substantially large numbers of deaths from this virus .
It ’ s not the flu , '' Evans said in an interview on Monday .
`` I would hope that it would reinforce to these people who are saying that it 's a big hype , ” he said .
`` It 's not a hype .
People are dying from this .
This is a deadly disease . ''
Quebec also reported 2,265 new cases of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the province recorded more than 2,200 new infections .
'This is a deadly disease ; ' # Canada surpasses 15,000 deaths related to # COVID19 .
`` The situation is critical in hospitals , '' Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube tweeted Monday , urging Quebecers to respect a provincewide lockdown over the holiday period .
The province has 1,124 COVID-19 hospitalizations , including 150 people in intensive care , and officials warned that many hospitals were full .
Manitoba reported 107 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and nine additional deaths linked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 654 deaths since the pandemic began .
Nunavut reported one new infection in Whale Cove , a community that went into lockdown on Christmas Eve .
The territory now has nine active cases of COVID-19 .
In Atlantic Canada , Newfoundland and Labrador reported two new cases of COVID-19 on Monday , while New Brunswick said one new infection was detected in the Fredericton area .
After a break in reporting , authorities in Nova Scotia also said they had identified 13 new cases of COVID-19 since Dec. 25 .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a previous case or to travel outside of Atlantic Canada .
Officials in N.L .
said one of the new infections related to international travel , while the other is a man who returned from working in Alberta .
The province had 19 active cases of COVID-19 with one person in hospital .
New Brunswick had 33 active cases , including three hospitalizations .
`` Non-essential travel is very risky right now , '' New Brunswick 's chief medical officer of health , Dr. Jennifer Russell , said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and transmission to household members when self-isolation measures are not strictly adhered to , '' Russell said , calling on people who need to self-isolate to do so for the full 14 days as per public health directives .
Ontario was not reporting new COVID-19 case numbers on Monday after registering 2,005 new infections on Sunday , as well as 18 more deaths .
Meanwhile on Monday , Alberta became the third province in Canada to report a case of a more contagious strain of the virus .
Provincial medical health officer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started showing symptoms after returning from the United Kingdom , where the variant was first seen , and did everything correctly in terms of isolating upon their return .
Cases of the new variant have also been detected in the Toronto area , Ottawa and on Vancouver Island in B.C .
The Public Health Agency of Canada said while early data suggests the new variant may be more transmissible , there is no evidence the variant causes more severe symptoms or impacts vaccine effectiveness .
B.C .
did n't update its numbers Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new outbreaks in assisted-living and long-term care facilities .
— With files from Denise Paglinawan in Toronto , Sarah Smellie in St. John 's and Rob Drinkwater in Edmonton .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28 , 2020 .

Canada surpassed 15,000 COVID-19 deaths on Monday, and at least one infectious disease expert says the somber milestone should be a wake-up call to anyone who thinks the dangers of the disease are overhyped. Quebec reported 37 deaths Monday, pushing Canada past 15,000. Health officials in that province said seven deaths took place in the last 24 hours, 27 occurred between Dec. 21 and Dec. 26, and three were from unspecified dates. Alberta followed later in the day, announcing that 112 people died over the course of the holidays between Dec. 23 and Dec. 27, with a high of 30 deaths on Dec. 23 and a low of 17 on Christmas. More than 1,000 people have now died in Alberta since the pandemic began. "This tragic milestone is more than a number or statistic," Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said in a statement.
"It represents more than 1,000 mothers, wives, fathers, husbands – empty spaces around the table that can never be filled. Each one means that there is a family that is grieving, a friend who has lost someone they loved, a child who lost their parent, a partner who lost their true love." Reaching more than 15,000 deaths in the nine months since the pandemic began highlights just how serious COVID-19 is, said Dr. Gerald Evans, chair of the infectious diseases division at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Canada had earlier surpassed 10,000 COVID-19 deaths on Oct. 27 and passed the 5,000 mark on May 12.
"We are seeing exactly what's being seen around the world, which is that there are substantially large numbers of deaths from this virus. It’s not the flu," Evans said in an interview on Monday. 'This is a deadly disease;' #Canada surpasses 15,000 deaths related to #COVID19. "I would hope that it would reinforce to these people who are saying that it's a big hype,” he said. "It's not a hype. People are dying from this. This is a deadly disease." Quebec also reported 2,265 new cases of COVID-19 — the second day in a row the province recorded more than 2,200 new infections. "The situation is critical in hospitals," Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube tweeted Monday, urging Quebecers to respect a provincewide lockdown over the holiday period. The province has 1,124 COVID-19 hospitalizations, including 150 people in intensive care, and officials warned that many hospitals were full.
Manitoba reported 107 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and nine additional deaths linked to the virus, increasing the provincial total to 654 deaths since the pandemic began. Nunavut reported one new infection in Whale Cove, a community that went into lockdown on Christmas Eve. The territory now has nine active cases of COVID-19. In Atlantic Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador reported two new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, while New Brunswick said one new infection was detected in the Fredericton area.


