nationalobserver--2020-11-02--Scientists are tracking down invasive murder hornets to save North America's honeybees

On Saturday before dawn , entomologists launched their attack on a colony of snoozing murder hornets .
Clad in cartoonish protective suits and brandishing a vacuum hose , they sucked 85 wasps alive from the nest and suffocated the rest with carbon dioxide and expanding foam .
It ’ s the first time a nest of Asian giant hornets ( as they are more correctly known ) has been located and destroyed in the United States .
But getting to the nests in the first place is tricky , as the Washington state entomologists learned .
The best bet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasp lead the way with the help of a so-called Judas insect that betrays the location of its kin .
To prepare a Judas wasp for its treacherous mission , the team captured the insect in a trap baited with a wasp-attracting cocktail of orange juice and rice wine .
If the hornets gain a foothold in North America , researchers are worried that they will decimate honeybee populations and hamper their vital crop-pollinating work .
To stamp out a hornet infestation , it ’ s crucial to destroy the nests and kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Asia , the hornets first showed up in Washington and British Columbia late last year .
The good news is that the two-inch-long insects rarely attack people .
It ’ s the hornets ’ voracious appetite for bees that ’ s earned them the murderous moniker .
They ’ ll eat just about any insect , but a bustling beehive “ is like a supermarket , just an endless supply , ” said the University of Exeter ’ s Peter Kennedy , who studies a similar wasp in Europe and has advised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horrifying-sounding slaughter phase , “ a few Asian giant hornets can take out 30,000 healthy honeybees in just a matter of a few hours , ” said Spichiger at a press conference on Oct. 23 .
“ We ’ ve now demonstrated that we can actively trap , track , find the nest and take it out , ” Sven-Erik Spichiger , an entomologist with the Washington State Department of Agriculture , said in a virtual press conference on Monday .
“ And that ’ s really what we need to be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” To find the elusive nest , researchers carried out some high-tech subterfuge .
They captured a hornet , attached a tracking device , then followed the insect as she returned home .
The signal led them to a nest tucked inside the crevice of a dead alder tree .
Next , they used dental floss to affix a miniature radio transmitter to its waist like a tiny belt .
The wasp refuelled with some strawberry jam , then headed for home — with the researchers in hot pursuit .
The battery-powered transmitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio frequency that are picked up by a handheld receiver tuned to that frequency , much like a car radio antenna .
As the team zoned in on the wasp , the chirps got louder .
“ It was getting very nerve-wracking as we got closer and closer .
We were fully expecting them to be nesting in the ground and come boiling out like they do on YouTube and start stinging us , ” said WSDA entomologist Chris Looney .
“ And then suddenly we realized that they were actually flying out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Spichiger ’ s ) head .
It was pretty exciting .
I felt like I was in a movie , like a spy or something.
” The team ’ s successful espionage came after two failed attempts with a different tracker that sends a Bluetooth signal to a cellphone .
Earlier this month , researchers attached the device to a wasp and followed it for a while , but soon lost track of the signal .
“ It actually flies a lot faster than we can run through 10-foot-high blackberry hedges , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told NPR on Oct. 17 .
Bluetooth only works over a distance of a few hundred feet , whereas radio signals can travel much farther .
Radio technology has been used by biologists for decades to track mammals and birds with tags attached to collars , necklaces , and tiny backpacks .
But it ’ s only recently that miniaturization of these devices has made tracking insects possible .
Although the lightest tags weigh just 200 milligrams ( about seven grains of uncooked rice ) , only chunky insects like hornets or large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a cargo .
“ We ’ re working at the edge of what ’ s possible , ” said Kennedy .
Matthew Siderhurst , professor of chemistry at Eastern Mennonite University , agrees .
Attaching trackers is “ quite a saga to figure out for different insects , ” he said .
His team pioneered the Judas insect technique on invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles in Guam .
To track the beetles to their cryptic breeding sites , the researchers glued transmitters to their backs .
After trial and error with super glue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they settled on cool melt glue because it dried quickly and didn ’ t injure the beetles .
“ You don ’ t want to cook your insect while you ’ re putting on the tag , ” he said .
When researchers in Europe tried to glue transmitters to yellow-legged hornets , close relatives of Asian giant hornets , it didn ’ t work .
The insect became top-heavy , spinning around and dropping to the ground .
“ After watching quite a few hornets breakdancing on the floor , you realize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Kennedy .
Inspired by images of helicopters carrying heavy loads , they ended up tying the tags to the wasps ’ undersides with cotton thread .
“ They were able to readily fly with tags that would be up to 80 percent of their actual weight , which is quite impressive.
” WSDA researchers used a similar approach to affix trackers to Asian giant hornets with dental floss .
“ This worked out fairly well , ” Spichiger said in the Oct. 23 press conference .
“ We did have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the string and chew it off , ” however , he added .
“ We may look at different kinds of string going into next year.
” Aside from seeking out pests to exterminate , researchers also track insects to learn about their movement and dispersal patterns .
A different technology can work for insects that are too petite to carry a radio transmitter .
Harmonic radar tags modify a radar signal emitted from a handheld device and reflect it back .
Because the tags don ’ t use batteries , they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about one-tenth of a rice grain ) , and they ’ ve been used to track invasive spotted lanternfly and brown marmorated stink bug .
The Washington team believes there ’ s one or two more nests left in the area .
But Spichiger said Monday , “ We ’ re going to continue to look for those [ nests ] and just keep fighting these battles until we have eradicated Asian giant hornets — if that ’ s possible .
”

