Saskatchewan's Indigenous leaders 'hurt' by Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is receiving more pushback from his visit to Saskatchewan on Monday after the province's Indigenous peoples uncovered partial remains at a former residential school.

The prime minister called the discovery "heartbreaking" but could not attend the site, citing uncertainty about his meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister.

An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children forcibly attended residential schools in Canada, with many experiencing emotional, physical, sexual, and spiritual abuse.

"His lack of respect is hurtful towards all residential school survivors and descendants, who are grappling with how to handle finding the child's remains and more unmarked graves." - First Nation's Chief Bobby Cameron says.

@maplechronicles

Canada’s pilot shortage made worse by surge of ‘discount airlines’

Experts say the low-cost airline model is exacerbating an already existing pilot shortage that could become an even bigger problem for Canada's aviation industry in the years to come.

Rapid proliferation of new flights and routes is putting pressure on the aviation labour market, including for pilots.

A pilot shortage has been brewing in Canada for years, based on a variety of factors including an aging workforce, pandemic-related layoffs and early retirements, and spiraling training costs. Becoming a commercial pilot can now cost upwards of $100,000.

@maplechronicles

🇺🇸U.S. seeing increase of illegal border crossings from Canada

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seen a drastic uptick in recent months of people trying to enter North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin illegally from Canada.

Those states have seen about 90 apprehensions since October, compared to roughly 80 apprehensions from October 2021 to September 2022.

“The numbers are definitely increasing back to a pre-pandemic type situation,” - says Kathryn Siemer, acting patrol agent in charge of the station in Pembina, N.D.

@maplechronicles

Ontario to introduce bill next month allowing out-of-province doctors to start practising more quickly

Health-care workers from across Canada could soon start practising in Ontario more quickly under legislation the provincial government plans to introduce next month.

Premier Doug Ford says new “as of right” rules would see credentials of health-care workers registered in other provinces and territories automatically recognized in Ontario, without the need to register with a regulatory college in this province.

He says it would allow professionals such as doctors and nurses looking to move to Ontario to get to work as soon as they arrive.

#Ontario #healthcare

@maplechronicles

🇨🇦⛽️ Canada is weighting options of the LNG market

The Shell LNG Canada export project in British Columbia (Canada) plans to start construction of the second phase with turbines powered by natural gas.

▪️LNG terminal was supposed to become environmentally friendly, running on turbines using electricity generated from renewable sources. But growing demand for natural gas in changing market landscape. Shell LNG Canada is planning to increase its annual capacity to 28 million tonnes by 2030. CEO Jason Klein said that initial program was to build natural gas-powered turbines and then switch to electric motors. This plan is aimed to please investors in the short run and reach ambitious emissions reduction goals set by the British Columbia.

▪️Using electric power would limit carbon emissions, but there are some major problems that are likely to hinder this project.

▪️There are no available electricity sources nearby. Hundreds of kilometers of new transmission lines have to be built to supply clean electricity from hydro power plants. That requires large scale investments and time. Both are not welcomed by investors looking for future dividends.

▪️And there is one more serious reason that investors will not like too. Production cost, if the LNG terminal is powered by electric turbines, is likely to be higher than in the case of gas turbines. This project is designed mostly for export, and high production cost makes it less competitive on the world LNG market. Apparently Shell is not going to discuss it on public, but the problem is still there. If investors see no quick return they will likely postpone or reduce their exposure.

▪️Nevertheless Shell is going to push forward different green projects, being quite sure that access to clean energy will be the basis for its competitive advantage.

▪️These problems put a very serious question about balance between decarbonization and profit. Any public company is looking for profit in the first place. Otherwise it won’t be able to get funding from investors. Green agenda is considered as an obstacle on the way to maximize return on investment (ROI). But it’s not that simple.

🔺Right now we see the energy watershed being formed. Some companies will get access to clean energy sources, others - not. In the new energy paradigm only the companies that have access to clean energy will be able to produce. That’s a serious limitation. The circle of «producers» will be very narrow, helping to concentrate power and funding mostly within the multinationals’ team. Investing in decarbonization now, is a ticket to the elite club of producers that will dominate the world economy just in a decade or so.

#LNG #Canada

@songofoil

🇨🇦🇺🇸 Canadian pseudo-PMC Black Maple Company in Ukraine

A Russian channel Rybar analysed activitiy of the Canadian "PMC."

In August last year Black Maple Company, which allegedly fights on the side of the AFU, was mentioned for the first time. But after six months, its founders became famous just for PR, not for real participation in combat operations.

🔺Black Maple Company was created by Canadian mercenaries Francis Dion and Luca Alves.

➖ Luca "Speedy" Alves is a driver from Quebec who fought with the Norman Brigade from March to August 2022. He was stationed in Canada until January.