nationalobserver--2020-12-29--Poll reveals low levels of satisfaction over Prairie premiers' handling of pandemic

A new poll suggests the premiers of Canada ’ s three Prairie provinces are lagging counterparts from the rest of the country when it comes to how local residents feel they are managing the COVID-19 pandemic .
The poll from Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies found 30 per cent of respondents in Alberta were satisfied with the job Premier Jason Kenney was doing when it comes to COVID-19 – the lowest level of satisfaction for Canada 's 10 provincial leaders .
Kenney has faced criticism in recent weeks for resisting calls to impose lockdowns even as Alberta contended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which at one point saw it have more active cases than Ontario .
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister , whose province has also been battered by new infections during the second wave of COVID-19 , fared slightly better than Kenney with 31 per cent of provincial respondents approving of his management of the pandemic .
Pallister ’ s government faced heavy criticism after testing capacity and contact tracing initially failed to keep up with demand as case numbers spiked .
For much of the fall , Manitoba led all other provinces in new infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Albertans transitioning to work in a greener economy • Ontario increases vaccinations after facing criticism ; Moderna vaccine arrives in the North The only other premier with less than 50 per cent satisfaction was Saskatchewan 's Scott Moe at 39 per cent .
Moe 's government has also been criticized for not responding sooner to a steady increase in infections in the province .
Meanwhile , just over half of respondents from Ontario approved of the job that Premier Doug Ford was doing .
In neighbouring Quebec , 55 per cent of respondents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francois Legault .
In .
British Columbia , Premier John Horgan 's handling of the pandemic garnered a thumbs-up from 59 per cent of respondents .
Premiers in the Atlantic provinces , which have seen relatively few COVID-19 cases since March , fared the best , with Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil coming out on top with 78 per cent of local respondents approving of his management of the pandemic .
The online poll of 3,801 Canadians was conducted Dec. 4 to Dec. 20 , but can not be assigned a margin of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly random .
Poll suggests low levels of satisfaction over # Prairie premiers handling of # pandemic .
# COVID19 Poll participants were also asked how they felt about their provincial leaders ' record in several other areas , including their approach to the environment , support to vulnerable people and management of provincial finances .
Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King fared the best across nearly all of those categories , while Kenney and Pallister were at the bottom .
Leaders were also assessed on their trustworthiness , transparency , decisiveness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the numbers compiled to create what Leger describes as a `` leadership score . ''
King once again came out on top by that measurement with a score of eight out of 10 followed by Legault at 7.1 and McNeil with 6.9 .
Kenney and Pallister brought up the rear with 5.2 and 5.3 , respectively .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29 , 2020 .

A new poll suggests the premiers of Canada’s three Prairie provinces are lagging counterparts from the rest of the country when it comes to how local residents feel they are managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
The poll from Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies found 30 per cent of respondents in Alberta were satisfied with the job Premier Jason Kenney was doing when it comes to COVID-19 – the lowest level of satisfaction for Canada's 10 provincial leaders.
Kenney has faced criticism in recent weeks for resisting calls to impose lockdowns even as Alberta contended with a surge of new infections, which at one point saw it have more active cases than Ontario.
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, whose province has also been battered by new infections during the second wave of COVID-19, fared slightly better than Kenney with 31 per cent of provincial respondents approving of his management of the pandemic.
Pallister’s government faced heavy criticism after testing capacity and contact tracing initially failed to keep up with demand as case numbers spiked. For much of the fall, Manitoba led all other provinces in new infections per capita.


nationalobserver--2020-12-28--This Calgarian supports Albertans transitioning to work in a greener economy