This article was originally published by Slate and appears here as part of Canada's National Observer's collaboration with Climate Desk. On Saturday before dawn, entomologists launched their attack on a colony of snoozing murder hornets. Clad in cartoonish protective suits and brandishing a vacuum hose, they sucked 85 wasps alive from the nest and suffocated the rest with carbon dioxide and expanding foam. It’s the first time a nest of Asian giant hornets (as they are more correctly known) has been located and destroyed in the United States. To find the elusive nest, researchers carried out some high-tech subterfuge. They captured a hornet, attached a tracking device, then followed the insect as she returned home. The signal led them to a nest tucked inside the crevice of a dead alder tree. “We’ve now demonstrated that we can actively trap, track, find the nest and take it out,” Sven-Erik Spichiger, an entomologist with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, said in a virtual press conference on Monday. “And that’s really what we need to be able to do to win the war overall.”
Native to Asia, the hornets first showed up in Washington and British Columbia late last year. The good news is that the two-inch-long insects rarely attack people. It’s the hornets’ voracious appetite for bees that’s earned them the murderous moniker. They’ll eat just about any insect, but a bustling beehive “is like a supermarket, just an endless supply,” said the University of Exeter’s Peter Kennedy, who studies a similar wasp in Europe and has advised the WSDA. During the hornets’ horrifying-sounding slaughter phase, “a few Asian giant hornets can take out 30,000 healthy honeybees in just a matter of a few hours,” said Spichiger at a press conference on Oct. 23. If the hornets gain a foothold in North America, researchers are worried that they will decimate honeybee populations and hamper their vital crop-pollinating work. To stamp out a hornet infestation, it’s crucial to destroy the nests and kill the queens, says Kennedy. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions But getting to the nests in the first place is tricky, as the Washington state entomologists learned. The best bet to find a nest is to let a wasp lead the way with the help of a so-called Judas insect that betrays the location of its kin. To prepare a Judas wasp for its treacherous mission, the team captured the insect in a trap baited with a wasp-attracting cocktail of orange juice and rice wine.
Next, they used dental floss to affix a miniature radio transmitter to its waist like a tiny belt. The wasp refuelled with some strawberry jam, then headed for home — with the researchers in hot pursuit. The battery-powered transmitter sends out “chirps” on a radio frequency that are picked up by a handheld receiver tuned to that frequency, much like a car radio antenna. As the team zoned in on the wasp, the chirps got louder. If murder hornets gain a foothold in North America, researchers are worried they will decimate honeybee populations and hamper their vital crop-pollinating work. #invasivespecies “It was getting very nerve-wracking as we got closer and closer. We were fully expecting them to be nesting in the ground and come boiling out like they do on YouTube and start stinging us,” said WSDA entomologist Chris Looney. “And then suddenly we realized that they were actually flying out (of a tree) right above (Spichiger’s) head. It was pretty exciting. I felt like I was in a movie, like a spy or something.” The team’s successful espionage came after two failed attempts with a different tracker that sends a Bluetooth signal to a cellphone. Earlier this month, researchers attached the device to a wasp and followed it for a while, but soon lost track of the signal. “It actually flies a lot faster than we can run through 10-foot-high blackberry hedges, so it out-flew us,” Spichiger told NPR on Oct. 17. Bluetooth only works over a distance of a few hundred feet, whereas radio signals can travel much farther. Radio technology has been used by biologists for decades to track mammals and birds with tags attached to collars, necklaces, and tiny backpacks. But it’s only recently that miniaturization of these devices has made tracking insects possible. Although the lightest tags weigh just 200 milligrams (about seven grains of uncooked rice), only chunky insects like hornets or large beetles can retain their aerodynamic prowess with such a cargo. “We’re working at the edge of what’s possible,” said Kennedy. Matthew Siderhurst, professor of chemistry at Eastern Mennonite University, agrees. Attaching trackers is “quite a saga to figure out for different insects,” he said. His team pioneered the Judas insect technique on invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles in Guam. To track the beetles to their cryptic breeding sites, the researchers glued transmitters to their backs. After trial and error with super glue, dental adhesives and hot glue, they settled on cool melt glue because it dried quickly and didn’t injure the beetles. “You don’t want to cook your insect while you’re putting on the tag,” he said.
When researchers in Europe tried to glue transmitters to yellow-legged hornets, close relatives of Asian giant hornets, it didn’t work. The insect became top-heavy, spinning around and dropping to the ground. “After watching quite a few hornets breakdancing on the floor, you realize this isn’t going to work,” said Kennedy. Inspired by images of helicopters carrying heavy loads, they ended up tying the tags to the wasps’ undersides with cotton thread. “They were able to readily fly with tags that would be up to 80 percent of their actual weight, which is quite impressive.” WSDA researchers used a similar approach to affix trackers to Asian giant hornets with dental floss. “This worked out fairly well,” Spichiger said in the Oct. 23 press conference. “We did have one of the hornets get hold of the string and chew it off,” however, he added. “We may look at different kinds of string going into next year.” Aside from seeking out pests to exterminate, researchers also track insects to learn about their movement and dispersal patterns. A different technology can work for insects that are too petite to carry a radio transmitter. Harmonic radar tags modify a radar signal emitted from a handheld device and reflect it back. Because the tags don’t use batteries, they can weigh as little as three milligrams (about one-tenth of a rice grain), and they’ve been used to track invasive spotted lanternfly and brown marmorated stink bug.


nationalobserver--2020-11-02--Majority want feds to move now on inequality, racism, climate change: poll

A new poll reveals that six in 10 Canadians believe now is the time for the federal government to make “ major changes to fix long-standing problems in society ” such as inequality , racism and the climate crisis .
The national telephone survey , conducted last month by Environics Research and published Monday , also found two-thirds of respondents showed support for aiming post-pandemic government spending at renewable energy sources such as wind and solar , compared to just 22 per cent who said the priority should be fossil fuel investments .
The poll demonstrates support for continued federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly considers whether to set aside billions of dollars in annual permanent funding for new social programs .
The official Opposition Conservative party has raised concerns about federal spending that goes beyond pandemic relief measures .
Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre has warned against the Bank of Canada becoming “ an ATM for Trudeau.
” On Friday in Parliament , he accused Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland of pursuing “ debt-fuelled government spending.
” Canadians want “ paycheques , not bigger credit card bills , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent of those questioned , as well as majorities in all population segments , believe that now is the time for transformative change .
But this view isn ’ t held by respondents who also identified as Conservative ; by almost the same margin , 63 per cent , that group believes that now is not the time for such actions from the federal government .
Other opposition parties see it differently .
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wants Trudeau to enact a range of measures including a wealth tax and a temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada ’ s richest saw their wealth accumulate further this year .
Meanwhile , the Green party wants to see an overhaul of social fiscal programs so that they are combined into a Guaranteed Livable Income .
A new poll reveals that six in 10 Canadians believe now is the time for the federal government to make “ major changes to fix long-standing problems in society ” like inequality , racism and the climate crisis .
Environics asked Canadians a series of questions related to the federal throne speech and the environmental promises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a representative sample of 1,000 adult Canadians with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points at 95 per cent confidence .
The poll found the greatest support for federal spending on renewable energy in Eastern and Central Canada , with the highest levels of support in the Atlantic region and Quebec at 77 per pent each , and 71 per cent in Ontario .
Support for renewables investment , however , also extends into the West at 57 per cent , including 56 per cent in Alberta .
Environics also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadians for the importance of prioritizing “ new jobs related to protecting and restoring nature and the environment.
” This support was also strong in the Atlantic region , with 72 per cent in favour , as well as among lower household incomes .
By comparison , only 34 per cent of Conservative supporters said this was very important .

A new poll reveals that six in 10 Canadians believe now is the time for the federal government to make “major changes to fix long-standing problems in society” such as inequality, racism and the climate crisis. The national telephone survey, conducted last month by Environics Research and published Monday, also found two-thirds of respondents showed support for aiming post-pandemic government spending at renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, compared to just 22 per cent who said the priority should be fossil fuel investments. The poll demonstrates support for continued federal spending and comes as the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly considers whether to set aside billions of dollars in annual permanent funding for new social programs. And it signals a level of popularity for the government’s strategy, laid out in the throne speech, to pivot from supporting people during the pandemic to building a plan for “stimulus and recovery,” including addressing reconciliation, systemic racism, gaps in social systems and the risks stemming from climate change. “Canadians get that building back better can't just be about switching light bulbs. It also has to be about addressing the legacy of sexism, racism and colonization that are inseparable from the climate crisis,” said Keith Stewart, senior energy strategist at Greenpeace Canada, which commissioned the poll.
The official Opposition Conservative party has raised concerns about federal spending that goes beyond pandemic relief measures. Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre has warned against the Bank of Canada becoming “an ATM for Trudeau.” On Friday in Parliament, he accused Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland of pursuing “debt-fuelled government spending.” Canadians want “paycheques, not bigger credit card bills,” he said. A new poll reveals that six in 10 Canadians believe now is the time for the federal government to make “major changes to fix long-standing problems in society” like inequality, racism and the climate crisis. The Oct. 6-11 poll shows that 62 per cent of those questioned, as well as majorities in all population segments, believe that now is the time for transformative change. But this view isn’t held by respondents who also identified as Conservative; by almost the same margin, 63 per cent, that group believes that now is not the time for such actions from the federal government. Other opposition parties see it differently. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wants Trudeau to enact a range of measures including a wealth tax and a temporary “excess profit tax,” after Canada’s richest saw their wealth accumulate further this year. Meanwhile, the Green party wants to see an overhaul of social fiscal programs so that they are combined into a Guaranteed Livable Income. Environics asked Canadians a series of questions related to the federal throne speech and the environmental promises it contained. The results are based on a representative sample of 1,000 adult Canadians with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points at 95 per cent confidence. The poll found the greatest support for federal spending on renewable energy in Eastern and Central Canada, with the highest levels of support in the Atlantic region and Quebec at 77 per pent each, and 71 per cent in Ontario. Support for renewables investment, however, also extends into the West at 57 per cent, including 56 per cent in Alberta.