➖ Francis "Ghost" Dion - served with the 22nd Royal Canadian Army Regiment for 12 years before the USO. From March to May 2022, he fought in the Norman Brigade with his fellow, sniper Olivier "Vali" Lavigne-Ortiz, before joining the International Legion.

▪️ According to their social media, Dion and Alves managed to lure at least two Norman Brigade soldiers - Canadian Samuel Thiboldier and American Carlos Jones - into their "Internet PMC."

▪️ Dion and Alves have been mainly collecting donations for their unit in recent months. Dion organized the last car fundraiser in early November. Black Maple Company accounts in recent months have been filled with old photos of Alves and Dion, as well as shots of enterprising Canadians they know - to imitate their participation in fighting.

▪️ Francis Dion said he is now aiming to send the Black Maple Company to the front and commercialize the project by selling branded merch.

It turns out that since the organization appeared in August 2022, it has never been detected on the frontline. This suggests that at the moment Black Maple Company only exists virtually.

But that did not stop its enterprising creators from cashing in on donations from naive Western Internet users. And it is possible that the founders of the pseudo-PMC had no other goals at all.

High-res

#Canada #mercenaries #Ukraine

@maplechronicles

Canada has agreed to repatriate 19 women and children held in Syria

Family members of 23 detained Canadians — six women, four men and 13 children — have asked a Federal Court to order the government to arrange for their return. They've argued that refusing to do so would violate their charter rights.

An agreement has been reached to secure the release and return of the women and children. The case of the four men is still before the court.

@maplechronicles

Canada expands immigration program for undocumented construction workers

The government is doubling the annual number of available spots in the program from 500 workers — plus their family members — to 1,000, as part of its plan to ease the labour shortage in skilled trades.

Potential applicants are required to first identify themselves to the Canadian Labour Congress, which pre-screens and refers qualified candidates for final assessment by the immigration department.

There are as many as 500,000 undocumented residents estimated to be in Canada. Many of them work in construction, cleaning, caregiving, food processing and agriculture.

@maplechronicles

It is not for the first time as Trudeau tries to limit the notwithstanding clause. His intentions are quite clear: the less opportunities to express their opinion the provinces have, the easier it is for the federal government to do what they want – even if it does harm for the country (which is not rare).

As for Legault’s unprecedented bravery, it is a bit early to say that the Quebec-Ottawa relationship will now change forever. But it’s definitely a sign that something very important is going on.

However, the capital had to allow Quebec to apply the clause earlier – and not once. Perhaps, Legault’s readiness to oppose the Trudeau’s administration will lead to something new. For sure, Quebec will not secede tomorrow, but it may obtain more independence.

#Canada #Quebec

@maplechronicles

Space launches from Canada will be allowed soon

Ottawa is hoping to capitalize on the country's vast geography and space expertise to lure in companies that want to launch commercial space flights from Canadian soil.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced Friday that the federal government will develop the regulatory requirements, safety standards and licensing conditions necessary to authorize commercial satellite space launches from Canada within the next three years.

Montreal-area MP and former astronaut Marc Garneau said Canada has a number of geographic advantages when it comes to satellite launch locations, including a vast, sparsely populated territory and a wide range of possibilities for high-inclination orbits.

A number of companies have expressed interest in launching from Canada, including Maritime Launch, which is planning to build the country's first spaceport in northeastern Nova Scotia. The company hopes to be able to launch its first rocket capable of carrying a load in 2025, with plans to scale up to eight to 10 launches a year soon after.

@maplechronicles

🇮🇱 Israel's ambassador to Canada quits in protest of new government

Ambassador Ronen Hoffman tweeted Sunday morning that he has requested the Foreign Ministry to “shorten” his tenure and find a replacement, allowing him to return to Israel by the summer.

A fellow former Yesh Atid lawmaker-turned diplomat, Israeli Ambassador to France Yael German, announced her resignation last month, in protest of the formation of the new Netanyahu government.

#Israel

@maplechronicles

Canada to pay more than $2B to indigenous survivors of abuse

Canada will pay hundreds of indigenous communities more than $2 billion in compensation for nearly a century of abuse suffered by children in residential schools, its government has announced.

A class-action lawsuit brought by 324 Indigenous communities has resulted in the Can$2.8 billion (US$2.1 billion) settlement, which will be placed in a not-for-profit trust independent of the government.

It will be used to "revitalise Indigenous education, culture, and language – to support survivors in healing and reconnecting with their heritage," according to a government statement.

From the late 1800s to the 1990s, Canada's government sent about 150,000 children into 139 residential schools mostly run by the Catholic church, where they were cut off from their families, language and culture.

On the one hand, it’s good to make up for the mistakes of the past. On the other hand, I hope it won’t turn into somewhat-else-lives-matter.

