nationalobserver--2020-06-29--Poll examines how abortion, climate policies affect support for Conservatives

A failure to clearly articulate positions on social conservative issues and a weak climate change plan are often cited as reasons the federal Conservatives failed to woo enough voters to win the last federal election .
The party 's most ardent supporters , many of them more likely to cast a ballot in the ongoing leadership race , include staunch social conservatives and fierce opponents of carbon taxes .
So the party faces a dilemma : if they were to more firmly commit not to reopen the abortion debate , and put out a more definitive plan for reducing greenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diminish its support ?
A new poll suggests the answer to that question is complicated .
The survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies found that overall , 23 per cent of those polled would be more likely to vote Conservative if a Conservative government clearly committed to not reopening the debate on abortion , or allow MPs to introduce legislation on the issue .
Forty-four per cent said it would n't change the likelihood , while 13 per cent said it would make them less likely to vote for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hide its racism by pointing a finger at the U.S .
Among voters who intend to vote Conservative in the next election , 31 per cent say they 'd be more likely to consider it if the party took a firmer stand on ending the debate .
Seventeen per cent would be less likely to do , and 38 per cent say it would n't change their mind either way .
The survey also explored whether voters could be persuaded if the party had a comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those surveyed may be more likely to vote Conservative , 11 per cent would be less likely and it would not sway 44 per cent one way or the other .
Among likely Conservative voters , 33 per cent would be more likely to cast a ballot in the party 's favour , 16 per cent would be less likely and 46 per cent would n't be moved either way .
The online poll of 1,521 adult Canadians was conducted June 19 to 21 and can not be assigned a margin of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ random samples .
That was right after the four leadership candidates faced off in a pair of back-to-back debates , where both abortion and climate change were key issues .
A failure to clearly articulate positions on social conservative issues and a weak climate change plan are often cited as reasons the federal Conservatives failed to woo enough voters to win the last federal election .
With all suggesting they are best placed to challenge the Liberals , where do they stand ?
Leslyn Lewis promises four specific policies to address abortion : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect women from coerced abortions , increased support for crisis pregnancy centres , and ending funding for international abortions .
Peter MacKay supports abortion rights .
He had previously said he would n't allow his cabinet to vote in favour of any bills restricting abortion .
More recently , he said while he hopes all MPs will adhere to official party policy that a Conservative government would n't reopen the debate , he would allow free votes on conscience issues .
Erin O'Toole said during the recent leadership debate he is `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman 's right to have an abortion .
He has said MPs can bring forward whatever bills they like , and MPs will be able to vote their conscience .
Derek Sloan has a 12-point `` pro-life plan . ''
At number one : a pledge to try to get the official party policy on not introducing laws to limit abortion repealed .
He also promises to introduce legislation that could see people charged for harming two people if they harm a pregnant woman — the woman and the fetus .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respective positions on the environment — and none support broad carbon taxes — their platforms containing varying levels of details on the question of how , if at all , they 'd work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions .
Lewis : Her platform bundles together promises for `` responsible '' resource development , encouraging green investments and renovations and funding conservationist practices .
With regards to emissions , she says she 'd encourage businesses to lower them .
MacKay : His platform lists five ways he says he will bring down emissions : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invest in carbon sequestration , `` achieving advances in technology , '' increased conservation efforts , and meaningful consultation .
O'Toole : He devotes three pages of his 50-page platform to the environment and climate change .
On emissions specifically , it includes getting the oil and gas sector to net-zero by incentivizing the use of technology , and promises Canada would help lower global emissions by , among other things , exporting nuclear technology and helping countries get off coal .
Sloan : He says he 'd pull Canada out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal of reducing emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 .
His listed policies to date are silent on climate change .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27 , 2020 .

A failure to clearly articulate positions on social conservative issues and a weak climate change plan are often cited as reasons the federal Conservatives failed to woo enough voters to win the last federal election. The party's most ardent supporters, many of them more likely to cast a ballot in the ongoing leadership race, include staunch social conservatives and fierce opponents of carbon taxes. So the party faces a dilemma: if they were to more firmly commit not to reopen the abortion debate, and put out a more definitive plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, would it grow or diminish its support? A new poll suggests the answer to that question is complicated. The survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies found that overall, 23 per cent of those polled would be more likely to vote Conservative if a Conservative government clearly committed to not reopening the debate on abortion, or allow MPs to introduce legislation on the issue. Forty-four per cent said it wouldn't change the likelihood, while 13 per cent said it would make them less likely to vote for the Conservatives.
Among voters who intend to vote Conservative in the next election, 31 per cent say they'd be more likely to consider it if the party took a firmer stand on ending the debate. Seventeen per cent would be less likely to do, and 38 per cent say it wouldn't change their mind either way. The survey also explored whether voters could be persuaded if the party had a comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions As a whole, 32 per cent of those surveyed may be more likely to vote Conservative, 11 per cent would be less likely and it would not sway 44 per cent one way or the other.
Among likely Conservative voters, 33 per cent would be more likely to cast a ballot in the party's favour, 16 per cent would be less likely and 46 per cent wouldn't be moved either way. A failure to clearly articulate positions on social conservative issues and a weak climate change plan are often cited as reasons the federal Conservatives failed to woo enough voters to win the last federal election. The online poll of 1,521 adult Canadians was conducted June 19 to 21 and cannot be assigned a margin of error because internet-based polls are not considered random samples. That was right after the four leadership candidates faced off in a pair of back-to-back debates, where both abortion and climate change were key issues. With all suggesting they are best placed to challenge the Liberals, where do they stand? Abortion:
Leslyn Lewis promises four specific policies to address abortion: a ban on sex-selective abortions, measures to protect women from coerced abortions, increased support for crisis pregnancy centres, and ending funding for international abortions. Peter MacKay supports abortion rights. He had previously said he wouldn't allow his cabinet to vote in favour of any bills restricting abortion. More recently, he said while he hopes all MPs will adhere to official party policy that a Conservative government wouldn't reopen the debate, he would allow free votes on conscience issues. Erin O'Toole said during the recent leadership debate he is "pro-choice," and believes it is a woman's right to have an abortion. He has said MPs can bring forward whatever bills they like, and MPs will be able to vote their conscience.


nationalobserver--2020-06-29--Rights group blasts Ottawa for not helping detained suspected ISIL members

The federal government has been accused of violating its international human rights obligations by refusing to help dozens of Canadian men , women and children detained in squalid camps in Syria because of their suspected links to the Islamic State .
The accusation by New York-based Human Rights Watch is contained in a scathing report released Monday that calls on Ottawa to immediately begin bringing the detainees home — starting with the 26 Canadian children known to be in the camps .
One of those children is a five-year-old orphan known as Amira who was found on the side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and siblings were killed in an airstrike and whose case has been raised with the federal Liberal government in the past .
`` The government of Canada is flouting its international human rights obligations toward Canadians who are arbitrarily detained in northeast Syria , '' reads the 92-page report , which included interviews with detainees , families and Canadian and foreign officials .
`` The obligations that Canada has breached include taking necessary and reasonable steps to assist nationals abroad facing serious abuses including risks to life , torture , and inhuman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tries to hide its racism by pointing a finger at the U.S .
It went on to paint a disturbing picture of conditions in the camps , with food and clean water in short supply while disease and violence are rife .
Children were seen drinking worm-infested water while `` morality police '' hunted women who criticized ISIL .
The Human Rights Watch report is the latest to take aim at the federal government when it comes to Canadians detained in northeastern Syria following the collapse of the Islamic State of Iraq and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lack of Canadian diplomats in Syria and safety concerns around sending officials into the camps where around 100,000 suspected ISIL members and their families are being held as reasons for not doing more .
Yet Human Rights Watch noted Britain , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Norway and the United States had all repatriated children , and in some cases their mothers , since October .
That included 10 French orphans and children in June .
The federal government also recently helped 40,000 Canadians return home due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including 29 from Syria .
The 47 known Canadians in the Syrian detainee camps include eight men , 13 women and 26 children .
`` Although Canadian authorities do not cite potential political fallout as a reason , in 2017 ( Prime Minister Justin ) Trudeau faced a backlash simply for supporting rehabilitation programs for Canadian ( ISIL ) suspects who return home , '' the rights group wrote .
The federal government has been accused of violating its international human rights obligations by refusing to help dozens of Canadian men , women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syria because of their suspected links to the Islamic State .
`` To be sure , the repatriations are not always popular , '' it added , noting an attempt to repatriate a Norwegian mother and child led to the collapse of that country 's government .
`` But the vast majority of repatriations have taken place with little or no controversy . ''
The Canadian detainees in the camps administered by Kurdish-led organization include Mohammed Khalifa , who has been described as an ISIL propagandist , and Jack Letts , a dual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by British media .
The British government revoked Letts 's citizenship last year .
Neither the Liberal government nor the official Opposition Conservatives have expressed enthusiasm for returning him to Canada despite repeated pleas from his family .
Yet Human Rights Watch argued for repatriation as the best — and potentially only — way to hold Canadian ISIL members to account as there is no process in Syria to investigate and prosecute those suspected of crimes .
`` None of the Canadians has been charged with any crime , '' it added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ before a judge to review the legality and necessity of their detention , making their continuing captivity arbitrary and unlawful . ''
At the same time , the group raised the question of whether Canadian authorities are withholding or limiting consular assistance from those in the camps because of their suspected links to ISIL , which it says would also violate international law .
While Trudeau expressed confidence last year in the RCMP to investigate Canadians who travelled to fight alongside extremists in Iraq and Syria , he said it is difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as evidence of crimes .
The government is ensuring Canadian agencies have the necessary resources and opportunities to collaborate with foreign allies on such cases , he added .
An annual federal report on extremism last year said some 190 people with connections to Canada are suspected of terrorist activity abroad and , in addition , approximately 60 had returned .