As part of a series highlighting the work of young people in addressing the climate crisis , writer Patricia Lane interviews Nick Kendrick , a Calgary sustainable energy expert .
The 1990s were personally tough for me .
I spent the decade immersed in action based on climate catastrophe science , trying , and by all accounts failing , to stem the tide .
Hardest of all , death and dementia came to my family .
As my awareness deepened about the growing divide between young and old and rich and poor , grief had become a pretty constant companion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the abyss of fear and loss or choose the only thing stronger : love .
To choose love is to hope .
But I had forgotten how .
So I made a resolution — one that could last a year or even a decade if need be .
I chose to study hope .
Part of my journey is to seek out promising young people who are contending in evidence-based and impactful ways with the climate crisis and engage them in conversations about hope .
I am grateful for Canada ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalism , which provides these determined , joyful and , yes , hopeful young people a voice .
Nick Kendrick graduated from university in 2011 in Nova Scotia with significant student debt .
Like a lot of his friends , he went to work in Alberta ’ s oilsands .
Now , at 31 , he has a master of science in sustainable energy development and a LEED Green Associate certificate in sustainable building practices .
He is part of a project management team that supports a First Nations-run solar energy installation at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at his home in Calgary .
• Ontario increases vaccinations after facing criticism ; Moderna vaccine arrives in the North • Why humans aren ’ t hardwired to respond well to crises Tell us about your work in the oil and gas industry .
I worked at a tailings pond processing plant where I improved the safety and effectiveness of the operation .
I learned on the job and worked my way up to become the senior control room operator .
It was important work that I liked a lot .
The pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half the year .
What caused the change in your career path ?
In 2016 , there were a lot of layoffs .
It was hard to see my friends go through that , and I could see it coming , maybe , for me .
We lived in Fort McMurray , and we had to travel to see both our families and most of our friends .
My wife is a dental hygienist , and she can work anywhere , but for me ... it was too uncertain .
We were talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I wanted my nights and weekends off and some stability .
It was time to make the shift .
Nick Kendrick on his wedding day .
Young or old , there are always opportunities to learn more , Kendrick says .
Photo from Nick Kendrick `` If you just put a toe in the water , you never know where it is going to lead .
Small opportunities can become big ones . ''
# renewableenergy # solarpower Tell us about your pathway .
I went to the University of Calgary because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development .
My major research project was for Iron & Earth to map the places in Alberta likely to be facing economic downturns and match them with other places that had workers with skills that could be repurposed for renewable energy projects .
I also provided forecasts of the resulting energy production and emission reductions .
Nick Kendrick went to the University of Calgary because it offered a program in sustainable energy development .
Photo from Nick Kendrick The people at Iron & Earth are themselves former oil and gas workers who understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our dependence on fossil fuels , we have to provide workers with good , steady jobs that pay well .
They offer training for the transition and lobby governments to provide better funding for workers interested in switching .
I am proud that my research allows them to provide good data to support their applications .
What are you proudest of at the Fort Chipewyan installation ?
This is the largest remote solar farm in Canada .
Its 5,760 solar panels will supply the remote northeast Alberta community with 25 per cent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diesel every year .
It was 100 per cent driven by collaboration between Mikisew Cree First Nation , Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Fort Chipewyan Métis Association .
I am most excited about the projects that people can see make their lives better every day .
Three Nations Energy is pilot testing solar cabins .
Now if you want to go to your hunting or fishing cabin , you have to take in diesel as your power source .
It ’ s heavy , dirty , noisy , dangerous and expensive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ means people have a year-round , clean , free , safe , quiet , energy source .
Using your cabin just got a whole lot easier and more pleasant .
There is also a sustainable fresh produce farm in the first testing phase .
To have fresh leafy greens in the middle of winter in Fort Chipewyan — that is really something !
Eventually , the project will include aquaponics , which will allow for fish and aquaculture , as well as hardier fresh vegetables like tomatoes .
We are training locals to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the buildout .
Adults may be intimidated by the climate justice crisis , but young people see opportunity .
These youth see energy sovereignty and a better life with renewables than they had before .
Did the way your parents raise you influence where you are today ?
My mom just had her first solar panels installed .
She has been saving for a while , and it 's a big deal for her .
She taught me to take responsibility for the water I used and to reuse and recycle .
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coast guard , so taking care of the ocean is second nature .
He went back to school and got his master ’ s degree on the impacts of climate change in the Arctic oceans .
In his retirement , he is considering writing a PhD .
He taught me the importance of always learning .
Nick Kendrick as a young boy poses with his father .
Photo from Nick Kendrick Do you have advice for other young people ?
No matter where you work , I respect you for putting food on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say that my life has additional meaning now .
I like that .
If you just put a toe in the water , you never know where it is going to lead .
Small opportunities can become big ones .
How can older people support you ?
The way you vote is important .
Teaching the young people in your sphere of influence that we only have one Earth , that is important .
And listen to them .
Learn what they know .
Young or old , there are always opportunities @ @ @ @

