⚡️ 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
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
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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
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
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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
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
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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
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
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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
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
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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
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
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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…
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…
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Educators call for federal inquiry into 'widespread' abuse in Canadian sports
Dozens of Canadian and global sport scholars have joined the chorus in calling for an independent inquiry into sport in Canada, saying its athletes deserve better.
In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, Scholars Against Abuse in Canadian Sport urgently asked for the inquiry amid "widespread reports of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse of athletes throughout the nation's sport system."
The letter was signed by 91 individuals from 30 Canadian and 17 international institutions.
"[We] stand in solidarity with the over 1,000 Canadian athletes seeking immediate accountability and meaningful change from Sport Canada and the broader system it governs," the letter states.
The letter comes amid growing calls for an inquiry after athletes from bobsled, skeleton and gymnastics, plus several members of Parliament, pleaded with Canada's sport minister Pascale St-Onge for an investigation similar to the Dubin Inquiry into doping in 1989.
@maplechronicles
Dozens of Canadian and global sport scholars have joined the chorus in calling for an independent inquiry into sport in Canada, saying its athletes deserve better.
In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, Scholars Against Abuse in Canadian Sport urgently asked for the inquiry amid "widespread reports of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse of athletes throughout the nation's sport system."
The letter was signed by 91 individuals from 30 Canadian and 17 international institutions.
"[We] stand in solidarity with the over 1,000 Canadian athletes seeking immediate accountability and meaningful change from Sport Canada and the broader system it governs," the letter states.
The letter comes amid growing calls for an inquiry after athletes from bobsled, skeleton and gymnastics, plus several members of Parliament, pleaded with Canada's sport minister Pascale St-Onge for an investigation similar to the Dubin Inquiry into doping in 1989.
@maplechronicles
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16,300 francophone immigrants to Canada settled outside of Quebec last year
The number of francophone newcomers who have settled in communities outside of Quebec has climbed steadily since 2006, when 2,800 francophones settled in Ontario and other provinces.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser said that number met Canada's target that 4.4 per cent of French-speaking immigrants settle outside Quebec in 2022.
Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada expresses hopes that the next year the number will rise to 12 per cent.
@maplechronicles
The number of francophone newcomers who have settled in communities outside of Quebec has climbed steadily since 2006, when 2,800 francophones settled in Ontario and other provinces.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser said that number met Canada's target that 4.4 per cent of French-speaking immigrants settle outside Quebec in 2022.
Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada expresses hopes that the next year the number will rise to 12 per cent.
@maplechronicles
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Canada’s economy in for a ‘turbulent’ year
Canada’s associate finance minister says it’s going to be a “turbulent” year for the economy, but Randy Boissonault insists the government still has some spending room for big priorities including a new health-care deal with the provinces.
“There’s lots of uncertainty. So we’re going to be watching this every step of the way as we get ready for budget (2023). We still have fiscal room to be able to do the things we need to do but the fiscal room has tightened.” - Boissonnault said.
@maplechronicles
Canada’s associate finance minister says it’s going to be a “turbulent” year for the economy, but Randy Boissonault insists the government still has some spending room for big priorities including a new health-care deal with the provinces.
“There’s lots of uncertainty. So we’re going to be watching this every step of the way as we get ready for budget (2023). We still have fiscal room to be able to do the things we need to do but the fiscal room has tightened.” - Boissonnault said.
@maplechronicles
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Record number of French-speaking immigrants coming to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia attracted more French-speaking immigrants to the province last year than the total number of francophone permanent residents it welcomed in the past decade.
In 2022, 795 immigrants who either spoke only French — or listed French as the language with which they were most at ease — landed in Nova Scotia. That's four times as many as the 180 who came in 2021.
#NovaScotia
@maplechronicles
Nova Scotia attracted more French-speaking immigrants to the province last year than the total number of francophone permanent residents it welcomed in the past decade.