The federal government has been accused of violating its international human rights obligations by refusing to help dozens of Canadian men, women and children detained in squalid camps in Syria because of their suspected links to the Islamic State. The accusation by New York-based Human Rights Watch is contained in a scathing report released Monday that calls on Ottawa to immediately begin bringing the detainees home — starting with the 26 Canadian children known to be in the camps. One of those children is a five-year-old orphan known as Amira who was found on the side of a road last year after her parents and siblings were killed in an airstrike and whose case has been raised with the federal Liberal government in the past. "The government of Canada is flouting its international human rights obligations toward Canadians who are arbitrarily detained in northeast Syria," reads the 92-page report, which included interviews with detainees, families and Canadian and foreign officials. "The obligations that Canada has breached include taking necessary and reasonable steps to assist nationals abroad facing serious abuses including risks to life, torture, and inhuman and degrading treatment."
It went on to paint a disturbing picture of conditions in the camps, with food and clean water in short supply while disease and violence are rife. Children were seen drinking worm-infested water while "morality police" hunted women who criticized ISIL. The Human Rights Watch report is the latest to take aim at the federal government when it comes to Canadians detained in northeastern Syria following the collapse of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Ottawa has previously cited the lack of Canadian diplomats in Syria and safety concerns around sending officials into the camps where around 100,000 suspected ISIL members and their families are being held as reasons for not doing more.
Yet Human Rights Watch noted Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway and the United States had all repatriated children, and in some cases their mothers, since October. That included 10 French orphans and children in June. The federal government has been accused of violating its international human rights obligations by refusing to help dozens of Canadian men, women and children detained in squalid camps in Syria because of their suspected links to the Islamic State. The federal government also recently helped 40,000 Canadians return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization said, including 29 from Syria. The 47 known Canadians in the Syrian detainee camps include eight men, 13 women and 26 children. "Although Canadian authorities do not cite potential political fallout as a reason, in 2017 (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau faced a backlash simply for supporting rehabilitation programs for Canadian (ISIL) suspects who return home," the rights group wrote. "To be sure, the repatriations are not always popular," it added, noting an attempt to repatriate a Norwegian mother and child led to the collapse of that country's government. "But the vast majority of repatriations have taken place with little or no controversy." The Canadian detainees in the camps administered by Kurdish-led organization include Mohammed Khalifa, who has been described as an ISIL propagandist, and Jack Letts, a dual British-Canadian national dubbed "Jihadi Jack" by British media.
The British government revoked Letts's citizenship last year. Neither the Liberal government nor the official Opposition Conservatives have expressed enthusiasm for returning him to Canada despite repeated pleas from his family. Yet Human Rights Watch argued for repatriation as the best — and potentially only — way to hold Canadian ISIL members to account as there is no process in Syria to investigate and prosecute those suspected of crimes. "None of the Canadians has been charged with any crime," it added. "Nor have the Canadians been brought before a judge to review the legality and necessity of their detention, making their continuing captivity arbitrary and unlawful."


nationalobserver--2020-06-29--Tariff threats resurface as USMCA readies for Wednesday debut

If the long-awaited debut of Canada 's new trade pact with the United States and Mexico heralds a new dawn in North American relations , Robert Lighthizer sure has a funny way of showing it .
With the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement coming into effect Wednesday , the U.S. trade ambassador reminded a congressional committee that within the velvet glove of trade diplomacy , Donald Trump 's White House wields an iron fist of zero-tolerance enforcement .
And instead of friendly declarations of trilateral solidarity , the prospect of punitive Section 232 tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum — an economic headache @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Canada-U.S. relations — is back and looming large .
`` One would think that this would have heralded a new era , but in some respects , this is a situation that just continues to roll on and persist , '' said consultant Eric Miller , president of the D.C.-based Rideau Potomac Strategy Group .
In his testimony earlier this month to the Senate Finance Committee , Lighthizer promised to take `` the necessary steps '' to ensure the agreement 's small-business provisions are honoured .
And he threatened legal action in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dairy sector , which is giving up 3.59 per cent of the domestic market and restricting exports on key products like skim milk powder and infant formula .
• How Canada tries to hide its racism by pointing a finger at the U.S. `` There are a number of ways that they could implement their program that would be less helpful to us than others , '' he said .
`` If there 's any shading of the benefits to American farmers , we 're going to bring a case against them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat of tariffs , the long-term predictability and stability that will accompany Wednesday 's new managed-trade regime vastly outweighs whatever hiccups and disagreements will occur in the early going , said Nick Guzman , an international trade lawyer with Faegre Drinker in Chicago .
`` The administrations in all three countries took advantage of the USMCA rewrite to modernize the agreement and incorporate some efficiencies that are going to make trilateral trade a lot more efficient , a lot better , '' Guzman said .
Aside from more U.S. dairy products in Canadian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for cross-border shipping , the average Canadian likely wo n't see dramatic changes right away , he added — although modestly higher prices for cars and trucks are a possibility , given the upheaval likely from the agreement 's new rules of origin and labour provisions .
`` You 'll certainly see some big decisions being made by automotive manufacturers on where their production facilities are located , the volumes that they 're producing at those facilities and things like that .
A lot of the changes to the automotive sector will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadians who get small-ticket items delivered from the U.S. via Canada Post or the U.S .
Postal Service will pay more on items worth more than $ 20 , while couriers will enjoy a new $ 150 exemption under USMCA — the so-called `` de minimis '' threshold , said Graham Robins , president and CEO of B.C.-based A & A Customs Brokers .
If the long-awaited debut of Canada 's new trade pact with the United States and Mexico heralds a new dawn in North American relations , Robert Lighthizer sure has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If you 're an e-commerce store and all your items are $ 80 , it 's a big issue , '' Robins said .
Lighthizer is resurrecting the spectre of tariffs because of recent `` surges '' in steel and aluminum exports , `` substantially from Canada , '' contrary to the agreement that ended the year-long stalemate in May 2019 .
In a letter to Lighthizer , the Aluminum Association — a consortium of 16 U.S.-based producers of finished aluminum products — broke ranks Thursday with the American smelter operators who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urged the U.S. trade representative to reconsider .
`` The integrated North American aluminum supply chain has been a crucial element of the U.S. aluminum industry ’ s ability to invest and grow over the past several decades , '' they wrote .
`` Even at full capacity , U.S. primary aluminum smelters can only meet about one-third of the demand for this vital material .
The aluminum industry has no choice but to import a significant amount of primary aluminum to meet demand — the only question is from where . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming , given the political and economic challenges confronting the famously mercurial U.S. president .
The landscape is dramatically different than it was in 2018 , when trade talks had yet to produce a deal , the U.S. economy was healthy and it would have been political suicide for Republicans on Capitol Hill to disagree openly with White House strategy , said Dan Ujczo , a trade lawyer and Canada-U.S. specialist with Dickinson Wright in Columbus , Ohio .
`` The president may try to go back to his old playbook , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
The U.S. industry itself is divided on this issue right now .
There 's not a huge political win here . ''
That said , the May 2019 agreement did little to mitigate the risks of tariffs down the road , once the economy is recovered and the election is over , he added .

