Canada’s North: Canada’s future
Almost 40 per cent of Canada is north of the 60th parallel. Do Canadians in the South understand northern issues, or the riches of the North, its unique, fragile ecology and centuries of Inuit, Dene, and northern First Nations traditions? The North is Canada’s future. The Senate Special Committee on the Arctic is mandated to assess […]
Arctic Ocean ridge claim about ‘national pride’ as much as potential resources: expert
As Canada prepares its submission on the claim over submarine shelves in the Arctic Ocean, there are questions if there are resources on and below the seabed worth extracting, experts say. Canada’s claim will deal with two ridges, jutting out from Ellesmere Island at Canada’s northernmost point, crossing the Arctic Ocean—the Lomonosov and Alpha-Mendeleev ridges. […]
Canada’s Arctic security efforts can’t only be domestically focused
With climate change, Canada faces a variety of security issues in the Arctic. These include, most seriously, Canada’s obligation to its allies in the event of a conflict with either Russia or China. A confrontation between NATO and Russia could emerge over the Baltic States, the Suwalki Gap in Poland, the Ukraine, Georgia, or Syria. […]
Minister LeBlanc says feds looking at ‘all options’ to cut food cost in the North
Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the federal government is exploring different options to improve access to local “country” foods in the North, as work on redesigning the Nutrition North food subsidy program continues. In an email interview with The Hill Times, the veteran MP who is new to the role said the […]
Grits should ‘stick to their guns’ on climate plan or risk losing message to Tories: politicos, experts
The Liberals should “stick to their guns” on their carbon plan and offer an “extremely clear” message with the tax-turned-rebate frame to ward off “cash grab” attacks from the Conservative opposition intent on making it a wedge issue in 2019, say politicos and environmental groups. The Liberals need to have “a backbone” on a bold […]
We must act now to maintain an Arctic able to keep global climate liveable
Human civilization, indeed the evolution of human beings as a species, has depended on a frozen Arctic. But the North Pole as a frozen ice cap on the top of the world is now in doubt. The rapidly melting Arctic—measured in loss of sea ice, melting permafrost, and temperature surges in mid-winter—is a threat to […]
N.W.T., Canada can work together for sustainable northern development
A year ago this week, I was in Ottawa to call for a national discussion on the future of the Northwest Territories. My red alert was motivated by the continued stagnation of the Northwest Territories economy, compounded by concerns that federal decisions and policies could create roadblocks to meaningful economic development and cut our people […]
‘We still have work to do,’ says Senate sponsor of new anti-harassment law protecting Hill staff
The “heat’s turned up” on the need for education and prevention of workplace harassment now that a government bill extending Canada Labour Code procedures and protection to Parliament Hill employees has become law, says the bill’s Senate sponsor. Bill C-65, which received royal assent on Oct. 25, changes the Canada Labour Code to add sexual […]
Anti-harassment bill passes: a first step, but an essential one
Harassment and violence have no place at work or anywhere else. People have been coming forward to share their experiences inspired by the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, and the high-profile cases involving well-known public figures have helped those affected by these pervasive behaviours bring their stories forward to be heard. But no one is […]
As if the USMCA dairy concessions were not bad enough
SASKATOON—Canadians are rightly concerned by the new North American trade deal’s concessions on supply management. Farmers are also very concerned about its attack on the integrity of Canada’s grain quality control system. Our government’s capitulation on these matters was no doubt encouraged by corporate lobbyists who had easy access to our negotiators. It is deeply […]