As part of a series highlighting the work of young people in addressing the climate crisis, writer Patricia Lane interviews Nick Kendrick, a Calgary sustainable energy expert. The 1990s were personally tough for me. I spent the decade immersed in action based on climate catastrophe science, trying, and by all accounts failing, to stem the tide. Hardest of all, death and dementia came to my family. As my awareness deepened about the growing divide between young and old and rich and poor, grief had become a pretty constant companion. I could choose to go further into the abyss of fear and loss or choose the only thing stronger: love. To choose love is to hope. But I had forgotten how. So I made a resolution — one that could last a year or even a decade if need be. I chose to study hope. Part of my journey is to seek out promising young people who are contending in evidence-based and impactful ways with the climate crisis and engage them in conversations about hope. I am grateful for Canada’s National Observer’s commitment to solutions journalism, which provides these determined, joyful and, yes, hopeful young people a voice. Nick Kendrick graduated from university in 2011 in Nova Scotia with significant student debt. Like a lot of his friends, he went to work in Alberta’s oilsands. Now, at 31, he has a master of science in sustainable energy development and a LEED Green Associate certificate in sustainable building practices. He is part of a project management team that supports a First Nations-run solar energy installation at Fort Chipewyan. I chatted with him at his home in Calgary.
Tell us about your work in the oil and gas industry. I worked at a tailings pond processing plant where I improved the safety and effectiveness of the operation. I learned on the job and worked my way up to become the senior control room operator. It was important work that I liked a lot. The pay was great, and we only worked half the year. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions What caused the change in your career path?
In 2016, there were a lot of layoffs. It was hard to see my friends go through that, and I could see it coming, maybe, for me. We lived in Fort McMurray, and we had to travel to see both our families and most of our friends. My wife is a dental hygienist, and she can work anywhere, but for me ... it was too uncertain. We were talking about wanting to start a family, and I wanted my nights and weekends off and some stability. It was time to make the shift. "If you just put a toe in the water, you never know where it is going to lead. Small opportunities can become big ones." #renewableenergy #solarpower Nick Kendrick on his wedding day. Young or old, there are always opportunities to learn more, Kendrick says. Photo from Nick Kendrick Tell us about your pathway. I went to the University of Calgary because it offered a program in sustainable energy development. My major research project was for Iron & Earth to map the places in Alberta likely to be facing economic downturns and match them with other places that had workers with skills that could be repurposed for renewable energy projects. I also provided forecasts of the resulting energy production and emission reductions.
Nick Kendrick went to the University of Calgary because it offered a program in sustainable energy development. Photo from Nick Kendrick The people at Iron & Earth are themselves former oil and gas workers who understand that if we are going to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, we have to provide workers with good, steady jobs that pay well. They offer training for the transition and lobby governments to provide better funding for workers interested in switching. I am proud that my research allows them to provide good data to support their applications.


nationalobserver--2020-12-30--How the founder of Suppli hopes to fix Toronto's takeout waste woes

Megan Takeda-Tully had been frustrated by takeout waste for years but had “ sort of hoped that someone else might come up with a solution ” before creating a reusable container supply service that launched a few months ago .
“ I got to the point where I thought I should probably stop complaining and just do something , ” she said in a phone interview .
Her startup company , Suppli , has so far signed up five restaurants in Toronto ’ s Cabbagetown neighbourhood , as well as hundreds of consumers wanting their takeout delivered in Suppli ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She ’ s planning to add another three or four restaurants further east in the Beaches next month , and says she ’ s fielding interest from elsewhere in Toronto , as well as from other Canadian cities and even south of the border .
“ The interest has been really , really great and exciting .
It seems like the market is really kind of ready for this , ” said the 35-year-old investment manager , now on extended parental leave from non-profit Grand Challenges Canada .
• This Calgarian supports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy • Poll reveals low levels of satisfaction over Prairie premiers ' handling of pandemic But she also says she now understands why it hadn ’ t been done before .
“ I 'll be honest , it seems like a simple solution , but there are a lot of logistics to it and pieces to make work together , ” she said .
For now , Takeda-Tully is happy to work on proving out the business model and getting the infrastructure blueprint set up before considering expansion into other cities .
Suppli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a price similar to what they pay for standard single-use containers ( or less than they ’ d previously paid for eco-friendly disposable ones ) .
Consumers sign up for free and pay 99 cents per order to request the boxes .
They can return them at a drop-off network largely consisting of participating restaurants , and Suppli sends them off to be professionally cleaned and restocked .
Diners are charged $ 20 for containers that don ’ t make it back .
Suppli 's containers are made of food-grade stainless steel with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Takeda-Tully Since a soft launch in October , Suppli ’ s partners have sent out meals in more than 600 of its containers , and Takeda-Tully says her company has lost less than one per cent of them , with early adopters “ willing to take leaps and bounds ” to return the containers .
After years of being frustrated by takeout waste , Megan Takeda-Tully launched Suppli , a reusable container supply service , earlier this year .
“ I got to the point where I thought I should probably stop complaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return rate is important in the long term , since a stainless steel container that sits unused is not working off the carbon intensity used to produce it .
“ I 'd be really proud to have that volume increase but also keep my inventory level down so that we are really minimizing our footprint , ” she said , noting that she ’ d be happy to be sending out 3,000 to 4,000 containers a month by the middle of next year .
Takeda-Tully , who started planning the business venture in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hindrance , but it 's also made people far more aware of how much single-use plastic they use when ordering takeout .
“ Nothing is quick , ” she said , noting it took four months to source the containers .
“ That ’ s one thing I ’ ve learned to plan for in my timeline.
” Another is to listen to what her customers are saying .
She says she initially thought a subscription model would work best , but after speaking to about 100 people interested in the offering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per order and drop them off themselves rather than pay for collection .
“ Just being comfortable and open to things ( and ) needing to shift quickly , ” she said .