nationalobserver--2020-11-02--Wild mushroom pickers search for forest-floor gold

Were it not for the hippies , Joe Stone would probably still be building houses .
“ I was hanging out with a bunch of hippies , and they happened to tell me about the ( wild ) mushroom camps , ” said Stone , who has been picking wild mushrooms professionally since leaving the construction industry about six years ago .
“ I ( was ) like , ‘ Seriously , people camp out in the forest and pick mushrooms ?
!
’ I started doing it , and yeah , I just got addicted and haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wild mushroom industry is , to put it mildly , unconventional .
Harvesting is allowed anywhere on Crown land , though some First Nations have started to control access to their territories .
Deals are made in cash , often deep in the bush .
The industry is subject to minimal government oversight , and no clear records exist of how many mushrooms come out of the bush , or the industry 's value .
However , a 1997 study estimated the global trade in chanterelles was worth roughly $ 2 billion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicated member countries imported about $ 3.5 million worth of chanterelles annually between 1995 and 2005 .
Pine mushrooms , a delicacy in Japan , netted about $ 20 million annually from 2000 to 2003 .
• CO2 emissions from forestry are a surging climate threat .
Ottawa needs to act • Thousands of new COVID-19 cases in central Canada • Majority want feds to move now on inequality , racism , climate change : poll Mushroom pickers are freelancers , roaming around the province in search of their forest gold .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , most of whom will sell the mushrooms to one of the few large distributors .
Those distributors will then sell the harvest on to the export market and , in some cases , restaurants and Canadians .
Prices and harvest levels are set by global demand .
Joe Stone travels across B.C .
looking for mushrooms , and because of competition from other pickers , he often tries to move through the backwoods with as much stealth as possible .
Photo by Joe Stone “ I do fiddleheads in the spring , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the young ferns are sold in supermarkets and to restaurants .
“ Then I move to fire morels and ( they ) carry through most of the summer .
And then it ’ ll be lobster ( mushrooms ) , then chanterelles and pines and other ( varieties ) .
” In theory , the system works well .
In practice ?
“ It ’ s the Wild West , ” said Stone , who avoids being photographed — both for pickers , who compete for the best spots , and buyers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ ( Major buyers will ) drive the price down to make as much money as they can ... and let ’ s just say there ’ s a bit of bitterness because of the way they take advantage of the pickers.
” The B.C .
wild # mushroom industry is , to put it mildly , unconventional , but professional harvester Joe Stone says he would n't trade his job for anything .
# ntfp That perspective isn ’ t shared throughout the industry .
Jeremy Budd , co-owner of West Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s largest wild mushroom buyers and distributors , said in an interview with Canada 's National Observer that he has harvesters ’ best interests in mind when setting prices .
However , he said he operates on a tight profit margin , ca n't guarantee that his prices will be high enough for pickers to break even and that pickers can always look for other buyers .
Price wars are n't the only challenge Stone and other pickers navigate .
The mushrooms are scattered deep in backwoods B.C.
, where bears and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fungi is tricky .
“ It involves a lot of scouting , a lot of determination , lots of gas , money and energy to find these spots .
Hike a little bit further so you can get past where everybody is picking , ” Stone said .
“ I ( walk ) on average about 15 kilometres a day .
There ’ s a lot of up and down , it definitely keeps you in shape.
” And that ’ s only half the fun , he said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I use technology .
Once I find an area that ’ s producing , I ’ ll look at satellite imagery , see what the forest looks like and then cross-reference that with topography and elevation , ” he said .
Then he ’ ll look for other mountains in the area with similar topography and forest characteristics and go check the area out .
But it ’ s not the only way to go about finding forest-floor gold .
“ A lot of people will just wander around .
My least favourite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you around until you get to your patch , so they can pop in and pick , too , ” he said .
Wild mushroom picking gives Stone an opportunity to travel through B.C .
's extensive forests — a privilege , he said , that draws him back to the job year after year .
Photo by Joe Stone Other pickers aren ’ t the only problem .
Satellite imagery is often a year or two out of date , and it ’ s common for Stone to drive far up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promising spot , only to find it has been recently clear cut .
That ’ s a devastating loss , he said , because the forest likely won ’ t be healthy enough to produce mushrooms again for at least 80 years .
It ’ s also an issue that better provincial oversight of the industry could help overcome .
“ With more logging going on ... the patches are getting smaller and smaller , ” he said .
That means a loss of revenue for harvesters , many of whom are from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wild mushroom industry flies under the radar , those smaller patches aren ’ t accounted for in provincial timber management plans .
After navigating back roads and clearcuts , the remote , difficult terrain where Stone and other pickers work offers its own set of challenges .
Stone works with three dogs to ward off cougars and bears , and it ’ s not uncommon for pickers to go missing or die in the bush .
This year alone , there have been several deaths , including a father and son from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found this week .
Stone will walk about 15 kilometres a day when he 's picking , usually through the bush with a heavy pack .
Still , the views from camp in the evening are often worth the effort .
Photo by Joe Stone Still , despite the dangers in this forest gold rush , Stone and the other pickers he knows wouldn ’ t do anything else .
“ It ’ s a way of life .
We love it .
We love being in the forest , and for me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can do without doing any damage to the environment and just enjoy time with my dogs , ” he said .

Were it not for the hippies, Joe Stone would probably still be building houses. “I was hanging out with a bunch of hippies, and they happened to tell me about the (wild) mushroom camps,” said Stone, who has been picking wild mushrooms professionally since leaving the construction industry about six years ago. “I (was) like, ‘Seriously, people camp out in the forest and pick mushrooms?!’ I started doing it, and yeah, I just got addicted and haven’t looked back since.” The B.C. wild mushroom industry is, to put it mildly, unconventional. Harvesting is allowed anywhere on Crown land, though some First Nations have started to control access to their territories. Deals are made in cash, often deep in the bush. The industry is subject to minimal government oversight, and no clear records exist of how many mushrooms come out of the bush, or the industry's value. However, a 1997 study estimated the global trade in chanterelles was worth roughly $2 billion, while trade data from the European Union indicated member countries imported about $3.5 million worth of chanterelles annually between 1995 and 2005. Pine mushrooms, a delicacy in Japan, netted about $20 million annually from 2000 to 2003.
Mushroom pickers are freelancers, roaming around the province in search of their forest gold. They then sell their harvest to field buyers, most of whom will sell the mushrooms to one of the few large distributors. Those distributors will then sell the harvest on to the export market and, in some cases, restaurants and Canadians. Prices and harvest levels are set by global demand. Joe Stone travels across B.C. looking for mushrooms, and because of competition from other pickers, he often tries to move through the backwoods with as much stealth as possible. Photo by Joe Stone Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “I do fiddleheads in the spring,” he explained. Like mushrooms, the young ferns are sold in supermarkets and to restaurants. “Then I move to fire morels and (they) carry through most of the summer. And then it’ll be lobster (mushrooms), then chanterelles and pines and other (varieties).”
In theory, the system works well. In practice? The B.C. wild #mushroom industry is, to put it mildly, unconventional, but professional harvester Joe Stone says he wouldn't trade his job for anything. #ntfp “It’s the Wild West,” said Stone, who avoids being photographed — both for pickers, who compete for the best spots, and buyers who operate on a totally free market. “(Major buyers will) drive the price down to make as much money as they can ... and let’s just say there’s a bit of bitterness because of the way they take advantage of the pickers.” That perspective isn’t shared throughout the industry. Jeremy Budd, co-owner of West Coast Wild Foods, one of the province’s largest wild mushroom buyers and distributors, said in an interview with Canada's National Observer that he has harvesters’ best interests in mind when setting prices. However, he said he operates on a tight profit margin, can't guarantee that his prices will be high enough for pickers to break even and that pickers can always look for other buyers.
Price wars aren't the only challenge Stone and other pickers navigate. The mushrooms are scattered deep in backwoods B.C., where bears and cougars roam over challenging terrain. Finding the fungi is tricky. “It involves a lot of scouting, a lot of determination, lots of gas, money and energy to find these spots. Hike a little bit further so you can get past where everybody is picking,” Stone said. “I (walk) on average about 15 kilometres a day. There’s a lot of up and down, it definitely keeps you in shape.” And that’s only half the fun, he said.