In 2022, 795 immigrants who either spoke only French — or listed French as the language with which they were most at ease — landed in Nova Scotia. That's four times as many as the 180 who came in 2021.
#NovaScotia
@maplechronicles
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Union calls for national task force to tackle transit violence that's 'way out of control'
Amalgamated Transit Union Canada, that represents 35,000 transit workers in Canada, wants action after string of violent incidents.
The number of violent accidents is rising on transit systems in Halifax, Saskatoon and Vancouver.
The recent incidents include: a woman being stabbed several times on a TTC streetcar; two TTC workers assaulted on a bus in Scarborough. a TTC operator shot by a BB gun while waiting to begin her shift in Scarborough.
According to the president of the Union, strategies to tackle transit violence could include Criminal Code reforms, interventions, greater visibility of police officers on transit systems, greater deterrence, funding for mental health supports in the community, and worker training in de-escalation techniques.
@maplechronicles
Amalgamated Transit Union Canada, that represents 35,000 transit workers in Canada, wants action after string of violent incidents.
The number of violent accidents is rising on transit systems in Halifax, Saskatoon and Vancouver.
The recent incidents include: a woman being stabbed several times on a TTC streetcar; two TTC workers assaulted on a bus in Scarborough. a TTC operator shot by a BB gun while waiting to begin her shift in Scarborough.
According to the president of the Union, strategies to tackle transit violence could include Criminal Code reforms, interventions, greater visibility of police officers on transit systems, greater deterrence, funding for mental health supports in the community, and worker training in de-escalation techniques.
@maplechronicles
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Quebec Innu community seeks $2.2-billion from Hydro-Quebec for Churchill Falls destruction
A Quebec Innu community is claiming the Churchill Falls hydroelectric station has destroyed a significant part of their traditional territory.
The band council says construction of the 5,428-megawatt station in Labrador and its transmission facilities in the 1960s and early 1970s was done without the consent of the community near Sept-Iles, Que.
A 1969 agreement that allows Hydro-Quebec to purchase the majority of the electricity generated at the station and reap most of the profits ends in 2041.
@maplechronicles
A Quebec Innu community is claiming the Churchill Falls hydroelectric station has destroyed a significant part of their traditional territory.
The band council says construction of the 5,428-megawatt station in Labrador and its transmission facilities in the 1960s and early 1970s was done without the consent of the community near Sept-Iles, Que.
A 1969 agreement that allows Hydro-Quebec to purchase the majority of the electricity generated at the station and reap most of the profits ends in 2041.
@maplechronicles
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⚡️Bank of Canada Raises Rates to 4.50%
The Bank of Canada raised interest rates on Wednesday by a quarter point and said it would now pause to assess the economic impact from sharply higher borrowing costs.
@maplechronicles
The Bank of Canada raised interest rates on Wednesday by a quarter point and said it would now pause to assess the economic impact from sharply higher borrowing costs.
@maplechronicles
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Bank of Canada predicts further dip in home prices after delivering quarter-point rate hike
The Bank of Canada is predicting home prices will decline further after it raised interest rates Wednesday for the eighth consecutive time, but it expects sales activity to pick up later in the year.
The typical home price across the country is already down 13 per cent from its peak last February amid the bank’s attempts to rein in runaway inflation by reducing access to cheap loans.
Now, with mortgage rates at their highest levels in years, many would-be buyers have been shut out of the real estate market. Those areas include the Toronto suburbs, smaller Ontario cities and the Chilliwack region of B.C., where home prices jumped more than 50 per cent over the first two years of the pandemic, when the central bank’s overnight rate was near zero. Home prices in some of those markets have fallen more than 20 per cent over the past 10 months.
@maplechronicles
The Bank of Canada is predicting home prices will decline further after it raised interest rates Wednesday for the eighth consecutive time, but it expects sales activity to pick up later in the year.
The typical home price across the country is already down 13 per cent from its peak last February amid the bank’s attempts to rein in runaway inflation by reducing access to cheap loans.
