National News Archives - My Comox Valley Now https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/national-news/ Comox Valley news, events, and radio Sat, 04 May 2024 05:51:39 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/mynow-icon-80x80.png National News Archives - My Comox Valley Now https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/national-news/ 32 32 Islanders entered into Order of Canada in Ottawa ceremony https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/98726/news/national/islanders-entered-into-order-of-canada-in-ottawa-ceremony/ Thu, 02 May 2024 21:19:29 +0000 https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/?p=98726

Several Vancouver Islanders were formerly entered into the Order of Canada today in a ceremony in Ottawa.

Dr. Granger Avery from Port McNeill was added as a Member, for his work in championing improved medical services in remote and rural communities. He has also served as head of the BC and Canadian medical associations.

Diane Sowden from Powell River was also added as a Member, she helped fight child exploitation in BC and Canada, lobbying for stiffer sentences for child predators and raising the age of consent.

Verena Tunnicliffe from Victoria was added as an Officer, she led the creation of the VENUS sea floor observatory off the Island’s west coast and helped make Canada a world leader in ocean science.

Other notable BC appointees include former premier Gordon Campbell and former NDP cabinet minister Joy MacPhail.

Photos from the event were posted this afternoon on the governor-general's Facebook page.

Visit the governor-general's website for the complete list.

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Air traffic control workers’ union upset by move to hire ‘scabs’ if they strike https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/98459/news/national/air-traffic-control-workers-union-upset-by-move-to-hire-scabs-if-they-strike/ Fri, 19 Apr 2024 22:12:43 +0000 https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/?p=98459

Talks between air traffic control workers and NAV Canada have broken down, and workers are now concerned they will be replaced by contractors if they strike.

The workers’ union and NAV Canada, a private not-for-profit corporation which operates air traffic control at airports across Canada, reached an impasse last week. The workers are represented by Unifor Local 1016, which says the company notified them it has a service contractor lined up in case of a strike.

Unifor national president Lana Payne says a recent victory on the East Coast should encourage NAV Canada to avoid a strike, and called on the federal government to move on Bill C-58 which has been working its way through parliament for months.

“We have been fighting tooth-and-nail for the federal government to pass anti-scab legislation now,” she said in a statement. “Let Unifor’s actions at CN Autoport be a warning to other companies that our union won’t tolerate scab labour. We will defend our members’ right to strike and to free and fair collective bargaining.

"My message to NAVCan: Unifor is ready. All of us.”

The union was on strike for more than a month at the Nova Scotia port, picketing to prevent replacement workers from entering the site. The strike ended earlier this month after the union's demands were met.

Workers in Air Traffic Control Training, Operational Support, Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), Flight Data Analytics and Aeronautical Information Management at NAV Canada locations from coast-to-coast are represented by Unifor. Workers recently voted 95% in favour of striking over wages, staffing, and scheduling issues.

They will be in strike position May 4.

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Island MPs and NDP boss challenge Libs to create national school food program https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/97600/news/national/island-mps-and-ndp-boss-challenge-libs-to-create-national-school-food-program/ Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:27:19 +0000 https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/?p=97600

Heavy-hitters from the federal NDP were on the Island Wednesday, pushing the federal government to help feed struggling Island families.

Party leader Jagmeet Singh, along with Island MPs Rachel Blaney (North Island - Powell River) and Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni), visited Courtenay’s LUSH Valley to talk about families struggling with rising food costs. Singh says the Liberal government has failed to deliver on a promised school food program.

"In this upcoming budget, one of our specific demands is that the federal government finally commit to a national school lunch program. We want to make this happen across the country," he said.

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns says without a national program, community groups like LUSH have picked up the slack.

"I know I speak for many people when I say that we're grateful for this work," he said. "But it's crucial to point out that it should not fall to organizations like LUSH Valley to do this work without support from all levels of government."

Executive Director of LUSH Maurita Prato says the entire non-profit sector is struggling to maintain programs because in the current economy fewer people are making charitable donations. She says for LUSH to maintain its programs, it will need more access to government funding and grant programs.

LUSH partners with 25 local farms in the Comox Valley and 30 community groups to provide school food boxes to needy kids and families. The organization also educates people about cooking, and helps with school gardens and community kitchens.

— With files from Justin Waddell

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Second-worst winter ever for Monarch butterflies; researchers concerned https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/97462/news/national/second-worst-winter-ever-for-monarch-butterflies-researchers-concerned/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 21:24:29 +0000 https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/?p=97462

You can expect to see a lot fewer monarch butterflies returning to BC this spring, judging by bad news from Mexico.

Environment Canada researcher Greg Mitchell was there this winter for the annual Monarch butterfly count. Monarchs from all over North America, including BC, migrate south every fall to winter in a few hectares of forest in central Mexico.

Mitchell says the winter population this year is the second-lowest count ever recorded, describing their wintering grounds in the Oyamel Fir Forests of Mexico as an ‘empty cathedral.’

Monarch populations have declined drastically in recent years, raising concerns about the survival of the iconic species, which ranges all across North America. A decline in milkweed thanks to increased herbicide use is believed to be a major factor, along with climate change and habitat loss.

One way people in Canada can help is to plant milkweed in their gardens. The plant is crucial for Monarch butterflies -- it's the only plant on which they lay their eggs, and the only plant newly-hatched caterpillars will eat. The toxins in the milkweed plant are absorbed by the caterpillars, making them, and later their butterfly form, taste terrible to predators.