nationalobserver--2020-11-02--‘Salmon paparazzi’: Streamkeepers use motion-sensor camera to capture conservation data

Stream stewards no longer need to brave wild weather , winds and rain each autumn to count spawning salmon entering Village Bay Lake on B.C .
's Quadra Island .
Now , volunteers can monitor returning salmon from the comfort of their kitchen table with the help of a high-tech surveillance system , said Lauren Miller of the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society ( QISES ) .
The Quadra salmon conservation group has rigged up a motion-sensor fish camera system that snaps images of passing coho salmon as they head into the lake to reach their natal creeks further afield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage and related data from the system , and review it at their leisure , Miller said .
“ Some people joke about us being salmon paparazzi , ” Miller said .
• CO2 emissions from forestry are a surging climate threat .
Ottawa needs to act • Thousands of new COVID-19 cases in central Canada • Majority want feds to move now on inequality , racism , climate change : poll For two decades , before the camera was installed , volunteers had to make their way to the fish fence at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November , no matter the weather , to open a gate to let the salmon continue upstream and record their numbers .
It was a task that could take hours in some pretty miserable conditions , Miller said .
“ We developed the system in a large part out of safety concerns , ” she said , adding the fish fence is accessible only by water and volunteers often worked alone .
“ Plus , it ’ s better for the fish.
” Groups of salmon milling in front of the closed gates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weather , and made them easy pickings for otters , she said .
Volunteer streamkeepers on B.C .
's Quadra Island can monitor returning # salmon from the comfort of their kitchen table with the help of a high-tech surveillance system .
# conservation # BC # wildsalmon Accessing a gap in the fish fence across the creek , salmon swim through a lighted chute covered in plexiglass along the top and one side , with an angled mirror to provide a side view .
The motion-triggered camera above the chute records a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view .
“ We ’ ve seen a lot of maple leaves , ” joked Miller , adding there aren ’ t nearly as many false positives as the group was expecting .
The system has recorded thousands of migrating salmon , along with sculpins , crayfish , mink and otters that have enjoyed the shortcut into the lake system since it was set up in 2017 .
Not only is the system infinitely more convenient , it ’ s led to better-quality data .
Viewing and identifying fish with the camera is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers , especially as many salmon swim through during the night , Miller said .
Image of a coho salmon as it travels past the QISES motion-capture fish cam .
Photo courtesy of QISES To date , 780 adult salmon , 100 chum and 676 coho have transited the system this spawning season , Miller said Friday , adding the numbers represent the higher end of an average year within the last decade .
The enhancement society ’ s fish cam is pretty impressive , said Andrew Pereboom of Fisheries and Oceans Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in salmon stock assessments for DFO , made the trip to Quadra Island Wednesday to get a look at the video counting system .
Community and First Nation streamkeeper organizations contribute invaluable data to DFO , which allows it to track salmon populations in small systems over time , Pereboom said .
And video-capture systems like the one at Village Bay provide high levels of accuracy around returning salmon , Pereboom said .
“ So , we can put a lot more weight into what those numbers mean compared to stream walks that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pereboom said .
Such systems aren ’ t common and take dedication and technical savvy to set up , he added .
“ For a volunteer organization , we don ’ t usually get this type of technical expertise and motivation to capture such professional data.
” Recently , the A-Tlegay Fisheries — representing the We Wai Kai , Wei Wai Kum , K'omoks , Tlowitsis and Kwiakah Nations ' fishing rights — and DFO teamed up to install a video-capture system along Black Creek on Vancouver Island , a key system for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nation fisheries staff also operate video-camera systems and capture data on sockeye and chinook salmon for DFO on the Sproat and Stamp rivers tied to the Great Central Lake system .
It took a year , lots of collaboration and close to a thousand volunteer hours to research , design and build the system that now allows salmon free passage through the fish fence day or night , Miller said .
However , despite the fish cam 's success , QISES volunteers still hike along the banks of the island ’ s five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rain or shine , and monitor salmon returns .
There ’ s no mystery in why folks are willing expend so much effort to capture data and protect such an iconic and important species , Miller said .
“ I ’ m more curious about people who don ’ t want to count salmon , ” she said .
“ Salmon are keystone species for the entire Pacific coast .
It ’ s hard to conceive of British Columbia without them .
”

Stream stewards no longer need to brave wild weather, winds and rain each autumn to count spawning salmon entering Village Bay Lake on B.C.'s Quadra Island. Now, volunteers can monitor returning salmon from the comfort of their kitchen table with the help of a high-tech surveillance system, said Lauren Miller of the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society (QISES). The Quadra salmon conservation group has rigged up a motion-sensor fish camera system that snaps images of passing coho salmon as they head into the lake to reach their natal creeks further afield. Volunteers simply have to download the footage and related data from the system, and review it at their leisure, Miller said. “Some people joke about us being salmon paparazzi,” Miller said.
For two decades, before the camera was installed, volunteers had to make their way to the fish fence at the lake twice daily through October and November, no matter the weather, to open a gate to let the salmon continue upstream and record their numbers. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions It was a task that could take hours in some pretty miserable conditions, Miller said.
“We developed the system in a large part out of safety concerns,” she said, adding the fish fence is accessible only by water and volunteers often worked alone. Volunteer streamkeepers on B.C.'s Quadra Island can monitor returning #salmon from the comfort of their kitchen table with the help of a high-tech surveillance system. #conservation #BC #wildsalmon “Plus, it’s better for the fish.” Groups of salmon milling in front of the closed gates stressed the fish, especially in warmer weather, and made them easy pickings for otters, she said. Accessing a gap in the fish fence across the creek, salmon swim through a lighted chute covered in plexiglass along the top and one side, with an angled mirror to provide a side view. The motion-triggered camera above the chute records a short clip if any object passes its view. “We’ve seen a lot of maple leaves,” joked Miller, adding there aren’t nearly as many false positives as the group was expecting.
The system has recorded thousands of migrating salmon, along with sculpins, crayfish, mink and otters that have enjoyed the shortcut into the lake system since it was set up in 2017. Not only is the system infinitely more convenient, it’s led to better-quality data. Viewing and identifying fish with the camera is much easier and provides far more accurate numbers, especially as many salmon swim through during the night, Miller said.