Now, with mortgage rates at their highest levels in years, many would-be buyers have been shut out of the real estate market. Those areas include the Toronto suburbs, smaller Ontario cities and the Chilliwack region of B.C., where home prices jumped more than 50 per cent over the first two years of the pandemic, when the central bank’s overnight rate was near zero. Home prices in some of those markets have fallen more than 20 per cent over the past 10 months.
@maplechronicles
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Justin Trudeau swarmed by group of 'angry' protesters as he walked into Hamilton restaurant
The group of protesters can be heard screaming “tyrant” and “traitor,” while demanding Trudeau resign. Many of the protesters could be seen carrying Canadian flags.
The protesters also had an inflatable sheep, that appears to be wearing a mask, that says "99.8% survival rate," a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When asked about the incident, Trudeau called a group of protesters a “handful of angry people.”
Trudeau is in Hamilton for a three-day retreat with his cabinet.
#Trudeau
@maplechronicles
The group of protesters can be heard screaming “tyrant” and “traitor,” while demanding Trudeau resign. Many of the protesters could be seen carrying Canadian flags.
The protesters also had an inflatable sheep, that appears to be wearing a mask, that says "99.8% survival rate," a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When asked about the incident, Trudeau called a group of protesters a “handful of angry people.”
Trudeau is in Hamilton for a three-day retreat with his cabinet.
#Trudeau
@maplechronicles
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💵Canadians struggling to keep up with rising costs
Rising prices have affected nearly everyone across the country and some say they’ve now reached their breaking point. New data shows that over 50 per cent of Canadians are having trouble keeping up with inflation.
Findings of a recent Ipsos poll revealed that 32 per cent of people are struggling to continually meet rising costs of everyday essentials.
22 per cent of Canadians state that they’re completely out of money, saying that there is no way that they can pay any more for household expenses.
@maplechronicles
Rising prices have affected nearly everyone across the country and some say they’ve now reached their breaking point. New data shows that over 50 per cent of Canadians are having trouble keeping up with inflation.
Findings of a recent Ipsos poll revealed that 32 per cent of people are struggling to continually meet rising costs of everyday essentials.
22 per cent of Canadians state that they’re completely out of money, saying that there is no way that they can pay any more for household expenses.
@maplechronicles
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Forwarded from Song of Oil and LNG
🇨🇦Canadian oil flows to Asia surge after US refinery disruptions
Canadian crude shipments to Asia are set to surge to the highest in more than a year as US refinery outages force producers to find new outlets for their oil.
At least 7 million barrels of heavy-sour crude produced in Canada’s oil sands have been sold to Asian buyers for February loading. That’s the most since January 2022.
🛢Unipec, the trading arm of China’s biggest state-owned oil refiner Sinopec, will take 3 million barrels, while PetroChina Co. and Indian refiner Reliance Industries Ltd. will each receive 2 million. Another 1 million barrels was sold to Repsol SA for Europe, the people said.
The purchases come after fires at two US refineries forced them to halt production, eliminating outlets for Canadian oil.
#Canada #Asia #oil
@songofoil
Canadian crude shipments to Asia are set to surge to the highest in more than a year as US refinery outages force producers to find new outlets for their oil.
At least 7 million barrels of heavy-sour crude produced in Canada’s oil sands have been sold to Asian buyers for February loading. That’s the most since January 2022.
🛢Unipec, the trading arm of China’s biggest state-owned oil refiner Sinopec, will take 3 million barrels, while PetroChina Co. and Indian refiner Reliance Industries Ltd. will each receive 2 million. Another 1 million barrels was sold to Repsol SA for Europe, the people said.
The purchases come after fires at two US refineries forced them to halt production, eliminating outlets for Canadian oil.
#Canada #Asia #oil
@songofoil
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🚫More than 1,000 Canadians were affected by layoffs so far in 2023
It's been a rough start to 2023 for more than 1,000 Canadians affected by layoffs announced by Canadian and American companies this month. There have also been further unannounced layoffs reported by media.