Megan Takeda-Tully had been frustrated by takeout waste for years but had “sort of hoped that someone else might come up with a solution” before creating a reusable container supply service that launched a few months ago. “I got to the point where I thought I should probably stop complaining and just do something,” she said in a phone interview. Her startup company, Suppli, has so far signed up five restaurants in Toronto’s Cabbagetown neighbourhood, as well as hundreds of consumers wanting their takeout delivered in Suppli’s stainless steel containers with silicone lids. She’s planning to add another three or four restaurants further east in the Beaches next month, and says she’s fielding interest from elsewhere in Toronto, as well as from other Canadian cities and even south of the border. “The interest has been really, really great and exciting. It seems like the market is really kind of ready for this,” said the 35-year-old investment manager, now on extended parental leave from non-profit Grand Challenges Canada.
But she also says she now understands why it hadn’t been done before. “I'll be honest, it seems like a simple solution, but there are a lot of logistics to it and pieces to make work together,” she said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions For now, Takeda-Tully is happy to work on proving out the business model and getting the infrastructure blueprint set up before considering expansion into other cities.
Suppli works by renting containers to restaurants at a price similar to what they pay for standard single-use containers (or less than they’d previously paid for eco-friendly disposable ones). Consumers sign up for free and pay 99 cents per order to request the boxes. After years of being frustrated by takeout waste, Megan Takeda-Tully launched Suppli, a reusable container supply service, earlier this year. “I got to the point where I thought I should probably stop complaining and just do something.” They can return them at a drop-off network largely consisting of participating restaurants, and Suppli sends them off to be professionally cleaned and restocked. Diners are charged $20 for containers that don’t make it back. Suppli's containers are made of food-grade stainless steel with silicone lids. Photo supplied by Megan Takeda-Tully Since a soft launch in October, Suppli’s partners have sent out meals in more than 600 of its containers, and Takeda-Tully says her company has lost less than one per cent of them, with early adopters “willing to take leaps and bounds” to return the containers. A high return rate is important in the long term, since a stainless steel container that sits unused is not working off the carbon intensity used to produce it.
“I'd be really proud to have that volume increase but also keep my inventory level down so that we are really minimizing our footprint,” she said, noting that she’d be happy to be sending out 3,000 to 4,000 containers a month by the middle of next year. Takeda-Tully, who started planning the business venture in January, says the pandemic has been a hindrance, but it's also made people far more aware of how much single-use plastic they use when ordering takeout. “Nothing is quick,” she said, noting it took four months to source the containers. “That’s one thing I’ve learned to plan for in my timeline.”


nationalobserver--2020-12-30--Child-care advocacy group pushes feds for equitable, well-funded national system

Sonia Poliquin , a single mother and hairdresser in Ottawa , says she hasn ’ t been able to find child care for her nine-year-old son since the start of the pandemic due to the cost and the long wait-lists .
“ Things are really tight right now , ” Poliquin said .
“ I have to work longer hours to make ends meet.
” Her options for informal child care for Robert-Michel are limited .
With the rest of her family in Sherbrooke , Que.
, her son often has to go to his friend ’ s house and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ballantyne explained there are “ child-care deserts ” in the country where there are more than three children competing for a single daycare spot .
“ We need public management to ensure that there ’ s adequate supply and that it is also equitably distributed , ” Ballantyne said .
“ Where child care is set up is really not a decision of the government .
It ’ s a decision of individuals or organizations that decide essentially where to set up shop.
” That ’ s the case for both the private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Morna Ballantyne , executive director of the advocacy group Child Care Now , is calling on the feds to increase spending on child care by $ 2 billion each year until there ’ s sufficient public funding to achieve a universal system .
# cdnpoli She also wants to see good-quality child care and the “ inclusivity of all children , regardless of their learning and needs.
” Ballantyne said she ’ s hopeful the government will make good on its word and include a national child-care system in the 2021 budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she stressed that funding can not just be provided for the upcoming fiscal year — long-term commitments are needed .
In 2017 , the feds budgeted $ 7 billion for early learning and child-care spending over a 10-year period , but for Ballantyne , it was “ not nearly enough and it didn ’ t increase significantly each year.
” Ballantyne is calling on the feds to increase spending on child care by $ 2 billion each year until there ’ s sufficient public funding to achieve a universal system .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , parents and economies will benefit regardless of jurisdiction , ” Ballantyne said .