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

A second term for President Donald Trump could spell “ enormous consequences ” for America ’ s allies , including Canada , one of the United States ' most senior national security journalists says .
CNN chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto told Canada ’ s National Observer that Trump , if re-elected Tuesday , could be emboldened to pursue even more extreme and unpredictable foreign policy steps .
Sciutto cited suggestions that Trump might want to withdraw from western military alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) as an example .
Video of Jim Sciutto on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 039 ; administration of Donald J. Trump CNN 's Jim Scuitto talks with Linda Solomon Wood about 'The Madman Theory ' Sciutto made the remarks Wednesday in a lengthy conversation with Linda Solomon Wood , editor-in-chief of Canada ’ s National Observer , during a public online event .
The conversation revolved around Sciutto ’ s book on the president ’ s foreign policy , The Madman Theory : Trump Takes on the World , published in August .
• CO2 emissions from forestry are a surging climate threat .
Ottawa needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in central Canada • Majority want feds to move now on inequality , racism , climate change : poll The veteran anchor said he bases his remarks on extensive interviews with high-ranking members of the Trump administration and intelligence agencies , which he conducted while writing the book .
“ From folks in the national security community , things that were half-measures in the first term become full measures in a second term , ” Sciutto said .
“ It would not be good for U.S. allies , unless those allies are doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any particular moment … on a whole host of things , there are enormous consequences.
” Sciutto , 50 , said the book is based on interviews with current and former insiders in Trump ’ s national security and intelligence community .
According to the book ’ s publisher , HarperCollins , Sciutto leveraged his access to a “ wide swath of current and former administration officials to assemble the first comprehensive portrait of the impact of Trump ’ s erratic foreign policy.
” Sciutto ’ s goal was to ascertain whether there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s foreign policy .
The CNN correspondent described Trump ’ s frequent and often inaccurate boasting , glaring inconsistencies , attempts to gain advantage and leverage over others , insults and sudden threats against or concessions to other countries seemingly “ out of the blue.
” “ As commander-in-chief , ( he ’ s ) keeping adversaries on edge by being unpredictable , ” said Sciutto , a two-time Emmy winner for his work in Iraq , where he was the only U.S. reporter allowed to embed with American Special Forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good for U.S. allies , unless those allies are doing what ( Trump ) wants them to do at any particular moment , '' journalist and 'Madman Theory ' author @ jimsciutto said in conversation with @ Linda_Solomon # cdnpoli # election2020 The notion that unpredictability can work to a statesman ’ s advantage is nothing new .
It even has a name : the so-called “ Madman Theory , ” which originated in the Cold War under disgraced former president Richard Nixon .
Nixon hatched a scheme to convince enemy countries he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crazy enough to launch a nuclear strike or to invade .
It was “ a tool of exercising power on the international stage , which is to convince your adversaries you 're unpredictable .
Maybe a little nuts … and might go further than they might imagine , ” Sciutto told Canada ’ s National Observer .
But Trump has added “ innovations ” to the theory of an unpredictable leader , the CNN anchor said , and that bears deeply on how the U.S. election might impact Canadians .
“ He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against friends as foes , ” Sciutto said .
He pointed to comments made by Trump declaring Canada a national security threat to justify the imposition of steel tariffs in a trade war .
“ Canada , a national security threat ?
” The Nov. 3 U.S. election is imminent , and despite polls showing a strong Democratic lead , Sciutto reminded the audience that in 2016 , the polls and experts ’ predictions were unreliable .
So for many Canadians asking what the re-election of Trump might mean for their country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erratic foreign policy from the president and watch out for Trump ’ s far-right sympathizers , whose numbers are growing in Canada , too .
Sciutto cited Trump ’ s televised remark about the extreme-right group the Proud Boys — “ Stand back and stand by ” — and ambiguity around the kidnapping plot against Michigan ’ s Democratic governor as examples of his ability to influence and inspire more extremist followers without overtly directing them .
That , Sciutto said , presents real fears if Trump loses the election .
“ Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The views are similar : anti-government , white supremacist , it 's conspiracy-theory driven … it feels like ( Trump ’ s ) more a guiding light to folks here ( in the U.S. ) , so I don ’ t know to what degree Canadian groups , too , but it ’ s a concern .
”

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


nationalobserver--2020-11-03--Manitoba tightens COVID-19 rules as Ontario considers relaxing them

Manitoba weighed imposing a curfew to help contain the spread of COVID-19 while Ontario considered whether to loosen restrictions in some hot spots on Monday , as both provinces continued to see hundreds of new infections .
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said he is weighing the curfew after reports of large parties being promoted online in Winnipeg , despite tighter restrictions already in place in the city .
“ When we were abiding by the fundamentals , we were beating COVID .
Some of us lost our way , '' he said Monday .
`` Now COVID is beating us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series of new COVID-19 rules took effect across Manitoba , with the capital city under more stringent restrictions .
The Winnipeg region faces a ban on indoor service at bars and restaurants , and a limit of 25 per cent capacity for most retail stores , among other measures .
Bars , restaurants and stores in the rest of Manitoba are limited to half capacity .
• CO2 emissions from forestry are a surging climate threat .
Ottawa needs to act • Majority want feds to move now on inequality , racism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. election do to hate in Canada ?
The new rules -- which include a provincewide cap of five people for public gatherings -- were announced Friday , and the province reported hundreds of new cases over the weekend .
Another 241 cases and five new deaths were reported Monday .
Meanwhile , Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he will meet with his cabinet soon to discuss the possibility of lifting a number of restrictions imposed on a handful of hot spot regions .
The restrictions set in place in Toronto , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are set to expire at the end of the week and Ford has said he asked health officials to come up with a plan to allow shuttered businesses to safely reopen .
He said Monday the decision is coming `` very soon , '' but gave no further details .
The restrictions were put in place for 28 days and , among other things , closed gyms and banned indoor dining at restaurants and bars .
York Region was later added to the list of hot spots , with the new rules taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premier has faced criticism from those who believe the restrictions have been unnecessarily burdensome , and those who argue it 's too early to roll them back .
Manitoba weighed imposing a curfew to help contain the spread of COVID-19 while Ontario considered whether to loosen restrictions in some hot spots on Monday , November 2 , 2020 , as both provinces continued to see hundreds of new infections .
`` I 'm just trying to do a happy balance , '' he said Monday .
The mayors of 11 cities in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Monday in favour of a plan to safely ease the restrictions .
`` We support the province 's work to establish a safe path forward for restaurants and other establishments from our public health professionals assuming circumstances permit , '' they said .
Ontario reported 948 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday , and seven new deaths due to the virus .
Most of the new cases remain in the four hot spot regions currently under more stringent COVID-19 rules : Toronto , Peel and York regions , and Ottawa .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardest hit by the pandemic , officials reported 1,037 new cases of COVID-19 and 12 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus .

Manitoba weighed imposing a curfew to help contain the spread of COVID-19 while Ontario considered whether to loosen restrictions in some hot spots on Monday, as both provinces continued to see hundreds of new infections. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said he is weighing the curfew after reports of large parties being promoted online in Winnipeg, despite tighter restrictions already in place in the city. “When we were abiding by the fundamentals, we were beating COVID. Some of us lost our way," he said Monday. "Now COVID is beating us." The news came as a series of new COVID-19 rules took effect across Manitoba, with the capital city under more stringent restrictions. The Winnipeg region faces a ban on indoor service at bars and restaurants, and a limit of 25 per cent capacity for most retail stores, among other measures. Bars, restaurants and stores in the rest of Manitoba are limited to half capacity.
The new rules -- which include a provincewide cap of five people for public gatherings -- were announced Friday, and the province reported hundreds of new cases over the weekend. Another 241 cases and five new deaths were reported Monday. Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he will meet with his cabinet soon to discuss the possibility of lifting a number of restrictions imposed on a handful of hot spot regions. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The restrictions set in place in Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa on Oct. 10 are set to expire at the end of the week and Ford has said he asked health officials to come up with a plan to allow shuttered businesses to safely reopen.
He said Monday the decision is coming "very soon," but gave no further details. Manitoba weighed imposing a curfew to help contain the spread of COVID-19 while Ontario considered whether to loosen restrictions in some hot spots on Monday, November 2, 2020, as both provinces continued to see hundreds of new infections. The restrictions were put in place for 28 days and, among other things, closed gyms and banned indoor dining at restaurants and bars. York Region was later added to the list of hot spots, with the new rules taking effect there on Oct. 19. The premier has faced criticism from those who believe the restrictions have been unnecessarily burdensome, and those who argue it's too early to roll them back. "I'm just trying to do a happy balance," he said Monday. The mayors of 11 cities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area issued a statement Monday in favour of a plan to safely ease the restrictions.
"We support the province's work to establish a safe path forward for restaurants and other establishments from our public health professionals assuming circumstances permit," they said. Ontario reported 948 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, and seven new deaths due to the virus. Most of the new cases remain in the four hot spot regions currently under more stringent COVID-19 rules: Toronto, Peel and York regions, and Ottawa.