If the long-awaited debut of Canada's new trade pact with the United States and Mexico heralds a new dawn in North American relations, Robert Lighthizer sure has a funny way of showing it. With the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement coming into effect Wednesday, the U.S. trade ambassador reminded a congressional committee that within the velvet glove of trade diplomacy, Donald Trump's White House wields an iron fist of zero-tolerance enforcement. And instead of friendly declarations of trilateral solidarity, the prospect of punitive Section 232 tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum — an economic headache that tormented negotiators during a low point in Canada-U.S. relations — is back and looming large. "One would think that this would have heralded a new era, but in some respects, this is a situation that just continues to roll on and persist," said consultant Eric Miller, president of the D.C.-based Rideau Potomac Strategy Group. In his testimony earlier this month to the Senate Finance Committee, Lighthizer promised to take "the necessary steps" to ensure the agreement's small-business provisions are honoured. And he threatened legal action in the event of shenanigans by Canada's dairy sector, which is giving up 3.59 per cent of the domestic market and restricting exports on key products like skim milk powder and infant formula.
"There are a number of ways that they could implement their program that would be less helpful to us than others," he said. "If there's any shading of the benefits to American farmers, we're going to bring a case against them." Notwithstanding the tough talk and the threat of tariffs, the long-term predictability and stability that will accompany Wednesday's new managed-trade regime vastly outweighs whatever hiccups and disagreements will occur in the early going, said Nick Guzman, an international trade lawyer with Faegre Drinker in Chicago. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "The administrations in all three countries took advantage of the USMCA rewrite to modernize the agreement and incorporate some efficiencies that are going to make trilateral trade a lot more efficient, a lot better," Guzman said.
Aside from more U.S. dairy products in Canadian grocery stores and slightly higher postage costs for cross-border shipping, the average Canadian likely won't see dramatic changes right away, he added — although modestly higher prices for cars and trucks are a possibility, given the upheaval likely from the agreement's new rules of origin and labour provisions. If the long-awaited debut of Canada's new trade pact with the United States and Mexico heralds a new dawn in North American relations, Robert Lighthizer sure has a funny way of showing it. "You'll certainly see some big decisions being made by automotive manufacturers on where their production facilities are located, the volumes that they're producing at those facilities and things like that. A lot of the changes to the automotive sector will be pretty significant and pretty drastic." Canadians who get small-ticket items delivered from the U.S. via Canada Post or the U.S. Postal Service will pay more on items worth more than $20, while couriers will enjoy a new $150 exemption under USMCA — the so-called "de minimis" threshold, said Graham Robins, president and CEO of B.C.-based A & A Customs Brokers. "If you're an e-commerce store and all your items are $80, it's a big issue," Robins said. Lighthizer is resurrecting the spectre of tariffs because of recent "surges" in steel and aluminum exports, "substantially from Canada," contrary to the agreement that ended the year-long stalemate in May 2019.
In a letter to Lighthizer, the Aluminum Association — a consortium of 16 U.S.-based producers of finished aluminum products — broke ranks Thursday with the American smelter operators who are calling for new penalties, and urged the U.S. trade representative to reconsider. "The integrated North American aluminum supply chain has been a crucial element of the U.S. aluminum industry’s ability to invest and grow over the past several decades," they wrote. "Even at full capacity, U.S. primary aluminum smelters can only meet about one-third of the demand for this vital material. The aluminum industry has no choice but to import a significant amount of primary aluminum to meet demand — the only question is from where."


nationalobserver--2020-06-29--OPG ends plan to bury nuclear waste near the Lake Huron shoreline

A politically fraught plan to store hazardous nuclear waste deep underground near the Lake Huron shoreline has been formally put to rest more than 15 years after it was first proposed .
In a recent letter to the federal environment minister , Ontario 's publicly owned power generator said it no longer wished to proceed with the multibillion-dollar project .
`` We do not intend to carry out the project and have asked that the application for a site preparation and construction licence be withdrawn , '' the letter from Ontario Power Generation states .
`` Similarly , OPG requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the project . ''
In response , federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said he accepted the request , and had terminated the ongoing assessment .
The project , estimated to cost more than $ 2.4 billion , had called for the storage of hundreds of thousands of cubic metres of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste 680 metres underground about 1.2 kilometres from Lake Huron .
The bunker was to have been built at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station near Kincardine , Ont .
• How Canada tries to hide its racism by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While Kincardine had been a `` willing host , '' the proposal drew years of fierce opposition from environmentalists and hundreds of communities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border .
All argued that the threat to drinking water that serves millions of people was simply too great .
OPG , for its part , steadfastly defended the planned repository as a completely safe option for storing waste that can remain hazardous for thousands of years .
While a joint environmental panel gave its approval in May 2015 , the project stalled .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The last request was for buy-in from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation or SON , which had complained for years about being shut out of decisions related to the Bruce power plant .
The utility promised it would not proceed without that agreement .
Since then , members of SON — comprising the Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation — have debated the issue .
In late January , the 4,500-member community overwhelmingly rejected the underground storage facility .
`` We worked for many years for our right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free , prior and informed consent of our people to be recognized , '' Chippewas of Saugeen Chief Lester Anoquot said at the time .
`` We did n't ask for this waste to be created and stored in our territory . ''
A politically fraught plan to store hazardous nuclear waste deep underground near the Lake Huron shoreline has been formally put to rest more than 15 years after it was first proposed .
OPG , which had previously said it would look for alternative storage solutions , said Friday it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repository .
The Saugeen Ojibway Nation responded immediately on Friday for a request to comment on the end of the project .
In her letter , Lise Morton , vice president at OPG , said the utility remained committed to ongoing dialogue with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation about `` future potential solutions '' for the safe and long-term storage of nuclear waste .
Separately , the federally-mandated Nuclear Waste Management Organization announced earlier this year it was proceeding with development plans for a nearby site at which to bury highly radioactive reactor waste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 minutes east of Kincardine , signed agreements allowing suitability testing on their properties .
The only other site under consideration for high-level waste storage is in Ignace in northern Ontario .
Indigenous groups have yet to indicate support for that project .
About three-million highly radioactive used fuel bundles from reactors are currently stored at existing nuclear generating stations in Canada , including at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station .
Authorities have long contended the current storage system is not sustainable and have been searching for a permanent solution , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 2023 .

A politically fraught plan to store hazardous nuclear waste deep underground near the Lake Huron shoreline has been formally put to rest more than 15 years after it was first proposed. In a recent letter to the federal environment minister, Ontario's publicly owned power generator said it no longer wished to proceed with the multibillion-dollar project. "We do not intend to carry out the project and have asked that the application for a site preparation and construction licence be withdrawn," the letter from Ontario Power Generation states. "Similarly, OPG requests the minister to cancel the environmental assessment for the project." In response, federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said he accepted the request, and had terminated the ongoing assessment. The project, estimated to cost more than $2.4 billion, had called for the storage of hundreds of thousands of cubic metres of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste 680 metres underground about 1.2 kilometres from Lake Huron. The bunker was to have been built at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station near Kincardine, Ont.
While Kincardine had been a "willing host," the proposal drew years of fierce opposition from environmentalists and hundreds of communities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. All argued that the threat to drinking water that serves millions of people was simply too great. OPG, for its part, steadfastly defended the planned repository as a completely safe option for storing waste that can remain hazardous for thousands of years. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions While a joint environmental panel gave its approval in May 2015, the project stalled. Successive environment ministers called for more information. The last request was for buy-in from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation or SON, which had complained for years about being shut out of decisions related to the Bruce power plant.
The utility promised it would not proceed without that agreement. A politically fraught plan to store hazardous nuclear waste deep underground near the Lake Huron shoreline has been formally put to rest more than 15 years after it was first proposed. Since then, members of SON — comprising the Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation — have debated the issue. In late January, the 4,500-member community overwhelmingly rejected the underground storage facility. "We worked for many years for our right to exercise jurisdiction in our territory and the free, prior and informed consent of our people to be recognized," Chippewas of Saugeen Chief Lester Anoquot said at the time. "We didn't ask for this waste to be created and stored in our territory." OPG, which had previously said it would look for alternative storage solutions, said Friday it has spent about $200 million on the repository. The Saugeen Ojibway Nation responded immediately on Friday for a request to comment on the end of the project.
In her letter, Lise Morton, vice president at OPG, said the utility remained committed to ongoing dialogue with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation about "future potential solutions" for the safe and long-term storage of nuclear waste. Separately, the federally-mandated Nuclear Waste Management Organization announced earlier this year it was proceeding with development plans for a nearby site at which to bury highly radioactive reactor waste. Landowners in South Bruce, about 30 minutes east of Kincardine, signed agreements allowing suitability testing on their properties. The only other site under consideration for high-level waste storage is in Ignace in northern Ontario. Indigenous groups have yet to indicate support for that project.


nationalobserver--2020-06-29--Tories ask auditor general to probe 'outsourcing' of $900M student aid program to  WE Charity