Most of the announced cuts have been among tech companies and follow an earlier wave of downsizing and restructuring announcements in late 2022 by heavyweights such as Meta, Amazon and Lyft.
Among the companies, announcing mass layoffs in the beginning of 2023 are:
▫️Hudson's Bay Company
▫️Postmedia
▫️Salesforce
▫️Benevity
▫️Amazon
and others.
@maplechronicles
It's been a rough start to 2023 for more than 1,000 Canadians affected by layoffs announced by Canadian and American companies this month. There have also been further unannounced layoffs reported by media.
Most of the announced cuts have been among tech companies and follow an earlier wave of downsizing and restructuring announcements in late 2022 by heavyweights such as Meta, Amazon and Lyft.
Among the companies, announcing mass layoffs in the beginning of 2023 are:
▫️Hudson's Bay Company
▫️Postmedia
▫️Salesforce
▫️Benevity
▫️Amazon
and others.
@maplechronicles
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Canada falls from Freedom Index top 10 for first time since 2012
The 2022 edition of the Human Freedom Index lists Canada as the world’s 13th most free nation — down from No. 6 last year and the first time in over a decade that Canada didn’t make the top 10.
Strict COVID-19 lockdown measures were the largest reason for Canada's ranking drop, researchers say.
Switzerland was ranked the world’s freest country, with New Zealand, Estonia, Denmark and Ireland rounding out the top five.
@maplechronicles
The 2022 edition of the Human Freedom Index lists Canada as the world’s 13th most free nation — down from No. 6 last year and the first time in over a decade that Canada didn’t make the top 10.
Strict COVID-19 lockdown measures were the largest reason for Canada's ranking drop, researchers say.
Switzerland was ranked the world’s freest country, with New Zealand, Estonia, Denmark and Ireland rounding out the top five.
@maplechronicles
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Canadian PM names first anti-Islamophobia adviser
Canada appointed its first special representative on combatting Islamophobia, a position created following several recent attacks on Muslims in the country.
Journalist and activist Amira Elghawaby will fill the post to "serve as a champion, adviser, expert and representative to support and enhance the federal government's efforts in the fight against Islamophobia, systemic racism, racial discrimination and religious intolerance," a statement by the prime minister's office said.
@maplechronicles
Canada appointed its first special representative on combatting Islamophobia, a position created following several recent attacks on Muslims in the country.
Journalist and activist Amira Elghawaby will fill the post to "serve as a champion, adviser, expert and representative to support and enhance the federal government's efforts in the fight against Islamophobia, systemic racism, racial discrimination and religious intolerance," a statement by the prime minister's office said.
@maplechronicles
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Poilievre challenges Trudeau to fix 'broken' Canada or 'get out of the way'
During the 20-minute speech in both French and English, Poilievre repeated many of the shots he’s taken at Trudeau in recent months.
He covered a wide range of issues both broad and specific, such as immigration, government spending, inflation, crime, passports, and planes and trains.
He reiterated his claim that “everything feels broken” in Canada that earned him a stern rebuke from the Prime Minister in a speech last fall.
Poilievre told his MPs that a Conservative government would:
▪️cap government spending
▪️reduce “waste” within the bureaucracy
▪️fire the “high-priced consultants” who have raked in billions of dollars in additional federal contracts since Trudeau was first elected in 2015.
@maplechronicles
During the 20-minute speech in both French and English, Poilievre repeated many of the shots he’s taken at Trudeau in recent months.
He covered a wide range of issues both broad and specific, such as immigration, government spending, inflation, crime, passports, and planes and trains.
He reiterated his claim that “everything feels broken” in Canada that earned him a stern rebuke from the Prime Minister in a speech last fall.
Poilievre told his MPs that a Conservative government would:
▪️cap government spending
▪️reduce “waste” within the bureaucracy
▪️fire the “high-priced consultants” who have raked in billions of dollars in additional federal contracts since Trudeau was first elected in 2015.
@maplechronicles
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