nationalobserver--2020-11-03--Canadians anxiously watch U.S. election results

People across Canada will be gathering Tuesday night to watch the results of the divisive U.S. presidential election .
Watching particularly closely will be Americans living here .
Given the COVID-19 pandemic , most get-togethers will be virtual but some in-person events are planned .
A spokeswoman for Democrats Abroad says the organization is holding a Canada-wide Zoom watch party .
She says more than 400 people have said they will attend with others expected to join as well .
• CO2 emissions from forestry are a surging climate threat .
Ottawa needs to act • Majority want feds to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change : poll • What will the U.S. election do to hate in Canada ?
Several pubs and restaurants across the Prairies are hosting some form of election-night party .
It 's unlikely , however , that even those hanging in all night will know whether Republican President Donald Trump keeps the White House or loses it to Democrat former vice-president Joe Biden .
Most experts believe it will still take days if not months to get the final results of the vote .
People are excited and anxious , not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results will be known , said Jennifer Phillips with the Vancouver chapter of Democrats Abroad .
`` We are accustomed to knowing who won the election on election night , '' Phillips said .
`` We usually see an unofficial media projection . ''
The good thing about virtual gathering , she said , was that it allows people to connect from across Canada .
The election comes at a time when Canadians ' view of the United States has distinctly soured .
One recent poll found more than three in five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S .
Polls have also suggested about two-thirds of Canadians were hoping to see Biden win .
People across Canada will be gathering on Tuesday , November 3 , 2020 , night to watch the results of the divisive U.S. presidential election .
Democrats Abroad have been especially busy in recent months urging the estimated 620,000 expatriates in Canada to get out and vote .
Especially in border swing states such as Michigan , Americans living in Canada could have tipped the scales of the presidential vote .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a clear result '' from the election .
`` If it is less clear , there may be some disruptions and we need to be ready , '' Trudeau said .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3 , 2020 .

People across Canada will be gathering Tuesday night to watch the results of the divisive U.S. presidential election. Watching particularly closely will be Americans living here. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, most get-togethers will be virtual but some in-person events are planned. A spokeswoman for Democrats Abroad says the organization is holding a Canada-wide Zoom watch party. She says more than 400 people have said they will attend with others expected to join as well.
Several pubs and restaurants across the Prairies are hosting some form of election-night party. It's unlikely, however, that even those hanging in all night will know whether Republican President Donald Trump keeps the White House or loses it to Democrat former vice-president Joe Biden. Most experts believe it will still take days if not months to get the final results of the vote. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions People are excited and anxious, not just about the election, but also when the results will be known, said Jennifer Phillips with the Vancouver chapter of Democrats Abroad.
"We are accustomed to knowing who won the election on election night," Phillips said. "We usually see an unofficial media projection." People across Canada will be gathering on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, night to watch the results of the divisive U.S. presidential election. The good thing about virtual gathering, she said, was that it allows people to connect from across Canada. The election comes at a time when Canadians' view of the United States has distinctly soured. One recent poll found more than three in five Canadians have an unfavourable view of the U.S. Polls have also suggested about two-thirds of Canadians were hoping to see Biden win. Democrats Abroad have been especially busy in recent months urging the estimated 620,000 expatriates in Canada to get out and vote. Especially in border swing states such as Michigan, Americans living in Canada could have tipped the scales of the presidential vote. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed hope for a "smooth transition or a clear result" from the election.


nationalobserver--2020-11-03--Too flawed to fix: Disband the RCMP and start over

The Mounties fiddled while the Mi ’ kmaq fisheries burned .
That viral video of RCMP officers idly watching arson at lobster pounds convinced National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Perry Bellegarde to disrupt his normally conflict-averse Twitter feed with a public call for the resignation of RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki .
Bellegarde called it a year of “ civil unrest , ” which , he says , included racist attacks on Mi ’ kmaq fishermen on the East Coast , RCMP raids in Wet ’ suwet ’ en territory and an officer needlessly tackling and punching Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Inuk man purposely smacked to the ground by the door of a moving police cruiser in the North .
When she was appointed in 2018 , Lucki was given a mandate to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples , promote gender equality , address workplace harassment and protect the civil liberties of Canadians .
Bellegarde clearly doesn ’ t think the RCMP is hitting the note on reconciliation .
• CO2 emissions from forestry are a surging climate threat .
Ottawa needs to act • Majority want feds to move now on inequality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • What will the U.S. election do to hate in Canada ?
The B.C .
Civil Liberties Association isn ’ t happy with her record , either .
Earlier this year , the group filed a formal complaint about the RCMP ’ s use of so-called `` exclusion zones , '' wide swatches of areas where officers claim extraordinary powers to detain , search and arrest people .
As it turned out , the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission ( CRCC ) , which oversees the RCMP , had already warned the force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apparently , the RCMP decided to ignore that caution .
And full disclosure as a press freedom advocate : I have personally used up the goodwill of a half-dozen pro-bono lawyers and drained about a litre of ink since January trying to keep the RCMP from harassing , illegally detaining or unlawfully arresting journalists .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair are so far defending Lucki , saying she has the right vision and just needs more time to change the culture at the RCMP .
After all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2017 , the CRCC issued a report panning the force for a long-standing and deeply rooted culture of harassment and workplace bullying .
It described the culture as “ toxic , ” and suggested investigations were being impacted and the public trust eroded .
It will take more than increased civilian oversight or body cameras to fix the # RCMP — it 's time to reimagine the force , writes @ NatObserver columnist @ karyn_pugliese .
# reconciliation # cdnpoli The report describes an internal structure that protects toxic behaviour such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that encourages good cops to keep their heads down and punishes whistleblowers .
Although problems had been apparent for more than a decade , the CRCC said RCMP leadership resisted change and had largely ignored its past recommendations .
Shortly after that , Commissioner Bob Paulson apologized to thousands of female officers and civilians who had been sexually assaulted or harassed by members of the force .
Victims were compensated , but there was no public reckoning for the perpetrators .
The public was only told a small but “ potent minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many men were involved in the harassment or assault of more than 3,000 women , what discipline they faced and whether they are still active on the force was not made public .
And one could go back further , in RCMP history , a national inquiry panned the RCMP for its handling of investigations into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls , numerous cases of excessive force , a number of incidents where the RCMP overstepped their legal powers and the killing of Inuit sled dogs .
At its base , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indigenous people off their lands and enforce the residential school system even when it meant tearing children out of the arms of mothers .
This is by no means a complete list .
So , in 2018 , when Lucki , a 31-year veteran of the force , walked into the top job and accepted the mandate , her eyes should have been wide open to the issues .
Brenda Lucki is commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police .
Photo by RCMP But when she was recently asked if racism was systemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is an individual issue .
Essentially , Lucki is saying she believes she has a few bad apples .
The truth is toxic behaviour is rarely a solo act .
Bad apples grow in an environment that nurtures them , excuses their behaviour and protects them .
Consider this : shortly after Colten Boushie , a 22-year-old Cree youth , was shot in the back of the head , an RCMP officer wrote the following in a Facebook group : “ Too bad the kid died but he got what he deserved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or near reserves and are getting fed up with the race card being used every time someone gets caught breaking the law ?
” Lucki refused to make the officer ’ s name public for privacy reasons , which is standard for the RCMP .
The officer was disciplined on the `` lower level '' of the force ’ s disciplinary spectrum , which Lucki described as some form of reconciliation with the Indigenous community .
Otherwise , the officer ’ s position on the force was not impacted .
In an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer ’ s behaviour unacceptable .
But the more serious issue of having an officer who holds racist sentiments on the force went unaddressed .
Meanwhile , APTN News has captured dozens more RCMP officers openly posting racist statements about Indigenous people on social media .
They are anecdotal but point to a pattern repeated in case after case by the RCMP .
Lucki ’ s failure to see that pattern , to understand that the problem is not a few individuals but a system that has a deeply rooted toxic culture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RCMP .
The city of Camden , N.J. , faced a similar problem in 2013 .
Its violent-crime rate was out of control , the police force was considered incompetent at best , corrupt at worst .
Attempts to fix the internal culture at the heart of the problem had failed .
So they scrapped the force .
The process was tough and controversial .
The results are not perfect .
But few Camden residents would deny the new force is a vast improvement over the old one .
Removing Lucki and appointing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RCMP .
It will take more than increased civilian oversight or body cameras .
Because anyone coming up through the ranks has already normalized an unacceptable culture .
It ’ s time to think about disbanding the RCMP and starting over .

