Demand for biofuels sparks Canadian boom. But will U.S. subsidies pull investment south?
Subsidies from U.S. Inflation Reduction Act will make it cheaper to produce fuel stateside Canada’s biofuel industry is seeing a major uptick in investment spurred on by growing global demand for biofuel and, in particular, the implementation of the country’s new Clean Fuel Regulations. In recent years, much of the investment in Canada’s biofuel sector has targeted the production of renewable diesel, a biomass-based fuel that is chemically equivalent to petroleum diesel and can either be blended with it or used as a replacement fuel. As that industry grows, so doesRead more
Spinach and sheep are showing us that solar farms aren’t solely for green energy
University of Alberta team grows plants under solar panels in laboratory test New work from the University of Alberta is looking to maximize the green energy that comes from the province’s solar farms. The practice is known as agrivoltaics — placing crops under solar panels, effectively doubling down on the efficiency of a booming solar energy sector. In this case, the crop is spinach. “In several ways it’s a win-win,” said soil scientist Guillermo Hernandez Ramirez, a professor in the U of A’s faculty of agricultural, life and environmental sciences. SolarRead more
Campfire ban in place for most of B.C., state of emergency for Stikine announced as wildfire numbers spike
British Columbia is imposing a campfire ban across the province, excepting only Haida Gwaii, as well as a state of emergency for the Stikine Region in the province’s northwest corner. “I think what’s clear to me is the climate crisis is here,” said B.C. Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma during a media briefing Monday afternoon. “We are seeing more climate events, major fires and droughts. This is an extremely challenging time for people and communities. It is immensely stressful.” The campfire ban goes into effect at 3Read more
This single dad makes $75K a year. He can’t find affordable housing in Vancouver for him and his son
Karl Eaton says he needs a place to stay by July 31 Karl Eaton has been working since he was 16 years old. Today he has a full-time job with Telus, making approximately $74,900 a year, but the 55-year-old single father says his take-home pay isn’t enough to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Vancouver for himself and his son. “I’m gonna be homeless in probably 30 days if I don’t find a place that I can afford — reasonably afford — without it taking my whole salary,” he told The Early Edition hostRead more
Protesters agree to end Brady Road landfill blockade after city order
City of Winnipeg giving protesters until noon on Monday to remove blockade Protesters blocking the entrance to Brady Road landfill have agreed to end their blockade after the city issued an order for them to vacate by Monday. The City of Winnipeg’s chief administrative officer, Michael Jack, sent an email to Mayor Scott Gillingham and city councillors Friday saying he had issued an order to vacate to those blocking the roadway. They were told they had to leave by 12 p.m. Monday. “The blockade is a violation of both City By-laws and provisionsRead more
Community, Indigenous drug-related services groups in Western Canada to get $20M from Ottawa
Money to be shared between 42 local drug-related programs across B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan Dozens of community and Indigenous groups across British Columbia and the Prairies will share $20 million in federal funding to boost the mental health and drug awareness, treatment and rehabilitation services they offer. The money is to be shared between 42 local drug-related programs across B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, Canada’s Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett announced on Thursday. The minister was in Squamish, B.C., where she visited two addiction treatment centres, including one for youth.Read more
Man in his 30s in stable condition after being stabbed on TTC subway near Eglinton station
Suspect still at large, stabbing caused chaos among riders on train A man in his 30s is in stable condition in hospital after he was stabbed on a moving TTC subway car near Eglinton station on Thursday, Toronto police say. The suspect fled the station and is still at large, Duty Insp. Michelle Olszevski, spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, told reporters outside the station. Police believe the stabbing is not random and that an argument preceded the physical violence.. “This is not believed to be random. This is an isolated incident andRead more
Alberta municipalities affected by wildfires to have most costs reimbursed by province
Alberta allots $175M to cover the cost of evacuation centres, transport, some property damage The Alberta government has set aside $175 million for wildfire disaster recovery after spring and early summer blazes tore through some communities and forced 38,000 people from their homes. Municipalities and Métis settlements will be eligible to apply for provincial funding to help offset some of the unanticipated costs of responding to wildfires and repairing some damage. “Alberta municipalities and Métis settlements have had to manage extraordinary costs and pressures to help keep residents’ homes and businessesRead more
How one of Toronto’s most lucrative companies wound up on the city’s list of biggest property tax debtors
City says MLSE is more than $1 million behind on taxes, company disputes charge One of the city’s oldest, best-known sports corporations has found itself on a dubious list. Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment — owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors, among other pro sports franchises — has been named one of Toronto’s largest property tax debtors, with an unpaid bill of roughly $1.18 million, dating back to the 2019 tax year. That number came to light at April’s meeting of the city’s general government committee, when the annualRead more
B.C. must urgently change forest strategies or face more wildfire disasters: report
‘The key is there’s an urgency to this’: B.C. Forests Practices Board chair Critical strategy shifts are urgently needed to cut the risk of catastrophic wildfires in British Columbia forests that threaten to decimate ecosystems and communities, says an independent forests watchdog report. The B.C. Forests Practices Board is calling on the provincial government to undertake a “paradigm shift” in how it manages forests, saying wildfire risk mitigation currently focuses on areas near communities but leaves the wider forest landscape “severely vulnerable.” The report comes as the largest wildfire inRead more