@maplechronicles

🇺🇦 Defence minister won’t say whether Canada is willing to send battle tanks to Ukraine

Defence Minister Anita Anand says she has “no news to share” on whether Canada is willing to send some of its battle tanks to Ukraine following a meeting of 50 allied defence leaders this week.

#Ukraine

@maplechronicles

Ontario pediatric hospitals ask for help to deal with backlog of 12K surgeries

Nearly 12,000 children are on a wait list for surgeries across Ontario, a situation officials at four major pediatric hospitals say is part of a much bigger problem they need help from the province to solve.

A surge of viral respiratory illnesses, driven by a particularly bad strain of the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, overwhelmed the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton, the Children's Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre and CHEO, a health care and research facility in Ottawa.

The hospitals say that surge has abated after three difficult months which saw surgeries cancelled and staff redeployed to help out overburdened emergency departments and intensive care units.

#Ontario #healthcare

@maplechronicles

Canada accepts amendments to expand IMO Council

Canada has become the latest country to accept amendments to the Convention on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which will expand the size of the Council from its current 40 members to 52, extend the term of its Members to in general a four-year term, and recognize three additional language texts as authentic versions of the Convention.

The amendments have now been accepted by eight States: Canada, Honduras, Malaysia, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore and Spain. The amendments were adopted at the 32nd session of the IMO Assembly held in December 2021. They require acceptance by two thirds of the IMO Membership (117 Member States based on the current number of 175 Member States) for entry into force.

The three additional languages for IMO texts will be Arabic, Chinese and Russian – all already official languages of the current Organization – supplementing the existing English, French and Spanish.

@maplechronicles

⚡️ Police increasing presence in downtown Ottawa ahead of 'Freedom Convoy' anniversary

The Ottawa Police Services Board will receive an update on police preparations for a possible 'Freedom Convoy 2.0' this afternoon, as the city braces for potential events to mark the one-year anniversary of the protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and public health measures.

#Ottawa

@maplechronicles

Post-panamax container ship leaks fuel oil in Vancouver’s English Bay

The Canadian Coast Guard reported that they tracked a slick of approximately 60 to 100 litres from the initial release of fuel from the 8,500 TEU container ship Europe owned by Danaos Corporation. Danaos representative confirmed the incident pointing out that the flow of oil has stopped. The investigations about what caused the oil spill are still ongoing.

According to the latest update, the Canadian Coast Guard said that today they had a helicopter, drones and pollution response vessels searching for any remaining fuel.

#BritishColumbia

@maplechronicles

Newfoundland and Labrador opening legislature for emergency ambulance strike debate

The Newfoundland and Labrador government is gathering today for an emergency sitting of the legislature to deal with an ongoing private ambulance strike. The legislature will open at 10 a.m. so members can debate a bill that would make private ambulance services essential.

About 120 workers with seven private ambulance services owned by Fewer’s Ambulance Service walked off the job early Friday afternoon, seeking higher wages and a better pension plan.

The strike affects significant parts of rural Newfoundland, including the towns of Stephenville, Bonavista and Conception Bay South, which is just outside the capital of St. John’s.

#Labrador #Newfoundland

@maplechronicles

Hotel rooms for asylum seekers have cost the government $94-million since the last election

Since September, 2021, the Immigration Department has paid $93,886,222 for “long leases” with hotels, mostly in Quebec, setting them aside for asylum seekers, including those entering the country through the irregular border crossing at Quebec’s Roxham Road.

The department booked 30 hotels between April and December last year – 10 in Montreal alone.

Quebec Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus said he is concerned not just about the cost of block booking entire hotels, but the fact that many rooms are unoccupied a lot of the time.

The government has also spent millions reserving entire hotels for asylum seekers who move on to other parts of Canada, including in Winnipeg, Lethbridge, Alta. and Surrey, B.C.

@maplechronicles

British Columbia spent $13.6 billion on mineral exploration in 2022

British Columbia had record spending on mineral exploration in 2022 and there are eight new mines or mine expansions in the queue, Premier David Eby said at the opening of the Association of Mineral Exploration (AME) Roundup conference in Vancouver.

Eby said there was C$740 million spent in mineral exploration in B.C. in 2022 – a record – and mineral production in B.C. is also expected to be a record: C$18.2 billion ($13.6bn).

That’s a C$4.3 billion increase over 2021. That increase in value over 2021 was largely due to high metallurgical coal prices, said Gordon Clarke of the BC Geological Survey’s development office. Steelmaking coal prices hit a high of $670 per tonne last year, and remains relatively high at close to $300 per tonne.

#BritishColumbia

@maplechronicles

Bill passed after emergency debate halts ambulance strike in Newfoundland

Nearly 12 hours after an emergency sitting began in Newfoundland and Labrador’s legislature, the government passed a bill that sent striking first responders back to work. Members of all three political parties stood and applauded after the bill passed shortly after 9 p.m.

#Newfoundland

@maplechronicles