The Mounties fiddled while the Mi’kmaq fisheries burned. That viral video of RCMP officers idly watching arson at lobster pounds convinced National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Perry Bellegarde to disrupt his normally conflict-averse Twitter feed with a public call for the resignation of RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki. Bellegarde called it a year of “civil unrest,” which, he says, included racist attacks on Mi’kmaq fishermen on the East Coast, RCMP raids in Wet’suwet’en territory and an officer needlessly tackling and punching Chief Allan Adam in the West, and an Inuk man purposely smacked to the ground by the door of a moving police cruiser in the North. When she was appointed in 2018, Lucki was given a mandate to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, promote gender equality, address workplace harassment and protect the civil liberties of Canadians. Bellegarde clearly doesn’t think the RCMP is hitting the note on reconciliation.
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association isn’t happy with her record, either. Earlier this year, the group filed a formal complaint about the RCMP’s use of so-called "exclusion zones," wide swatches of areas where officers claim extraordinary powers to detain, search and arrest people. As it turned out, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC), which oversees the RCMP, had already warned the force it was operating beyond its powers. Apparently, the RCMP decided to ignore that caution. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions And full disclosure as a press freedom advocate: I have personally used up the goodwill of a half-dozen pro-bono lawyers and drained about a litre of ink since January trying to keep the RCMP from harassing, illegally detaining or unlawfully arresting journalists.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair are so far defending Lucki, saying she has the right vision and just needs more time to change the culture at the RCMP. After all, change doesn’t happen overnight. It will take more than increased civilian oversight or body cameras to fix the #RCMP — it's time to reimagine the force, writes @NatObserver columnist @karyn_pugliese. #reconciliation #cdnpoli True enough. Problems with RCMP long predate Lucki’s appointment. In 2017, the CRCC issued a report panning the force for a long-standing and deeply rooted culture of harassment and workplace bullying. It described the culture as “toxic,” and suggested investigations were being impacted and the public trust eroded. The report describes an internal structure that protects toxic behaviour such as bullying, gender and racial discrimination, one that encourages good cops to keep their heads down and punishes whistleblowers. Although problems had been apparent for more than a decade, the CRCC said RCMP leadership resisted change and had largely ignored its past recommendations.
Shortly after that, Commissioner Bob Paulson apologized to thousands of female officers and civilians who had been sexually assaulted or harassed by members of the force. Victims were compensated, but there was no public reckoning for the perpetrators. The public was only told a small but “potent minority” of men were responsible. How many men were involved in the harassment or assault of more than 3,000 women, what discipline they faced and whether they are still active on the force was not made public. And one could go back further, in RCMP history, a national inquiry panned the RCMP for its handling of investigations into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, numerous cases of excessive force, a number of incidents where the RCMP overstepped their legal powers and the killing of Inuit sled dogs. At its base, the RCMP was set up to force Indigenous people off their lands and enforce the residential school system even when it meant tearing children out of the arms of mothers. This is by no means a complete list.


nationalobserver--2020-11-03--Pandemic has meant boom, not bust, for this university admissions company

Kira Talent had just attained the startup dream of turning a profit when COVID-19 hit .
But what was a calamity for most small businesses supercharged growth at the Toronto-based admissions software company .
Emilie Cushman , the company ’ s co-founder and CEO , said that a rush of customers signed up in March and April , pushing Kira to condense its timeline to get schools up and running from two to three months down to seven days .
“ Schools overnight had to transform their admissions process to be completely online , ” Cushman said , joking that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by four or five years .
Another cohort of schools unable to commit earlier in the year were sold on the offering by August , said Cushman , who got a commerce degree from the University of Windsor before taking a University of Toronto course on the economics of entrepreneurship in 2012 .
Kira ’ s platform allows schools to identify attributes they are looking for in applicants — empathy , leadership and motivation , for example — and suggests questions to send them .
It then facilitates the review and rating of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• CO2 emissions from forestry are a surging climate threat .
Ottawa needs to act • Majority want feds to move now on inequality , racism , climate change : poll • What will the U.S. election do to hate in Canada ?
Kira allows applicants to record responses to interview questions , and multiple reviewers can rate and weigh their responses against a set of sought-after attributes .
Photo via Kira Talent brochure While some universities might have once seen `` holistic admissions '' as a nicety but not a necessity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada and large parts of the world are reviewing that opinion .
Holistic admissions refers to efforts to better evaluate the myriad skills and attributes that applicants possess , but that are not necessarily reflected in test scores or other traditional criteria .
“ Now , all of a sudden , people are restricted with in-person interviews and starting to see the limitations of doing an entirely remote process , ” said Cushman .
“ We 're seeing a lot more interest and demand , people are finally getting it.
” Satisfied customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faculties across North America and abroad , say it improves their selection process while saving time and money .
Higher education institutions are facing a tough time because of the pandemic , with many campuses closed or operating at reduced capacity .
The difficulties facing international students threaten a lucrative revenue stream , and schools must invest to move online while students grumble about paying for services they can ’ t use .
Those with the financial capacity are spending into the crisis .
The # COVID19 pandemic has upended much of uni @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of business for Toronto ed tech company @ KiraTalent .
“ When this first started back in March we were all bracing ourselves , we had no idea which direction this was going to go in , ” she said , noting a major concern was whether schools would shut down entirely .
Kira decided to go ahead and replicate the multiple mini interview ( MMI ) format for in-person interviews that medical schools across North America use without waiting to be asked , and have since signed up at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We saw COVID happening and it was like , ‘ Oh my gosh , they 're going to need this , ’ ” Cushman recalled .
“ And so we did n't really have time to go through a full proper testing process which could take months .
It was like , ‘ Let ’ s just build this , ’ ” she said .
Kira now boasts around 400 customers , at least half of them in the United States , another 20 per cent in Canada and the rest spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia , South America and Asia .
They have 25 employees and are actively hiring to meet demand after starting the year with 18 people on payroll .
They ’ ve got no need for external funding , Cushman said , after raising a little under $ 9 million between 2012 and 2017 .
Cushman said schools will likely remain on the path COVID-19 has forced them to tread , and that “ in a couple of years , it 's going to be a completely new , revamped process ( with ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
It will be “ a lot more holistic and a lot more applicant-centred , and I think that 's the way it should be , ” she said .
“ The future is bright in higher education .
I think now more than ever , schools have a willingness to adopt technology that they never had before.
” Cushman says there is plenty of room for Kira to grow , including by engaging a growing number of partners active in other parts of the academic process .
“ Right now the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ We 're not really in the matriculation process , we 're not really part of the recruitment process , we have nothing to do with standardized testing or anything that comes before they are actually submitting an online application .
”