The federal Conservatives are calling for an investigation into the Liberal government 's decision to have an international charity administer a $ 900-million program designed to help students during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The request is contained in a letter sent to Auditor General Karen Hogan on Sunday in which the Tories argue that `` outsourcing '' the Canada Student Service Grant to WE Charity undermines Parliament 's ability to monitor the aid program .
The Conservatives also noted the `` well documented '' connections between WE and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as they underscored the importance of transparency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's COVID-19 spending .
`` By outsourcing this program to a third party , the proper channels for Opposition scrutiny , the very bedrock of our parliamentary democracy , have been circumvented , '' reads the letter signed by Conservative MPs Pierre Poilievre , Dan Albas and Raquel Dancho .
`` Indeed , it is your office that will provide the most legitimate and transparent examination of this program . ''
• How Canada tries to hide its racism by pointing a finger at the U.S .
The auditor general 's office did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday .
The Liberal government announced the Canada Student Service Grant last week as part of a broader suite of support for students and young people struggling to find internships , job placements and other work-related experience during COVID-19 .
Eligible students can earn up to $ 5,000 for volunteer work with non-profit organizations that are helping to cushion the impact of the pandemic .
The program is supposed to place up to 20,000 students in volunteer positions between now and October .
Trudeau defended employing WE to administer the program after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The prime minister attended several WE events in the past and his wife , Sophie Gregoire Trudeau , hosts one of its podcasts .
The prime minister said the decision to use WE was made by the non-partisan public service , not by him .
Delivery of the grant program demanded an organization able to reach the tens of thousands of students , he said .
WE directed questions Friday to the government .
The federal Conservatives are calling for an investigation into the Liberal government 's decision to have an international charity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help students during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Conservatives want Hogan to incorporate her study of WE and the student aid program into her larger review of the government 's pandemic-related spending , which is expected to be tabled in Parliament later this year .
Direct federal spending on emergency aid measures now stands at $ 174 billion , the government announced Friday , driven by a jump in the estimated cost of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit to $ 80 billion .
That is up from the previously revised $ 60 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 35-billion estimate , as demand rises and recipients get ready to receive eight extra weeks of payments .
Statistics Canada ’ s latest jobs report showed that returning post-secondary students , aged 20 to 24 , had a record-high unemployment rate in May of 42.1 per cent , and about one-third had seen summer placements disappear because of COVID-19 .
Data released Friday by the agency also found that youths in the so-called Internet generation were the most likely to formally volunteer .
They contributed on average 82 unpaid hours to charities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 52 per cent .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26 , 2020 .

The federal Conservatives are calling for an investigation into the Liberal government's decision to have an international charity administer a $900-million program designed to help students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The request is contained in a letter sent to Auditor General Karen Hogan on Sunday in which the Tories argue that "outsourcing" the Canada Student Service Grant to WE Charity undermines Parliament's ability to monitor the aid program. The Conservatives also noted the "well documented" connections between WE and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as they underscored the importance of transparency, accountability and value for money in Ottawa's COVID-19 spending. "By outsourcing this program to a third party, the proper channels for Opposition scrutiny, the very bedrock of our parliamentary democracy, have been circumvented," reads the letter signed by Conservative MPs Pierre Poilievre, Dan Albas and Raquel Dancho. "Indeed, it is your office that will provide the most legitimate and transparent examination of this program."
The auditor general's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday. The Liberal government announced the Canada Student Service Grant last week as part of a broader suite of support for students and young people struggling to find internships, job placements and other work-related experience during COVID-19. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Eligible students can earn up to $5,000 for volunteer work with non-profit organizations that are helping to cushion the impact of the pandemic. The program is supposed to place up to 20,000 students in volunteer positions between now and October.
Trudeau defended employing WE to administer the program after conflict-of-interest concerns were raised last week. The prime minister attended several WE events in the past and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, hosts one of its podcasts. The federal Conservatives are calling for an investigation into the Liberal government's decision to have an international charity administer a $900-million program designed to help students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prime minister said the decision to use WE was made by the non-partisan public service, not by him. Delivery of the grant program demanded an organization able to reach the tens of thousands of students, he said. WE directed questions Friday to the government. The Conservatives want Hogan to incorporate her study of WE and the student aid program into her larger review of the government's pandemic-related spending, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament later this year. Direct federal spending on emergency aid measures now stands at $174 billion, the government announced Friday, driven by a jump in the estimated cost of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit to $80 billion.
That is up from the previously revised $60 billion and more than double the original $35-billion estimate, as demand rises and recipients get ready to receive eight extra weeks of payments. Statistics Canada’s latest jobs report showed that returning post-secondary students, aged 20 to 24, had a record-high unemployment rate in May of 42.1 per cent, and about one-third had seen summer placements disappear because of COVID-19. Data released Friday by the agency also found that youths in the so-called Internet generation were the most likely to formally volunteer. They contributed on average 82 unpaid hours to charities in 2018 and had a volunteer rate of 52 per cent.


nationalobserver--2020-06-29--Shifting to electric vehicles requires economic incentives, just ask Norway

“ I am an economist .
So , I like to talk about economic incentives.
” All new cars will be zero-emission vehicles by 2025 , Norway ’ s ambassador to Canada predicted during an interview with Canada 's National Observer .
Anne Kari Hansen Ovind ’ s explanation of Norway ’ s successful and much-publicized conversion to zero-emission vehicles is succinct : “ Incentives work.
” The government also makes the sales price of still-dominant conventional vehicles more expensive by slapping them with higher sales taxes .
“ There ’ s a whole package of designs for making that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
There are rebate programs to make the cars more affordable for consumers ; the right to drive in bus lanes ; cheaper parking , the list is long .
Norway , which has been described as the “ poster child of the EV revolution , ” has many incentives to make it more attractive to buy zero-emission vehicles , mostly those powered by electricity .
To say the least , Canada ’ s sales numbers are more modest .
According to data Transport Canada obtained from IHS Markit Catalyst , zero-emission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounted for 3.8 per cent of total light-vehicle ( electric cars ) sales in Canada from Jan. 1 to March 31 of 2020 .
Norway ’ s Canadian embassy says electric and hybrid cars commanded 56 per cent of Norway ’ s market in 2019 .
The success of zero-emission vehicles sales is typically measured by what ’ s called a penetration rate , the degree to which these vehicles eat into the sale of their conventional , gas- or diesel-powered competitors .
When comparing the two countries , here ’ s something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada had 5,781 charging stations , a ratio of approximately 15 charging stations per 100,000 in a country almost seven times the size of Norway .
According to the embassy , Norway has 2,400 charging stations .
The ratio works out to about 44 stations for every 100,000 residents in this country of 5.4 million .
The other part of Norway ’ s success story is charging stations .
As Canada struggles to find ways to expand the market for zero-emission vehicles , looking to countries such as Norway as a benchmark makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be taking notes .
In an emailed correspondence , a spokesperson for Natural Resources Canada explained that “ Canada and Norway mutually exchange information on progress and lessons learned on a regular basis.
” The discussions occur at organizations to which both countries belong : the International Energy ’ s Agency ’ s Energy Technology Systems Analysis Program ; the Electric Vehicles Initiative ; and an Alliance that focuses on “ accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles.
” Given this level of exchange , countries like Norway could provide a blueprint for Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales target : zero-emission vehicles comprising 100 per cent of all new sales by 2040 .
And as Canada struggles to meet its medium- and long-term targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions , the transportation sector must be part of the overall plan .
According to the federal government ’ s most recent assessment of greenhouse gas emissions , the transportation sector accounted for 25 per cent of emissions , a close second to the oil and gas sector ’ s 26 per cent .
Those figures don ’ t sit well with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Part of the federal government plan is to lead by example through the greening of its fleet of so-called administrative vehicles used by RCMP officers , cabinet ministers and federal inspectors .
Natural Resources Canada is assessing 3,000 vehicles in 10 departments with the goal of changing to more climate-friendly natural gas , hydrogen or electrification .
The whole effort got off to a rough start in 2016 .
A briefing note to then-natural resources minister Jim Carr , obtained through an access-to-information request , indicated problems , beginning with a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … that would meet ministerial requirements.
” Those problems are old news , said Paula Vieira , director of transportation and alternative fuels for Natural Resources Canada during an interview with National Observer .
“ In fact , the government is looking to accelerate and increase ( its ) commitment.
” But even if the government becomes a role model , it must still tackle what Vieira concedes is one of the largest hurdles to achieving Norway ’ s success : cost .
As a lead department responsible for educating consumers about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as electric cars , Natural Resources Canada has had a tough job .
“ As with any new technology , consumers need to feel confident that ( electric vehicles ) can meet their day-to-day needs , ” Vieira said .
She didn ’ t make that assessment during the interview with Canada 's National Observer , but back in 2017 , testifying before the Senate transportation committee .
“ ( Consumers ) need to have access to information that can help them understand the various ( electric vehicle ) technologies and help them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do decide that their next vehicle will be an ( electric vehicle ) , the purchasing and driving experience has to be similar to what they are used to in conventional vehicles.
” Fast-forward to 2020 .
For Vieira , it ’ s still a tough sell .
“ Consumers will tell you it ’ s got to be price parity ... we expect price parity will happen mid-2020 .
That ’ s certainly what industry is predicting .
That battery technology will become less expensive and vehicles will become less expensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Price concerns are also echoed in a survey published by the McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics .
The majority of respondents expressed unwillingness to buy an electric vehicle and had concerns about batteries .
Still , there are signs some skepticism might be waning .
In 2019 , Clean Energy Canada commissioned a poll on attitudes toward zero-emission vehicles .
A majority of respondents — 64 per cent — said that “ if it were up to them , electric cars would become the majority of vehicles that consumers drive at some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada ’ s policy director , Sarah Petrevan , says the results were encouraging .
“ There was a lot of favourability around rebates and purchase incentives and infrastructure ( such as charging stations ) .
” Consumers also seem to be warming to rebate programs .
On May 1 , 2019 , Transport Canada implemented the Incentives for the Zero-emissions Vehicles Program .
“ The incentive program has already had a positive impact on Canadian zero-emission vehicle sales , ” department spokeswoman Frédérica Dupuis said in an emailed response to National Observer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , more than 46,000 Canadians and Canadian businesses have benefited from ( zero-emission vehicle ) incentives .
As of this date , over $ 185 million has been processed for incentive claims.
” Still , there are demands for even more federal generosity .
In its pre-pandemic recommendations for a 2020 federal budget that has now been indefinitely postponed , Electric Mobility Canada called on the federal government to “ increase the current incentive program.
” For her part , Petrevan would like to see Ottawa expand its subsidies to cover a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping for second-hand vehicles and lower-income groups .
You can look at incentives on a sliding scale based on income and rebates to lower-income Canadians .
“ There ’ s lots of different policies .
Norway did a great job.
” In addition to subsidies , another obstacle is building more charging stations in order to align Canada ’ s numbers more closely with Norway 's per capita numbers .
Providing enough charging stations has also been a priority for Norway .
In an emailed response , embassy spokesman Erik Furu said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of charging infrastructure to be market-based as fast as possible.
” In its pre-budget brief , Electric Mobility Canada demanded “ up to 5,000 additional public stations ... over three to four years.
” Natural Resources Canada ’ s Paula Vieira calls the need for more charging stations “ the biggest hurdle.
” Norway ’ s deliberation about charging stations and other obstacles involved consumers , businesses , all levels of government and politicians of all political persuasions .
Achieving consensus over a 20-year period allowed the country to make steady progress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... which direction you ’ re going , businesses ... will integrate sustainable development goals as part of their strategic thinking , ” Ovind said .
“ The incentives over the years have been important in changing consumers ’ habits to make it a very natural option.
” So there are a few lessons Canada can learn from Norway .
Incentives work .
In Canada , zero-emission vehicles are more popular in jurisdictions -- B.C .
and Quebec -- that have their own rebate programs , in addition to the federal initiative .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ beefed up at the federal level .
Political consensus is key .
All levels of government and political parties from all stripes must be on the same page .
Canada ’ s climate-change discourse is fractured .
Industry must step up .
When GM announced that it was closing its Oshawa plant to focus on electric cars , there was no thought about keeping the production in Canada .
In a country that has set hard sales targets , GM ’ s decision sends the wrong message .
Norway got it right .
@ @ @