Sonia Poliquin, a single mother and hairdresser in Ottawa, says she hasn’t been able to find child care for her nine-year-old son since the start of the pandemic due to the cost and the long wait-lists.
“Things are really tight right now,” Poliquin said. “I have to work longer hours to make ends meet.”
Her options for informal child care for Robert-Michel are limited. With the rest of her family in Sherbrooke, Que., her son often has to go to his friend’s house and wait for her to finish work.
“The last thing I want is to have a stranger in my house to come babysit,” Poliquin said. “Most of my friends are working in the public, so I don’t want them to take care of my child when they are exposed to a lot of people as well.”
The federal government’s throne speech included a promise to create a universal child-care system, a pledge backed up in its fall economic statement. The Liberals proposed to spend $585 million on child care, with the majority of that going towards supporting provinces and territories to train and retain qualified early childhood educators.


nationalobserver--2020-12-30--Even with a COVID-19 vaccine, we still need paid sick days

As a front-line health provider , December brought me two rays of hope : a COVID-19 vaccine and a private member ’ s bill in Canada ’ s largest province to legislate permanent paid sick days .
While vaccination has begun , action on paid sick days is stalled again after the Ontario legislature was closed early for the holidays .
After nearly half a million infections and more than 15,000 deaths across Canada , both the vaccine and paid sick leave are crucial to preventing COVID-19 .
It was heartening to see first recipients of the vaccine were a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal support worker in Ontario , and it ’ s important that the vaccine rollout be guided by equity .
As chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam explains , “ the equitable allocation of vaccines where there is limited supply needs to take into account who is most at risk of exposure and severe outcomes.
” People need to take time out of their day to get vaccinated .
Both workers with paid sick days and their children have higher vaccination rates against the flu and better access to other preventive health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase vaccination rates .
But as it stands , paid sick days are denied to those at greatest risk of COVID-19 : low-wage workers in precarious front-line jobs , who are disproportionately women , racialized people and migrants .
The COVID-19 vaccine is safe , effective and crucial to addressing the pandemic , but it is not a panacea .
Its effect on asymptomatic transmission is not yet known , nor is the duration of protection .
None of this takes away from the importance of the vaccine , but it does indicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health protections like paid sick days to complement vaccine prevention .
The COVID-19 vaccine only works against COVID-19 .
It will do nothing to stop the spread of flu in long-term care homes , the spread of gastroenteritis in restaurants , the higher rate of workplace injuries among workers who go to work sick or the spread of future pandemics .
`` Just as vaccination should strive for universal coverage and be guided by equity , governments should legislate paid sick days on the same basis , '' writes emergency physician Jesse McLaren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential to allow workers to stay home when sick , regardless of the illness .
That ’ s why health providers with the Decent Work and Health Network had been calling for paid sick days years before COVID-19 , and more recently in a report , which explained why a pandemic response must include permanent paid sick days available to all workers on the first day of symptoms .
Responding to COVID-19 will require addressing vaccine hesitancy , but also hesitancy around legislating paid sick days .
Just as there are vaccine myths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myths — from claims that they invite abuse or that they ’ re bad for the economy .
But jurisdictions from San Francisco to New York that legislated paid sick years ago found no widespread abuse or impact on jobs numbers , and support from small businesses .
In fact , many businesses report that paid sick leave increases employee retention and creates long-term cost savings .
There are rising calls for paid sick days — from the Toronto Board of Health to mayors of Ontario ’ s largest cities to the Ontario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days “ essential to protect worker and community health.
” It ’ s time that governments across the country recognize both the vaccine and paid sick days as essential , evidence-based and complementary policies .
In the face of a rising second wave , both must be rapidly rolled out , guided by equity and with a goal of universal accessibility .
Jesse McLaren is an emergency physician and member of the Decent Work and Health Network .

