Canada

The Canadian government has lost in court — again — to a First Nations grandmother fighting to fix extensive mould at her home on Oneida Nation of the Thames, near London, Ont.

The legal battle concerns Joanne Powless’s request for $200,000 through Jordan’s Principle for remediation work, which Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) denied, despite a doctor calling the service a "life-saving necessity" for Powless’s two grandchildren for whom she is the primary caregiver.

In a decision released Monday, the Federal Court of Appeal says ISC’s denial was unreasonable because it was neither justified, transparent nor intelligible. Worst of all, ISC failed to grapple with the potential consequences for the two young sisters with severe asthma made worse by mould, writes Justice K. A. Siobhan Monaghan.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/56994590

See also: https://www.canadianarchitect.com/ontario-science-centre-opening-interim-location-at-harbourfront-centre-by-summer-2026/

You can also submit comments on a motion to save the original Science Centre building: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.MM35.4

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

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

Archived link

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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.]