There are rebate programs to make the cars more affordable for consumers; the right to drive in bus lanes; cheaper parking, the list is long.
Norway , which has been described as the “ poster child of the EV revolution ,” has many incentives to make it more attractive to buy zero-emission vehicles, mostly those powered by electricity.
“I am an economist. So, I like to talk about economic incentives.”
All new cars will be zero-emission vehicles by 2025, Norway’s ambassador to Canada predicted during an interview with Canada's National Observer.
Anne Kari Hansen Ovind’s explanation of Norway’s successful and much-publicized conversion to zero-emission vehicles is succinct: “Incentives work.”
The government also makes the sales price of still-dominant conventional vehicles more expensive by slapping them with higher sales taxes.
“There’s a whole package of designs for making that an absolutely attractive choice,” Ovind said.
When comparing the two countries, here’s something else to consider.
On June 25 Canada had 5,781 charging stations , a ratio of approximately 15 charging stations per 100,000 in a country almost seven times the size of Norway.
According to the embassy, Norway has 2,400 charging stations. The ratio works out to about 44 stations for every 100,000 residents in this country of 5.4 million .
The other part of Norway’s success story is charging stations.
According to data Transport Canada obtained from IHS Markit Catalyst , zero-emission vehicles (battery-electric and hybrid vehicles) accounted for 3.8 per cent of total light-vehicle (electric cars) sales in Canada from Jan. 1 to March 31 of 2020.
Norway’s Canadian embassy says electric and hybrid cars commanded 56 per cent of Norway’s market in 2019.
The success of zero-emission vehicles sales is typically measured by what’s called a penetration rate, the degree to which these vehicles eat into the sale of their conventional, gas- or diesel-powered competitors.
To say the least, Canada’s sales numbers are more modest.
The federal government wants more Canadians to buy electric vehicles, but it's a tough sell. Photo credit: Shutterstock
Can Canada learn from Norway’s success?
As Canada struggles to find ways to expand the market for zero-emission vehicles, looking to countries such as Norway as a benchmark makes sense. Indeed, Canada may already be taking notes.
In an emailed correspondence, a spokesperson for Natural Resources Canada explained that “Canada and Norway mutually exchange information on progress and lessons learned on a regular basis.”
The discussions occur at organizations to which both countries belong: the International Energy’s Agency’s Energy Technology Systems Analysis Program; the Electric Vehicles Initiative; and an Alliance that focuses on “accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles.”
Given this level of exchange, countries like Norway could provide a blueprint for Canada as it attempts to reach its ultimate sales target: zero-emission vehicles comprising 100 per cent of all new sales by 2040.
And as Canada struggles to meet its medium- and long-term targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the transportation sector must be part of the overall plan.
Why transportation?
According to the federal government’s most recent assessment of greenhouse gas emissions, the transportation sector accounted for 25 per cent of emissions, a close second to the oil and gas sector’s 26 per cent.
Those figures don’t sit well with the federal government’s climate goals. Part of the federal government plan is to lead by example through the greening of its fleet of so-called administrative vehicles used by RCMP officers, cabinet ministers and federal inspectors.
Natural Resources Canada is assessing 3,000 vehicles in 10 departments with the goal of changing to more climate-friendly natural gas, hydrogen or electrification.
The whole effort got off to a rough start in 2016. A briefing note to then-natural resources minister Jim Carr, obtained through an access-to-information request, indicated problems, beginning with a “limited number of (electric vehicles) … that would meet ministerial requirements.”
Those problems are old news, said Paula Vieira, director of transportation and alternative fuels for Natural Resources Canada during an interview with National Observer.
“In fact, the government is looking to accelerate and increase (its) commitment.”
But even if the government becomes a role model, it must still tackle what Vieira concedes is one of the largest hurdles to achieving Norway’s success: cost.
Sticker shock and consumer anxiety
As a lead department responsible for educating consumers about the benefits of shifting to zero-emission vehicles such as electric cars, Natural Resources Canada has had a tough job.
“As with any new technology, consumers need to feel confident that (electric vehicles) can meet their day-to-day needs,” Vieira said.
She didn’t make that assessment during the interview with Canada's National Observer, but back in 2017, testifying before the Senate transportation committee.
“(Consumers) need to have access to information that can help them understand the various (electric vehicle) technologies and help them to inform their purchasing decisions. Once they do decide that their next vehicle will be an (electric vehicle), the purchasing and driving experience has to be similar to what they are used to in conventional vehicles.”
Paula Vieira, director of transportation and alternative fuels for Natural Resources Canada, calls the need for more electric vehicle charging stations the "biggest hurdle." Photo credit: Natural Resources Canada
Fast-forward to 2020. For Vieira, it’s still a tough sell.
“Consumers will tell you it’s got to be price parity ... we expect price parity will happen mid-2020. That’s certainly what industry is predicting. That battery technology will become less expensive and vehicles will become less expensive to produce,” she said.
Price concerns are also echoed in a survey published by the McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics. The majority of respondents expressed unwillingness to buy an electric vehicle and had concerns about batteries.
Still, there are signs some skepticism might be waning.
In 2019, Clean Energy Canada commissioned a poll on attitudes toward zero-emission vehicles. A majority of respondents — 64 per cent — said that “if it were up to them, electric cars would become the majority of vehicles that consumers drive at some point in the future.”
Clean Energy Canada’s policy director, Sarah Petrevan, says the results were encouraging.
“There was a lot of favourability around rebates and purchase incentives and infrastructure (such as charging stations).”
Consumers also seem to be warming to rebate programs.
On May 1, 2019, Transport Canada implemented the Incentives for the Zero-emissions Vehicles Program.
“The incentive program has already had a positive impact on Canadian zero-emission vehicle sales,” department spokeswoman Frédérica Dupuis said in an emailed response to National Observer.
“As of May 31, 2020, more than 46,000 Canadians and Canadian businesses have benefited from (zero-emission vehicle) incentives. As of this date, over $185 million has been processed for incentive claims.”
Still, there are demands for even more federal generosity.
In its pre-pandemic recommendations for a 2020 federal budget that has now been indefinitely postponed, Electric Mobility Canada called on the federal government to “increase the current incentive program.”
For her part, Petrevan would like to see Ottawa expand its subsidies to cover a broader range of consumers, including those shopping for second-hand vehicles and lower-income groups.
Canada needs more programs to encourage electric vehicle use, says Clean Energy Canada’s policy director, Sarah Petrevan
You can look at incentives on a sliding scale based on income and rebates to lower-income Canadians. “There’s lots of different policies. Norway did a great job.”
In addition to subsidies, another obstacle is building more charging stations in order to align Canada’s numbers more closely with Norway's per capita numbers.
Expanding the network
Providing enough charging stations has also been a priority for Norway. In an emailed response, embassy spokesman Erik Furu said, “The Norwegian government wants the development of charging infrastructure to be market-based as fast as possible.”
In its pre-budget brief, Electric Mobility Canada demanded “up to 5,000 additional public stations ... over three to four years.”
Natural Resources Canada’s Paula Vieira calls the need for more charging stations “the biggest hurdle.”
Norway’s deliberation about charging stations and other obstacles involved consumers, businesses, all levels of government and politicians of all political persuasions. Achieving consensus over a 20-year period allowed the country to make steady progress.
“As long as you are clear ... which direction you’re going, businesses ... will integrate sustainable development goals as part of their strategic thinking,” Ovind said.
“The incentives over the years have been important in changing consumers’ habits to make it a very natural option.”
So there are a few lessons Canada can learn from Norway.
Incentives work. In Canada, zero-emission vehicles are more popular in jurisdictions -- B.C. and Quebec -- that have their own rebate programs, in addition to the federal initiative. Incentives must include more jurisdictions and be beefed up at the federal level.
Political consensus is key. All levels of government and political parties from all stripes must be on the same page. Canada’s climate-change discourse is fractured.
Industry must step up. When GM announced that it was closing its Oshawa plant to focus on electric cars, there was no thought about keeping the production in Canada. In a country that has set hard sales targets, GM’s decision sends the wrong message.
Norway got it right. Can Canada?
Editor's note: This story is part of a series on coming out of Covid-19 with a strong green stimulus package for Canada. It was produced through a collaboration with the Trottier Family Foundation.


