B.C. says firms can cut down whole trees for pellet fuel if they are ‘inferior’
Two environmental groups say that’s a disturbing change from how the provincial government has portrayed the wood pellet industry in the past.
Coldwater warns Trans Mountain hearings are unfair
The legal counsel for Coldwater, part of the Nlaka'pamux Nation in British Columbia, is taking issue with a key shift in the federal energy regulator's approach to Trans Mountain pipeline hearings that abandons oral cross-examination in favour of written questions.
Toronto and Vancouver are in a financial freefall, and Ottawa has noticed
The prime minister’s comments follow a push by mayors across the country for emergency federal funding to make up for billions of dollars in lost revenue from things like transit and parking, as people stay home and avoid public places to slow the spread of the virus.
Concerns raised over landlord participation in rent-relief program
NDP, CFIB say the program is a good first step, but have raised concerns about the program’s viability, including the fact that it relies on landlords to participate.
MPs won't be voting remotely any time soon, Speaker says
Allowing individual members to vote is at the “heart” of Canada’s parliamentary system, House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota argued, and he expressed concern about any virtual configuration where only one or a handful of MPs speak for their colleagues.
B.C. MPs say they don't need in-person meetings to hold Ottawa to account
“No one knew on March 13 what living with a pandemic meant. We knew nothing of flattening the curve. Now we do," said Green MP Paul Manly.
Trudeau pumps $1.7 billion into cleaning orphan and inactive wells
Environmental advocates who spoke with National Observer on Friday said they were relieved Trudeau — at least for now — has avoided a much larger bailout of the industry.
Migrant and undocumented workers plead for help during coronavirus pandemic
Many workers without proper paperwork cannot access income supports, despite continuing to help Canada during the coronavirus pandemic.
B.C. carbon pollution climbed in 2018, ministry calls it 'unfortunate' but dated
Canada’s oil and gas sector was responsible for the largest portion of the country's carbon pollution in 2018, at 193 megatonnes (Mt), or 26 per cent.
Will out-of-work Canadians want labour-intensive farm jobs?
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada want to see farmers hire unemployed Canadians to fill jobs that migrant workers usually take. But the reality is that most Canadians don’t want to work in orchards, says the BC Fruit Growers' Association.
NDP MPs call for rent relief for small businesses
Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns and New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian have written a letter to Ottawa asking for “rent abatement programs” for small businesses. “It is not enough to appeal to the good-will of landlords to do the right thing," they wrote.
BC Hydro suspends Site C shuttle, six people in isolation at work camp
The decision by the provincial utility comes as a prominent First Nations leader said Friday that she still has concerns about work camps for resource projects continuing to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
B.C. newspaper industry suffers another blow
The Vancouver Courier, a well-known newspaper now published by Glacier Media Group and founded in 1908, is “suspending publication until further notice,” according to a statement published on its website.
Election results show time is ripe to push Liberals on climate
Even though Parliament won’t look much different, some experts say Justin Trudeau’s bruised minority government has given other parties leverage to push for more ambitious climate action.