Canada

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/56983107

In its decision, organization cites province's bill affecting transgender athletes

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One of the most consequential parts of the new energy agreement between Ottawa and Alberta has little to do with crude oil, pipelines, or even the endlessly litigated West Coast tanker ban.

It concerns electricity.

If done right, it presents a GDP-boosting opportunity for genuine nation-building that doesn’t alienate parts of British Columbia. Quite the opposite, in fact.

And it could lower emissions at the same time, even without the nudge or shove of carbon pricing and sequestration.

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Last week’s federal-provincial memorandum of understanding (MOU) paves the way for [an electricity intertie system that allows Alberta and B.C. (and beyond) to share power, balance their grids, and make better use of each province’s strengths]. It does so first by effectively putting a stop to a policy that critics say would’ve disproportionately disadvantaged Alberta—one that the province had criticized, through an $8-million campaign and court challenge, as leaving its citizens to “freeze in the dark.”

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Specifically, the document [MOU] spells out a vision to construct “large transmission interties with British Columbia and Saskatchewan to strengthen the ability of the Western power markets to supply low-carbon power to oil, LNG, critical minerals, agricultural, data centres and CCUS industries in support of their sustainability goals.”

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A transmission intertie is a long-distance, high-voltage line that links two provincial grids, enabling them to share electricity in real time, balance supply and demand, and support each other during peak periods or outages.

Such interties already exist between all the Western provinces, but most of them are either small, weak, or technically constrained.

The MOU envisions building on this patchwork to create a true chain of interties from B.C. through Saskatchewan, effectively asking the three provinces to hold hands across the Prairies and mountains to convert a set of isolated provincial systems into a coordinated regional grid.

The idea has its supporters, who believe such a connection could even extend through Manitoba.

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The economic benefits are threefold.

For households and businesses, a stronger intertie helps dampen price spikes and lower costs over time.

For the wider economy, it provides the dependable electricity supply needed to attract capital-intensive industries, from petrochemicals to AI.

And finally, it materially improves the region’s ability to reduce emissions naturally by easing the physical limits on how much hydro, wind, and solar each province can integrate into its system.

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Unlike pipelines, interties do not trigger B.C.’s coastal opposition, concerns about marine traffic, or the same level of land-use controversy.

Strengthening the tie to B.C. also does not restrict Alberta’s ability to build up natural gas (especially with the CER suspended), renewables, or any future behind-the-fence projects.

If anything, it expands the range of options available for everyone.

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“What you get is a more productive economy,” [Kent Fellows, an economist with the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy] said. “That’s true with electricity as well [because] we can do more with the resources we have right now.”

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Who would actually build this intertie system? The MOU doesn’t say.

Unlike the pipeline section of the document, the language around electricity does not even name Alberta as the temporary proponent. It contains no details about ownership, funding, or construction timelines.

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The benefits of lower prices, better reliability, and improved competitiveness don’t necessarily result in a revenue stream large enough for any single transmission company to justify billions in capital spending.

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“A lot of the goals here are public goals, not private goals,” Fellows said.

That mismatch is precisely why he argues that “the public sector and particularly governments really need to get moving and start motivating some conversations on this.”

Any line crossing a provincial boundary also triggers federal jurisdiction, adding a layer of oversight that private proponents are unlikely to navigate alone. For that reason, Fellows believes any such proposal would fit squarely within Ottawa’s new Major Projects Office mandate.

“I would think that this is… if not a prime candidate for a C-5 major project, definitely something industry and government should be looking at and taking seriously,” Fellows said.

In the end, transmission interties may not be the sexiest part of the MOU, but they check many of the boxes the Carney government has laid out for Canada to “build again.”

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A federal law proposed by a northern Ontario MP could see community groups get funding through the justice system.

The private member's bill from Sudbury Liberal Viviane Lapointe would allow judges who issue fines to criminals to direct that "restitution" money to charitable organizations.

The bill specifically mentions groups combatting homelessness, addiction and human trafficking.