nationalobserver--2020-07-01--Virtual Canada Day citizenship ceremony celebrates front line workers

When Sweeny Karande was in her nursing program in India , her teacher presented her with an award as the best outgoing student .
`` This is just the beginning , '' her teacher said .
`` You ca n't stop here . ''
Karande took those words to heart .
The next nine years were full of new beginnings as she journeyed from India to Ontario to Nova Scotia and then the Northwest Territories , where she now works full time as a registered nurse .
There will be another new beginning this Canada Day : Karande is set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oath to become a Canadian citizen .
• B.C .
First Nations leaders want immediate end to open-net salmon farms • Shifting to electric vehicles requires economic incentives , just ask Norway Canada Day citizenship ceremonies are a holiday tradition , but this year , the COVID-19 pandemic means the celebrations are going digital .
Karande 's ceremony wo n't be the first held online .
Since April 1 , over 1,000 virtual oath ceremonies have taken place , mostly quiet affairs .
The marquee Canada Day group event will be streamed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former governor general Adrienne Clarkson .
People ranging in age from six to 66 will take the oath , representing 13 different countries , the Immigration Department said .
While they 're all united in their new citizenship , some have another bond : they work in health care .
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the role new Canadians play in the health-care system .
When Sweeny Karande was in her nursing program in India , her teacher presented her with an award as the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning , '' her teacher said .
`` You ca n't stop here . ''
According to data from the 2016 census , more than a third of the 245,000 people working as nurse aides , orderlies and patient service associates are immigrants .
Karande , now 29 , grew up in a large village in the southwestern Indian state of Goa , where she 'd always wanted to become a nurse .
Her family could n't afford university tuition , so she enrolled in an auxiliary nursing and midwifery program .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ worker programs came calling in 2010 , her siblings pooled their money together so she could enrol .
She arrived in Cornwall , Ont .
the next year , where she lived in a two-bedroom apartment with three other Indian students , often relying on the food bank to get by .
She did a placement at St. Joseph 's Continuing Care Centre , and one night her colleagues knocked on her door .
On the street was a whole SUV filled with food for her and her roommates .
She would find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she arrived in Halifax for nursing school , and again when she moved up to Hay River , N.W.T.
, to take a full-time nursing job .
`` This was my end goal , and finally I am a nurse and I 'm getting my citizenship — this is really awesome , '' she said .
`` I love every bit of it . ''
Omair Imtiaz is also becoming a citizen on Canada Day , a feat he also attributes in part to the kindness and guidance of many near strangers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Canada by his father in 2007 to join his older brother , already in Moncton , N.B .
From there , he moved to P.E.I , and found himself struggling to balance the demands of his undergraduate degree , part-time jobs and the freedom of student life in Canada .
He ended up suspended from university , and was on the cusp of losing his student visa and being forced to leave .
A classmate sat him down at a party and said she 'd help him get through it .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to reenrol in school .
He had intended to study to be a pharmacy technician , but he changed his mind after speaking with the enrollment officer and he signed up for a residential care worker program instead .
The woman from the party ?
She became his wife .
And the program led to the job he 's now held for eight years at the John Gillis Memorial Lodge in Belfast , P.E.I .
`` I can never count my blessings enough for what Canada and its people have given me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is my way of giving back to the community , giving to the most vulnerable . ''
Imtiaz , 32 , said when he walked through the doors of the care home , many residents had never seen a brown person before .
He was met with hostility , but within days familiarity bred comfort and then genuine friendship , he said .
`` Education and that personal contact can go a long way , '' he said .
Karande said she 's fielded her own experiences with racism .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record on that score that has stuck with her more .
While in nursing school , she learned about Indigenous history and the impact the residential school system was having on the current health and well-being of Indigenous communities .
India had its own experiences with British colonialism that linger to this day , she said , but to be confronted with the harmful effects on Indigenous Peoples in Canada shocked her .
She decided to turn the anger to action .
`` I felt like I was obligated to do so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just doing my part . ''
She began to search for nursing jobs in Indigenous centres , finally landing in Hay River , a town of nearly 4,000 people where just under half identify as Indigenous .
She 's been there now for almost a year , working at the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority .
She described the move up North as scary , given what she 'd heard about the cold , but has now embraced the outdoor lifestyle .
She is also committed to reconciliation .
With her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a right that she intends to take seriously .
`` It is a privilege to have the opportunity make change , '' she said .
`` I believe there is a lot of change that needs to be implemented in terms of Indigenous people , in terms of different races and how they are being treated in Canada .
I 'm very excited that I 'm finally a citizen . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1 , 2020 .

