Cut the crap about conservation, when it’s colonialism that rules the conversation

CALGARY—Land acknowledgements are the kind of performances Canadians love to engage in that substitute platitudes for justice. And now the feces have hit the fan. For the past few weeks, the Mi’kmaq people have been asserting their rights to trap lobster off-season, first negotiated in a series of Peace and Friendship Treaties with the British, […]
Co-managed approach, self-governing fisheries the answer to long-simmering lobster dispute, says Senator

The federal government should pursue a co-managed fishing system that accepts First Nation treaty rights and an Indigenous governance model as a path forward to the long-simmering lobster fishery dispute, says Canada’s first Mi’kmaq Senator. “The status quo isn’t sustainable, it’s actually very dangerous at the moment, so we have to look at other options,” […]
Port plan enables national trade growth while protecting the environment

As Canada continues to tackle the challenge of COVID-19, the Port of Vancouver remains resilient, thanks to a diverse trading partners and cargo. At the end of June, year-to-date cargo volumes are only one per cent lower than 2019, despite pandemic impacts to the cruise and auto sectors. This gives us confidence that trade will […]
Argentina, Chile, DRC, Hungary, and Madagascar say they backed Canada’s UN Security Council bid, but closest allies are silent

Two La Francophonie nations, two South American countries, and an EU member state say they supported Canada’s failed bid to win a temporary seat on the UN Security Council, while some of the country’s closest allies won’t say whether they voted for Canada in the secret ballot. The Hill Times contacted the UN missions, foreign […]
Environment, resource development agenda among April’s top-lobbied files

COVID-19 is offering important lessons for Canada’s approach to climate change and the need for green programs to be built into economic recovery, say some of the groups lobbying the ministers focused on these files and pushing them to the top of the list during the pandemic. Over the last two months, Natural Resources Minister […]
We need to be proud and loud for our seafood production

The world is embarking on international negotiations of a new biodiversity framework. This will include a vision for 2050 and interim targets for 2030. At the same time, Canada is also working to implement the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including those on food security and oceans. This presents an opportunity for Canada to […]
Start of Trans Mountain pipeline construction amid election a threat to Liberals in B.C., say observers

Construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project will be underway during the federal election, and while the start of work may steal steam from certain Conservative attacks, observers say it’s overall likely bad news for Liberal fortunes in seat-rich British Columbia. “From the Liberals’ perspective, it’s a big problem. I really, for the life […]
Feds sell out Newfoundland and Labrador economy to play to anti-energy groups

There is a very good reason almost everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador is opposed to Bill C-69. This piece of federal legislation kneecaps our well-managed and responsible petroleum sector, supposedly in the name of the environment. But if you read between the lines—and the oil and gas industry, the provincial government and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have—the bill prioritizes […]
Canada needs ocean conservation leadership to stem loss of marine life

VANCOUVER—Healthy oceans are an invaluable source of life and wonder. Many people look over the ocean and only see a great expanse of water and waves. They don’t see the highly productive web of life below the surface—the enormous whales, millions of salmon, colourful anemones spreading their tentacles, ancient glass sponge reefs harbouring a multitude of marine life and warm hydrothermal vents creating an oasis for many rare species. This abundance and […]
Canadian icebreaking capabilities not up to snuff, experts say

The town of L’Anse-au-Loup, N.L., sits on north shore of the Strait of Belle Isle, just over 20 km east of the lower north shore of Quebec. The 600-person community relies on a ferry service to provide them with everything from groceries to propane. “All our grocery stores rely on it for their produce and […]