Kira Talent had just attained the startup dream of turning a profit when COVID-19 hit. But what was a calamity for most small businesses supercharged growth at the Toronto-based admissions software company. Emilie Cushman, the company’s co-founder and CEO, said that a rush of customers signed up in March and April, pushing Kira to condense its timeline to get schools up and running from two to three months down to seven days. “Schools overnight had to transform their admissions process to be completely online,” Cushman said, joking that 2020 has accelerated Kira’s business by four or five years. Another cohort of schools unable to commit earlier in the year were sold on the offering by August, said Cushman, who got a commerce degree from the University of Windsor before taking a University of Toronto course on the economics of entrepreneurship in 2012. Kira’s platform allows schools to identify attributes they are looking for in applicants — empathy, leadership and motivation, for example — and suggests questions to send them. It then facilitates the review and rating of responses, while also checking for plagiarism.
Kira allows applicants to record responses to interview questions, and multiple reviewers can rate and weigh their responses against a set of sought-after attributes. Photo via Kira Talent brochure While some universities might have once seen "holistic admissions" as a nicety but not a necessity, the pandemic has meant schools across Canada and large parts of the world are reviewing that opinion. Holistic admissions refers to efforts to better evaluate the myriad skills and attributes that applicants possess, but that are not necessarily reflected in test scores or other traditional criteria. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “Now, all of a sudden, people are restricted with in-person interviews and starting to see the limitations of doing an entirely remote process,” said Cushman. “We're seeing a lot more interest and demand, people are finally getting it.”
Satisfied customers, which include business schools and other faculties across North America and abroad, say it improves their selection process while saving time and money. The #COVID19 pandemic has upended much of uni life, but it has also created a lot of business for Toronto ed tech company @KiraTalent. Higher education institutions are facing a tough time because of the pandemic, with many campuses closed or operating at reduced capacity. The difficulties facing international students threaten a lucrative revenue stream, and schools must invest to move online while students grumble about paying for services they can’t use. Those with the financial capacity are spending into the crisis. “When this first started back in March we were all bracing ourselves, we had no idea which direction this was going to go in,” she said, noting a major concern was whether schools would shut down entirely. Kira decided to go ahead and replicate the multiple mini interview (MMI) format for in-person interviews that medical schools across North America use without waiting to be asked, and have since signed up at least a dozen such schools across Canada.
“We saw COVID happening and it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, they're going to need this,’” Cushman recalled. “And so we didn't really have time to go through a full proper testing process which could take months. It was like, ‘Let’s just build this,’” she said. 'The future is bright' Kira now boasts around 400 customers, at least half of them in the United States, another 20 per cent in Canada and the rest spread across the United Kingdom and Europe, Australia, South America and Asia.


nationalobserver--2020-11-03--Most mechanics 'scared' to work on electric vehicles, industry veteran says

The German-born , Maple Ridge , B.C.
, resident has spent his career fiddling around with cars .
Uebelacker , 53 , worked as a Mercedes-Benz mechanic for more than 20 years before moving to his current line of work , training roadside assistance providers at BCAA , while also teaching in Kwantlen Polytechnic University ’ s automotive program .
He believes there are few trained professionals currently in the business who can confidently open the hood of an electric vehicle ( EV ) and know what they ’ re getting themselves into .
That ’ s a problem in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that ’ s only going to get worse if it isn ’ t addressed soon .
He wanted the new skill set in particular because of the training he does at BCAA , he said .
Uebelacker trains BCAA ’ s fleet of roadside service providers on things such as how to tow cars , boost them to get them going or change tires .
He also travels across B.C .
to meet with other companies hired under the umbrella of BCAA to train them as well .
It is important that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so they can handle them without getting shocked or electrocuted by the car ’ s high-voltage system , he said .
The procedure to check an EV ’ s components is completely different from that of a gas-powered vehicle .
This information is also useful for organizations focused on health and safety such as WorksafeBC or even fire departments , Uebelacker said .
Klaus Uebelacker , a mechanic with decades of experience , thinks many in his profession are afraid of electric cars .
`` The automotive industry , in my mind , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is scared .
They don ’ t understand the system.
” # EVs A self-described EV geek , Uebelacker says he was first inspired by the General Motors EV1 , an electric vehicle produced in the late 1990s .
Cars with no tailpipe emissions , that don ’ t cloud cities with pollution and threaten people ’ s health are clearly the future of automotive technology , he said .
In B.C.
, they are increasingly present on the road , with provincial sales requirements demanding a percentage of sales to be zero-emission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three per cent of national vehicle sales so far , that may change if the federal government follows through on its promise to make EVs more “ affordable.
” But the bottom line , said Uebelacker , is that , as a mechanic , EVs appeal to him the most because of their simplicity .
In a regular car , “ you have so many things that turn , that are spinning , making noises , using oil , using gas , using spark , ” he said .
In an EV , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to it — just an electric motor and a little bit of brains .
”

Klaus Uebelacker thinks mechanics are afraid of electric cars. The German-born, Maple Ridge, B.C., resident has spent his career fiddling around with cars. Uebelacker, 53, worked as a Mercedes-Benz mechanic for more than 20 years before moving to his current line of work, training roadside assistance providers at BCAA, while also teaching in Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s automotive program. He believes there are few trained professionals currently in the business who can confidently open the hood of an electric vehicle (EV) and know what they’re getting themselves into. That’s a problem in Canada in 2020, he says — one that’s only going to get worse if it isn’t addressed soon. “Electric cars are coming fast, and we need to be prepared. The automotive industry, in my mind, is not prepared for it,” said Uebelacker in an interview. “Everybody is scared. Seriously, everybody is scared. They don’t understand the system.” It was Uebelacker’s own thirst for knowledge that drove him to enrol in the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) EV maintenance training program, which he completed earlier this year, right before the pandemic hit.
The program was “the only place where they actually touch electric cars and do training on them,” Uebelacker said. “You take the parts out, you actually look inside, they show you how to activate it, how to take the battery out. You actually take a complete battery apart, physically look at it, and say, ‘Oh, that’s what happens.’” BCIT’s program was launched with support from CleanBC, the provincial climate plan. Mubasher Faruki, associate dean of automotive, told Canada’s National Observer last month that demand is growing for technicians to be trained to work on EVs. The Green Budget Coalition has recommended that the federal government provide $10 million for a nationwide automotive technician training program for zero-emission vehicles. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Uebelacker called that a “no-brainer” and said he would “absolutely recommend” EV training for mechanics. “I think in every apprenticeship, that should be almost mandatory,” he said. “Coming out of the automotive industry, and being an instructor in a university, I really recommend it.”
He wanted the new skill set in particular because of the training he does at BCAA, he said. Uebelacker trains BCAA’s fleet of roadside service providers on things such as how to tow cars, boost them to get them going or change tires. He also travels across B.C. to meet with other companies hired under the umbrella of BCAA to train them as well. Klaus Uebelacker, a mechanic with decades of experience, thinks many in his profession are afraid of electric cars. "The automotive industry, in my mind, is not prepared for it...everybody is scared. They don’t understand the system.” #EVs It is important that tow operators understand how EVs work, so they can handle them without getting shocked or electrocuted by the car’s high-voltage system, he said. The procedure to check an EV’s components is completely different from that of a gas-powered vehicle. This information is also useful for organizations focused on health and safety such as WorksafeBC or even fire departments, Uebelacker said. A self-described EV geek, Uebelacker says he was first inspired by the General Motors EV1, an electric vehicle produced in the late 1990s. Cars with no tailpipe emissions, that don’t cloud cities with pollution and threaten people’s health are clearly the future of automotive technology, he said. In B.C., they are increasingly present on the road, with provincial sales requirements demanding a percentage of sales to be zero-emission models. While EVs only represent about three per cent of national vehicle sales so far, that may change if the federal government follows through on its promise to make EVs more “affordable.”