There will be another new beginning this Canada Day: Karande is set to join 18 others in swearing the oath to become a Canadian citizen.
The next nine years were full of new beginnings as she journeyed from India to Ontario to Nova Scotia and then the Northwest Territories, where she now works full time as a registered nurse.
"This is just the beginning," her teacher said. "You can't stop here."
When Sweeny Karande was in her nursing program in India, her teacher presented her with an award as the best outgoing student.
The marquee Canada Day group event will be streamed on YouTube, and is expected to feature remarks from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former governor general Adrienne Clarkson.
Karande's ceremony won't be the first held online. Since April 1, over 1,000 virtual oath ceremonies have taken place, mostly quiet affairs.
Canada Day citizenship ceremonies are a holiday tradition, but this year, the COVID-19 pandemic means the celebrations are going digital.
Karande, now 29, grew up in a large village in the southwestern Indian state of Goa, where she'd always wanted to become a nurse.
According to data from the 2016 census, more than a third of the 245,000 people working as nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates are immigrants.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the role new Canadians play in the health-care system.
While they're all united in their new citizenship, some have another bond: they work in health care.
People ranging in age from six to 66 will take the oath, representing 13 different countries, the Immigration Department said.
She arrived in Cornwall, Ont. the next year, where she lived in a two-bedroom apartment with three other Indian students, often relying on the food bank to get by.
When a recruiter for Canadian personal support worker programs came calling in 2010, her siblings pooled their money together so she could enrol.
Her family couldn't afford university tuition, so she enrolled in an auxiliary nursing and midwifery program.
She did a placement at St. Joseph's Continuing Care Centre, and one night her colleagues knocked on her door. On the street was a whole SUV filled with food for her and her roommates.
She would find equally welcoming communities, she said, when she arrived in Halifax for nursing school, and again when she moved up to Hay River, N.W.T., to take a full-time nursing job.
"This was my end goal, and finally I am a nurse and I'm getting my citizenship — this is really awesome," she said.
"I love every bit of it."
Omair Imtiaz is also becoming a citizen on Canada Day, a feat he also attributes in part to the kindness and guidance of many near strangers along the way.
He was sent to Canada by his father in 2007 to join his older brother, already in Moncton, N.B.
From there, he moved to P.E.I, and found himself struggling to balance the demands of his undergraduate degree, part-time jobs and the freedom of student life in Canada.
He ended up suspended from university, and was on the cusp of losing his student visa and being forced to leave.
A classmate sat him down at a party and said she'd help him get through it.
The day before his visa expired, they went to reenrol in school. He had intended to study to be a pharmacy technician, but he changed his mind after speaking with the enrollment officer and he signed up for a residential care worker program instead.
The woman from the party? She became his wife. And the program led to the job he's now held for eight years at the John Gillis Memorial Lodge in Belfast, P.E.I.
"I can never count my blessings enough for what Canada and its people have given me," he said.
"So this is my way of giving back to the community, giving to the most vulnerable."
Imtiaz, 32, said when he walked through the doors of the care home, many residents had never seen a brown person before.
He was met with hostility, but within days familiarity bred comfort and then genuine friendship, he said.
"Education and that personal contact can go a long way," he said.
Karande said she's fielded her own experiences with racism. But it was finding out about Canada's own record on that score that has stuck with her more.
While in nursing school, she learned about Indigenous history and the impact the residential school system was having on the current health and well-being of Indigenous communities.
India had its own experiences with British colonialism that linger to this day, she said, but to be confronted with the harmful effects on Indigenous Peoples in Canada shocked her.
She decided to turn the anger to action.
"I felt like I was obligated to do so," she said.
"I was just doing my part."
She began to search for nursing jobs in Indigenous centres, finally landing in Hay River, a town of nearly 4,000 people where just under half identify as Indigenous.
She's been there now for almost a year, working at the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority. She described the move up North as scary, given what she'd heard about the cold, but has now embraced the outdoor lifestyle.
She is also committed to reconciliation.
With her citizenship comes the right to vote — a right that she intends to take seriously.
"It is a privilege to have the opportunity make change," she said.
"I believe there is a lot of change that needs to be implemented in terms of Indigenous people, in terms of different races and how they are being treated in Canada. I'm very excited that I'm finally a citizen."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2020.


nationalobserver--2020-07-01--Ford’s youth council faces skepticism about likely impact, composition

Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a youth council earlier this month that critics say will struggle to amount to anything more than ‘ institutionalized tokenism ’ without a reversal of sharp cuts that hurt young people .
The advisory panel to tackle youth inequality was announced days after the premier had to backpedal to acknowledge that systemic racism exists in the province , and skepticism about the panel 's expected impact is high .
The immediate priority of the Premier 's Council on Equality of Opportunity is to provide recommendations on how to help vulnerable and marginalized youth recover from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government said when it announced the move earlier this month .
More broadly , the council is expected to help Ford and Todd Smith , the minister of children , community , and social services , to provide for the employment , training and education needs of youth and help build a future-ready workforce .
It will meet at least once every three months and up to six times a year , with the first meeting scheduled for the second half of August .
• B.C .
First Nations leaders want immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to electric vehicles requires economic incentives , just ask Norway But charity consultant Vivian Lee said the Progressive Conservatives had shown little interest in supporting young people , pointing to two years of governing that has made education harder to access .
“ They ’ ve really spoken with their budget , ” Lee said .
“ They ’ ve de-prioritized post-secondary education , they ’ ve removed a significant number of bursaries for OSAP ( Ontario Student Assistance Program ) .
They have defunded all of the public support for that demographic.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government had also reduced public funding for charities and made it harder for non-profits to apply for financial backing , with existing funding agreements cancelled and proposals for multi-year projects now requiring annual funding approvals .
“ Now it ’ s almost impossible to get into the Trillium Foundation , ” she said , adding that many Ontario charities were now turning to the growing private philanthropic sector .
The Progressive Conservative cut funding for the Trillium Foundation , a major provincial funding agency , to $ 100 million from $ 115 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ford government 's new youth council will struggle to influence decisions and worry about who gets to sit at the table .
The chair of the council says give them a chance .
Palmer Lockridge , a spokesperson for Minister Smith , said that any funding cuts come in the context of the previous Liberal government making “ promises they knew they couldn ’ t keep.
” Lockridge said the Ford government had not reduced funding for the Black Youth Action Plan or Trillium ’ s Youth Opportunities Fund , and had provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks , shelters and other social services providing pandemic relief .
Who gets to sit on the council is a matter of concern for Akosua Alagaratnam , the executive director of First Work , which works with around 80 youth employment services across Ontario to help youth who are not in school , training or have a job to get on their feet .
“ Our concern about this iteration of the Premier ’ s Council is how the council makeup was derived , ” said Alagaratnam , who had been a policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s youth council , which was started in 2013 and disbanded upon the change of government in 2018 .
“ As we look to economic recovery from COVID-19 , we must tailor our engagement and employment approaches to those youth furthest away from employment , that is , those who were already unemployed before the pandemic , ” she said .
She said First Work was discouraged from applying to sit on the council by the messaging that seats were already taken .
“ In speaking with officials , we were told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process and therefore , although interested , we did not apply to participate.
” Lockridge , the minister ’ s spokesperson , did not respond when asked how the selection process worked .
“ The council will foster dialogue between government decision-makers and those with lived experiences and expertise , with a focus on elevating the voices of marginalized youth and those who are facing systemic barriers , ” Lockridge said in an emailed response to questions .
The council will initially be chaired by Jamil Jivani , a community organiser and activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Advocate for Community Opportunities in December .
He said some of its members have been pre-selected from existing government partners while others are being chosen through an open process that collected more than 700 applications by its June 18 deadline .
“ Because of the timeliness of what we ’ re working on and the COVID recovery stuff , the most efficient way to get everything going quickly was to go through some existing networks to identify half the council members , ” he said .
Jivani said critics should give the council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can do , ” adding that he ’ d measure success by whether the government consults and collaborates with them on critical policy .
Jamil Jivani , the Ford government 's Advocate for Community Opportunities , will chair the new youth council He said he ’ ll push hard for Ford to expand the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan , a $ 47 million , four-year project to help eliminate systemic , race-based disparities for Black children and youth that is up for renewal this year .
“ I ’ d hope that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government make decisions on this sort of stuff , ” he said .
“ I ’ m championing that with all my enthusiasm.
” Jivani said the council aims to fill half the maximum 20 seats at its table with members aged between 18 and 29 , and will include representatives in education and training , employment and entrepreneurship , non-profit and community services , and government services .
He said the goal would be to include those with lived and/or professional experience from those areas , “ whether they have it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of how they grew up.
” Jivani said that members of the previous council had also complained of tokenization , with their views collected on matters that had already been decided .
He said he wanted to avoid replicating that , which he blamed on a lack of engagement from politicians and their staff , and so had sought and secured commitments from the premier ’ s office and those of other relevant ministers that they would participate .
“ Does the government treat us as a check box and come to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he asked .
“ Or do they come to us as a respected partner and say , ‘ Hey , we want to know what you think about this , and we want to make decisions that reflect your perspective .
”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a youth council earlier this month that critics say will struggle to amount to anything more than ‘institutionalized tokenism’ without a reversal of sharp cuts that hurt young people. The advisory panel to tackle youth inequality was announced days after the premier had to backpedal to acknowledge that systemic racism exists in the province, and skepticism about the panel's expected impact is high. The immediate priority of the Premier's Council on Equality of Opportunity is to provide recommendations on how to help vulnerable and marginalized youth recover from the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, the government said when it announced the move earlier this month. More broadly, the council is expected to help Ford and Todd Smith, the minister of children, community, and social services, to provide for the employment, training and education needs of youth and help build a future-ready workforce. It will meet at least once every three months and up to six times a year, with the first meeting scheduled for the second half of August.
But charity consultant Vivian Lee said the Progressive Conservatives had shown little interest in supporting young people, pointing to two years of governing that has made education harder to access. “They’ve really spoken with their budget,” Lee said. “They’ve de-prioritized post-secondary education, they’ve removed a significant number of bursaries for OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program). They have defunded all of the public support for that demographic.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Lee added that Ford’s government had also reduced public funding for charities and made it harder for non-profits to apply for financial backing, with existing funding agreements cancelled and proposals for multi-year projects now requiring annual funding approvals.
“Now it’s almost impossible to get into the Trillium Foundation,” she said, adding that many Ontario charities were now turning to the growing private philanthropic sector. Critics say the Ford government's new youth council will struggle to influence decisions and worry about who gets to sit at the table. The chair of the council says give them a chance. (The Toronto Foundation said it received $39 million in donations in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, compared to $21.9 million the prior year.) The Progressive Conservative cut funding for the Trillium Foundation, a major provincial funding agency, to $100 million from $115 million in January 2019. Palmer Lockridge, a spokesperson for Minister Smith, said that any funding cuts come in the context of the previous Liberal government making “promises they knew they couldn’t keep.” Lockridge said the Ford government had not reduced funding for the Black Youth Action Plan or Trillium’s Youth Opportunities Fund, and had provided $200 million in funding for food banks, shelters and other social services providing pandemic relief.
Whose voices? Who gets to sit on the council is a matter of concern for Akosua Alagaratnam, the executive director of First Work, which works with around 80 youth employment services across Ontario to help youth who are not in school, training or have a job to get on their feet. “Our concern about this iteration of the Premier’s Council is how the council makeup was derived,” said Alagaratnam, who had been a policy adviser on the previous Liberal government’s youth council, which was started in 2013 and disbanded upon the change of government in 2018.