Cristina Scarpellini, the founder of Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking in Sudbury, says this came up at the trial of a man who was running a local prostitution ring.

"Although the survivor did mention to me that she did feel that there was justice, but she did say to me, 'You know, where's all my money that I made him? Why's he allowed to keep that? Why isn't it going to organizations or myself?" she said.

The Carney government is making good on a promise to help tackle one of the most potent forms of climate pollution, as it announces new measures to address methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.

CBC News obtained an early copy of the announcement that Environment, Climate Change and Nature Minister Julie Dabrusin is expected to deliver in Metro Vancouver Tuesday afternoon.

It contains significant emission reductions but offers more leeway to oil and gas producers to comply after many complained the original proposal was too strict. It also addresses methane released by landfills, which are responsible for a smaller portion of emissions.

"Canada is seriously concerned by the Chinese Coast Guard aggressive actions against Filipino civilian fishing vessels near Sabina Shoal," Canada's ambassador to the Philippines, David Hartman, posted on social media.

"These actions jeopardize regional peace and stability. Disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law.”

Canada joins Western allies like the EU, Germany, Australia, Japan, and others condemning China's actions.

The Philippine Coast Guard [PCG] earlier said about 20 Filipino fishing boats were targeted on December 12 while engaged in lawful fishing activities. Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels used water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers, injuring at least three fishermen and causing significant damage to two boats, the PCG said.

The Philippine coast guard vessels it deployed to aid the injured fishermen were also blocked repeatedly from reaching Escoda Shoal, the Philippines says.

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[Edit typo.]

Canada’s foreign minister has condemned the “politically motivated” conviction of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and media mogul Jimmy Lai, and called for his immediate release from prison.

Lai, an outspoken critic of Beijing, was found guilty Monday of violating Hong Kong’s stringent, China-imposed national security law. The 78-year-old has already spent five years in custody while awaiting the landmark trial, and now faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars.

“Canada condemns the politically motivated prosecution of Jimmy Lai under the National Security Law in Hong Kong and calls for his immediate release,” Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said in a statement provided by her office to Global News.

“We continue to express our concerns about deteriorating rights, freedoms and autonomy which are enshrined in Hong Kong’s Basic Law.”

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Three government-vetted judges found Lai, the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, guilty of conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiracy to publish seditious articles. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Lai was arrested in August 2020 under a Beijing-imposed national security law that was implemented following massive anti-government protests in 2019. He was previously convicted of several lesser offences related to fraud allegations and his actions during that year of protest.

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.bestiver.se/post/801233

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Vacation travel to U.S. down as Canadian tourists make strategic decisions on where to spend time, money

As Mexico sees steady growth in Canadian tourists, the U.S. is experiencing a decline.

Data from Tourism Economics and the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office reveals a 24% drop in Canadian tourism to the United States during the first six months of 2025.

Major cities such as Las Vegas (down 50%), New York (down 46%) and Honolulu (down 41%) are being hit hardest, said Amra Durakovic, communications director with Flight Centre Travel Group in Toronto.

Florida remains the most resilient, but is down 22%, she said.

The article is relatively short and has tons of stuff, highly recommend people read through it.

British Columbia legislator Dallas Brodie, whose OneBC party has removed her as leader, says the split happened after colleagues tried to stop her from firing a caucus staffer whose views on Jewish people were "disgusting" and antisemitic.

Brodie said she wanted the man removed because she is not a "neo-Nazi," and it was "obscene" to think that the man's views could be in the party.

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Thielmann says in a social media post on Monday that he and Ratchford advised Brodie against firing the staffer, who he calls "a 22-year-old brown kid who was being made out to be a 'white supremacist'" and they instead wanted to "mentor" him.

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Brodie said she had clashed with the young staffer over a message he wanted to post under her name on social media platform X.

"I think it said the NDP or somebody is anti-civilizational, and that they want the province to be run on drum circles and powwows," she said.