As a front-line health provider, December brought me two rays of hope: a COVID-19 vaccine and a private member’s bill in Canada’s largest province to legislate permanent paid sick days. While vaccination has begun, action on paid sick days is stalled again after the Ontario legislature was closed early for the holidays. After nearly half a million infections and more than 15,000 deaths across Canada, both the vaccine and paid sick leave are crucial to preventing COVID-19. It was heartening to see first recipients of the vaccine were a long-term care resident in Quebec and a personal support worker in Ontario, and it’s important that the vaccine rollout be guided by equity. As chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam explains, “the equitable allocation of vaccines where there is limited supply needs to take into account who is most at risk of exposure and severe outcomes.” As we’ve learned through the first two waves of COVID-19, risk of exposure is not a reflection of the virus but of social and economic conditions. Low-wage, racialized workers who have been most impacted by COVID-19 must be among the priority groups for receiving the vaccine. These are the workers in health care, cleaning, warehouses, grocery stores and other sectors who have kept our economies going, often in precarious working conditions without paid sick days. Just as vaccination should strive for universal coverage and be guided by equity, governments should legislate paid sick days on the same basis.
On Dec. 8 in Ontario, NDP MPP Peggy Sattler introduced the Stay Home If You Are Sick Act to provide seven permanent paid sick days with an additional 14 days for public health emergencies. But the same day Premier Doug Ford’s conservative government adjourned early, leaving workers still facing the impossible decision between staying home when sick and their financial security. Action is needed immediately from provincial governments across the country to support paid sick leave. There are many reasons why vaccination and paid sick days go hand in hand. A mass vaccination campaign will take months, but there are currently more than 6,000 COVID-19 infections and 100 deaths every day across the country. We cannot sit back while the death toll mounts, when there is effective and complementary legislation that could be enacted tomorrow. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Legislating paid sick days would have an immediate impact on reducing workplace transmission — as it did in the U.S., where states that gained access to paid sick leave through federal legislation saw 400 fewer COVID-19 cases per state per day — and serve as a bridge to prevent COVID-19 until mass vaccination.
People need to take time out of their day to get vaccinated. Both workers with paid sick days and their children have higher vaccination rates against the flu and better access to other preventive health services. Evidence shows paid sick days increase vaccination rates. But as it stands, paid sick days are denied to those at greatest risk of COVID-19: low-wage workers in precarious front-line jobs, who are disproportionately women, racialized people and migrants. "Just as vaccination should strive for universal coverage and be guided by equity, governments should legislate paid sick days on the same basis," writes emergency physician Jesse McLaren. #onpoli The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and crucial to addressing the pandemic, but it is not a panacea. Its effect on asymptomatic transmission is not yet known, nor is the duration of protection. None of this takes away from the importance of the vaccine, but it does indicate that we need additional levels of public health protections like paid sick days to complement vaccine prevention. The COVID-19 vaccine only works against COVID-19. It will do nothing to stop the spread of flu in long-term care homes, the spread of gastroenteritis in restaurants, the higher rate of workplace injuries among workers who go to work sick or the spread of future pandemics. Paid sick days are essential to allow workers to stay home when sick, regardless of the illness. That’s why health providers with the Decent Work and Health Network had been calling for paid sick days years before COVID-19, and more recently in a report, which explained why a pandemic response must include permanent paid sick days available to all workers on the first day of symptoms. Responding to COVID-19 will require addressing vaccine hesitancy, but also hesitancy around legislating paid sick days. Just as there are vaccine myths, there are also paid sick day myths — from claims that they invite abuse or that they’re bad for the economy.
But jurisdictions from San Francisco to New York that legislated paid sick years ago found no widespread abuse or impact on jobs numbers, and support from small businesses. In fact, many businesses report that paid sick leave increases employee retention and creates long-term cost savings. There are rising calls for paid sick days — from the Toronto Board of Health to mayors of Ontario’s largest cities to the Ontario Medical Association. Tam calls paid sick days “essential to protect worker and community health.” It’s time that governments across the country recognize both the vaccine and paid sick days as essential, evidence-based and complementary policies. In the face of a rising second wave, both must be rapidly rolled out, guided by equity and with a goal of universal accessibility.


nationalobserver--2020-12-30--Federal fisheries minister facing flak over Discovery Islands fish farm decision