nationalobserver--2020-07-01--Sunshine Coast community members raise concerns over logging

Local community members on B.C.
’ s Sunshine Coast say the province and a development company have acted on some of their concerns surrounding a proposed logging operation , but that the scale and intensity of the planned harvest is unfit for the area .
“ Our issue is that they are cutting too much lumber in too small an area in too short a time , ” Rick Craig , president of the North Lake Residents Association , told National Observer .
The area in question is near Egmont , B.C.
, on the Sechelt Peninsula , northwest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation will encroach on the area ’ s ecosystem and hurt the tourism-dependent economy .
The residents association says one area authorized for logging is near a stream that connects Waugh Lake and North Lake .
`` We are concerned about North Lake water quality being affected .
The lake water is pristine , '' said Craig .
Dotted with small population centres , the Sunshine Coast is a popular tourist destination thanks to its natural beauty and its many outdoor recreation opportunities , from the Sunshine Coast Trail to hiking and mountain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , canoeing , fishing , scuba diving and other activities .
• B.C .
First Nations leaders want immediate end to open-net salmon farms • Shifting to electric vehicles requires economic incentives , just ask Norway Tsain-Ko , a Shíshálh Nation company , was granted logging rights in the area in 2018 by the province ’ s Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District .
The district issued Tsain-Ko a Non-Replaceable Forest Licence as part of the province ’ s Reconciliation efforts , to harvest 75,000 cubic metres over a five-year period .
Tsain-Ko maintains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , balancing their needs , and has made changes to its plan , moving areas authorized for logging as a result of community knowledge .
BC Timber Sales ( BCTS ) , the provincial agency in charge of auctioning for Crown timber , also says it has consulted widely with community groups in order to adapt logging plans “ in real time ” and that it is working with scientists to ensure the area is managed appropriately .
While Craig said he believed the association ’ s concerns surrounding logging trucks on North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by BCTS and Tsain-Ko , he argued the logging that was still planned was too “ heavily concentrated in two specific sections around North Lake.
” Sue Grayston , a professor of soil microbial ecology in the faculty of forestry at the University of British Columbia , and a resident of the area at Earls Cove west of Egmont , said some community members realize that logging provides revenue that the government relies on for public services .
But she said residents were concerned about the area designated to be logged , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken , as compared to the licence which covers a larger area stretching up and down the coast .
Local community members on B.C.
’ s Sunshine Coast say the province and a development company have acted on some of their concerns surrounding a proposed logging operation , but that the scale and intensity of the planned harvest is unfit for the area .
“ People want to know why this area , and why so intensively , ” she said .
“ This is a major tourist centre for B.C .
and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter June 4 to B.C .
Minister of Forests , Lands , Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Doug Donaldson , asking him to consider “ the lack of planning , knowledge and consideration of this area and its value as a tourist and recreation destination.
” During a June 25 virtual public meeting , Tsain-Ko CEO Debbie Hendsbee said the company would commission a hydrology study for two areas authorized for logging .
BCTS has said that logging is concentrated in the area authorized for logging north of North Lake because “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this area as having the least number of competing values.
” That means much timber could be harvested in that area , according to BCTS , while “ minimizing ” the impact on other elements in the rest of the licenced area .
During the meeting , BCTS also explained how Tsain-Ko and the province agreed to collaborate on the logging operation .
The provincial timber agency auctions off the timber , and the value is used to determine the “ stumpage , ” or the fee paid when Crown land is logged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tsain-Ko .
BCTS said the total harvest with Tsain-Ko equals only around nine per cent of the total forest licence area , or 155 hectares out of over 1,600 — and that the area was last logged in 2007 .
But Craig said that ’ s beside the point if the logging is too concentrated in the areas around North Lake .
In her letter , Grayston also objected to any practice of clear-cutting , suggesting there are alternatives such as partial retention that would be better for the public perception of forest @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Local community members on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast say the province and a development company have acted on some of their concerns surrounding a proposed logging operation, but that the scale and intensity of the planned harvest is unfit for the area. “Our issue is that they are cutting too much lumber in too small an area in too short a time,” Rick Craig, president of the North Lake Residents Association, told National Observer. The area in question is near Egmont, B.C., on the Sechelt Peninsula, northwest of Vancouver. Residents are worried that the operation will encroach on the area’s ecosystem and hurt the tourism-dependent economy. The residents association says one area authorized for logging is near a stream that connects Waugh Lake and North Lake. "We are concerned about North Lake water quality being affected. The lake water is pristine," said Craig. Dotted with small population centres, the Sunshine Coast is a popular tourist destination thanks to its natural beauty and its many outdoor recreation opportunities, from the Sunshine Coast Trail to hiking and mountain biking trails, tidal rapids, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, scuba diving and other activities.
Tsain-Ko, a Shíshálh Nation company, was granted logging rights in the area in 2018 by the province’s Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District. The district issued Tsain-Ko a Non-Replaceable Forest Licence as part of the province’s Reconciliation efforts, to harvest 75,000 cubic metres over a five-year period. Tsain-Ko maintains that it has worked with local groups, balancing their needs, and has made changes to its plan, moving areas authorized for logging as a result of community knowledge. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions BC Timber Sales (BCTS), the provincial agency in charge of auctioning for Crown timber, also says it has consulted widely with community groups in order to adapt logging plans “in real time” and that it is working with scientists to ensure the area is managed appropriately.
While Craig said he believed the association’s concerns surrounding logging trucks on North Lake Road west of Egmont were heard by BCTS and Tsain-Ko, he argued the logging that was still planned was too “heavily concentrated in two specific sections around North Lake.” Local community members on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast say the province and a development company have acted on some of their concerns surrounding a proposed logging operation, but that the scale and intensity of the planned harvest is unfit for the area. Sue Grayston, a professor of soil microbial ecology in the faculty of forestry at the University of British Columbia, and a resident of the area at Earls Cove west of Egmont, said some community members realize that logging provides revenue that the government relies on for public services. But she said residents were concerned about the area designated to be logged, and the amount of timber that would be taken, as compared to the licence which covers a larger area stretching up and down the coast. “People want to know why this area, and why so intensively,” she said. “This is a major tourist centre for B.C. and the Lower Mainland.” Grayston wrote a letter June 4 to B.C. Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Doug Donaldson, asking him to consider “the lack of planning, knowledge and consideration of this area and its value as a tourist and recreation destination.”
During a June 25 virtual public meeting, Tsain-Ko CEO Debbie Hendsbee said the company would commission a hydrology study for two areas authorized for logging. BCTS has said that logging is concentrated in the area authorized for logging north of North Lake because “assessments of the different landscape values identified this area as having the least number of competing values.” That means much timber could be harvested in that area, according to BCTS, while “minimizing” the impact on other elements in the rest of the licenced area.