A coalition of industry stakeholders and Vancouver Island mayors wants Ottawa to outline how it plans to address the potential impacts of its decision to phase out fish farms in the Discovery Islands .
Four northern Vancouver Island mayors and the BC Salmon Farmers Association ’ s board of directors issued a letter to federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan on Tuesday asking her how she ’ ll help coastal communities reliant on the industry recover .
“ Your shocking decision to order Discovery Islands-area salmon farms closed directly puts at risk 1,500 jobs supported by those farms in the short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ striking at a sustainable ( COVID-19 ) recovery industry and at the economic viability of the entire $ 1.6-billion salmon farming industry in B.C.
, ” the letter reads .
Mayors Andrew Adams of Campbell River , Dennis Dugas of Port Hardy , Brad Unger of Gold River and Gaby Wickstrom of Port McNeill were signatories of the open letter criticizing the recent decision to wind down operations over the next 18 months .
Salmon farming is one of the region ’ s most significant local employers and the decision risks the viability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-Indigenous communities , the letter outlined .
• This Calgarian supports Albertans transitioning to work in a greener economy • Poll reveals low levels of satisfaction over Prairie premiers ' handling of pandemic “ Yet you made this decision without even speaking to the industry , nor locally elected officials who deeply understand B.C.
’ s salmon farming communities and have a direct interest in your action , ” the stakeholders wrote .
Aquaculture operators have lambasted the minister for giving the industry little warning about the decision , which was made just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jordan announced 19 fish farms in the Discovery Islands , northeast of Vancouver Island , must close by June 30 , 2022 .
And in the meantime , no new fish can be added to farms in the area .
The decision was largely the result of consultations with the region ’ s seven First Nations , which had overwhelmingly expressed concern about the operations in their traditional territories , Jordan said .
The contentious fish farms , located along key migration routes for juvenile salmon , were the focus of heated public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations might pose to wild fish stocks .
Mowi Canada West is the largest aquaculture operator in the region .
It owns 13 of the area ’ s salmon farms , and nine were empty of fish when the decision came down .
Four northern Vancouver Island mayors and the BC Salmon Farmers Association are asking federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan how she 's going to help B.C .
coastal communities deal with the closure of the Discovery Islands fish farms .
# cdnpoli The loss of its Discovery Islands operations will affect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total average annual harvest volumes in British Columbia from 2022 , it stated in a stock exchange announcement after the decision .
The company ’ s 2021 harvest volumes won ’ t be impacted , Mowi Canada West said , adding it is developing a mitigation plan and revised strategy for its B.C .
operations .
Mowi Canada West representatives did not respond to requests for comment around operational impacts and possible mitigation strategies before publication deadline .
The company , based in Campbell River , is participating in a social media campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees and supporters outline the possible economic and emotional repercussions of the phaseout .
The federal announcement has caused fear and uncertainty for people working in aquaculture and who rely on the industry to provide for their families , North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney said in a statement .
The priority is to support workers , families and communities that are facing deep concerns and uncertainty over the holidays and heading into the new year , the NDP MP said .
She has reached out to the region ’ s mayors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
“ I look forward to constructive conversations about next steps with them , industry representatives and workers from our communities , ” Blaney said , noting people in aquaculture may feel their work and industry is under attack .
“ But all of us who live in the communities that dot our coastlines share a love and respect for wild salmon and our oceans , ” she said .

A coalition of industry stakeholders and Vancouver Island mayors wants Ottawa to outline how it plans to address the potential impacts of its decision to phase out fish farms in the Discovery Islands. Four northern Vancouver Island mayors and the BC Salmon Farmers Association’s board of directors issued a letter to federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan on Tuesday asking her how she’ll help coastal communities reliant on the industry recover. “Your shocking decision to order Discovery Islands-area salmon farms closed directly puts at risk 1,500 jobs supported by those farms in the short term, while in the long term striking at a sustainable (COVID-19) recovery industry and at the economic viability of the entire $1.6-billion salmon farming industry in B.C.,” the letter reads. Mayors Andrew Adams of Campbell River, Dennis Dugas of Port Hardy, Brad Unger of Gold River and Gaby Wickstrom of Port McNeill were signatories of the open letter criticizing the recent decision to wind down operations over the next 18 months. Salmon farming is one of the region’s most significant local employers and the decision risks the viability of North Island’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, the letter outlined.
“Yet you made this decision without even speaking to the industry, nor locally elected officials who deeply understand B.C.’s salmon farming communities and have a direct interest in your action,” the stakeholders wrote. Aquaculture operators have lambasted the minister for giving the industry little warning about the decision, which was made just before Christmas. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions On Dec. 17, Jordan announced 19 fish farms in the Discovery Islands, northeast of Vancouver Island, must close by June 30, 2022. And in the meantime, no new fish can be added to farms in the area.
The decision was largely the result of consultations with the region’s seven First Nations, which had overwhelmingly expressed concern about the operations in their traditional territories, Jordan said. Four northern Vancouver Island mayors and the BC Salmon Farmers Association are asking federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan how she's going to help B.C. coastal communities deal with the closure of the Discovery Islands fish farms. #cdnpoli The contentious fish farms, located along key migration routes for juvenile salmon, were the focus of heated public and scientific debate on the harms the operations might pose to wild fish stocks. Mowi Canada West is the largest aquaculture operator in the region. It owns 13 of the area’s salmon farms, and nine were empty of fish when the decision came down. The loss of its Discovery Islands operations will affect 30 per cent of Mowi’s total average annual harvest volumes in British Columbia from 2022, it stated in a stock exchange announcement after the decision. The company’s 2021 harvest volumes won’t be impacted, Mowi Canada West said, adding it is developing a mitigation plan and revised strategy for its B.C. operations.
Mowi Canada West representatives did not respond to requests for comment around operational impacts and possible mitigation strategies before publication deadline. The company, based in Campbell River, is participating in a social media campaign, #coastaljobsgone, where fish farm employees and supporters outline the possible economic and emotional repercussions of the phaseout. The federal announcement has caused fear and uncertainty for people working in aquaculture and who rely on the industry to provide for their families, North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney said in a statement.