Adult Monarchs also need a variety of flowering plants to provide the nectar on which they feed. You can obtain milkweed, native plants and wildflowers from your local garden center or native plant society.

Visit Environment Canada's website about the butterflies for more information.

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Island river restoration projects get UNESCO recognition https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/97292/news/national/island-river-restoration-projects-get-unesco-recognition/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 19:15:48 +0000 https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/?p=97292

Efforts to restore five Island estuaries are getting international acclaim this week.

On Wednesday the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, endorsed the Enhancing Estuary Resilience project as an official contribution to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Federal fisheries minister Diane Lebouthillier says the endorsement shows Canada is succeeding in building healthy ecosystems and fish stocks in BC.

"Understanding the impacts of sea-level rise and other effects of climate change on coastal estuaries is vital to improving the health of wild fish stocks in BC. The Nature Trust of British Columbia’s important work to monitor, assess and restore this crucial habitat for Pacific salmon, in collaboration with First Nations partners is central to our goal of protecting the Pacific salmon population," she said in a news release.

The project is headed by the Nature Trust of BC. The goal is to restore estuaries in the Quatse and Salmon Rivers on the North Island, as well as the Nanaimo, Englishman and Cowichan Rivers.

To be endorsed and to have our project attached to the Cultural Heritage Framework Programme demonstrates how impactful a project can be that engages meaningfully with indigenous communities to facilitate co-design, develop capacity, enable greater diversity and showcase the integration of science and cultural knowledge and heritage," said Tom Reid, Nature Trust of BC's West Coast Conservation Land Manager, in the release. "This recognition is a reflection of all of our partners’ commitment throughout the coast of British Columbia to working together in a meaningful and collaborative way to ensure these ecosystems are resilient into the future, not only to support fish and wildlife but also the coastal communities that rely upon them.”

The project involves 12 First Nations, local governments, environmental groups and academic institutions, and has already restored some parts of the rivers to their pre-industrial states.

for more information about the different projects, visit the Nature Conservancy's "Estuary Resilience" website. 

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Environment minister not doing enough to protect endangered birds, court rules https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/97129/news/national/environment-minister-not-doing-enough-to-protect-endangered-birds-court-rules/ Sun, 11 Feb 2024 23:00:57 +0000 https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/?p=97129

A threatened Island seabird’s recent win in court is good news for endangered birds across Canada.

Now, federal environment minister Stephen Guilbeault must reconsider his ministry’s duties to protect all endangered birds, including the threatened marbled murrelet, which nests in the mossy branches of old-growth trees along the coastline.

The minister issued a “protection statement” for the birds in 2022 after the south Island Fairy Creek blockade to protect old growth trees got national attention. However, last week Justice Paul Crampton ruled it wasn’t good enough. He says that critical habitat needs to be protected for threatened birds, not just their nests.

“This decision is a win for the endangered and threatened birds that call Canada home, whether they nest high in old-growth trees in British Columbia or on islands in Atlantic Canada," said Ecojustice lawyer Andhra Azevedo in a statement after the court decision. "For almost 20 years of the Species at Risk Act, federal ministers have avoided their legal duties to protect critical habitat while habitat loss and degradation have continued to be the primary threats to most of these bird species. Now, the Federal Court has confirmed that the law requires the federal government to do more to ensure the survival and recovery of these species.”

Ecojustice brought the case to court last fall on behalf of the Sierra Club of BC and the Wilderness Committee.

RELATED: Environmental groups take Feds to court over endangered seabirds

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This was the worst year in decades for families struggling with food prices, report says https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/95788/news/national/this-was-the-worst-year-in-decades-for-families-struggling-with-food-prices-report-says/ Fri, 08 Dec 2023 19:56:54 +0000 https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/?p=95788

This year was one of the worst ever for Canadian families struggling to put food on their tables.

The new Food Price Report from Canadian universities shows that faced with rising food prices, people tightened their belts and spent less. Food bank usage also hit record highs across the country with 2 million visits, nearly an 80% increase from before the pandemic.

On the Island, food banks have reported an increase in clients, including many people with jobs who can’t keep up with rising costs.

“The year 2023 posed significant financial challenges for Canadian families, one of the toughest in recent memory,” Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, project lead, professor, and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.

The report predicts food costs for an average family of four will rise next year by around $700, less than this year’s thousand-dollar increase.

The report looks at what’s driving price increases, and highlights inflation, global conflicts disrupting supply chains, and ongoing ripple effects from the pandemic as causes.

It also takes aim at the federal carbon tax, particularly its increasing effects on farmers. The tax is currently at $75 per tonne but by 2030 it will be $170. The 2023 report shows by 2030, a farmer with 5,000 acres will be paying $150,000 purely in carbon taxes. Most farm equipment runs on diesel fuel and natural gas, with no alternatives available, and unavoidable carbon taxes may cause prices to increase across the entire supply chain. However, the report points out, not much in-depth research has been done on the effects of charging the tax to farmers and food producers, or the transportation sector.

“It would be misleading to assert that carbon pricing has a direct and straightforward impact on retail food prices, and it would be equally misleading to claim otherwise. Multiple factors come into play, including consumer behaviour and supply chain dynamics,” it says.

Next year’s prices are expected to increase on average in BC by around 6%, the same as this year. Increases are mainly driven by baked goods, meat, and vegetables. Dairy price increases were lower than expected, and will be less than 2% next year.

The report looked at federal legislation being crafted to create a code of conduct for Canadian grocery companies. It found other countries which have introduced codes have had food prices go down as a result.

On the bright side, the report also predicts there will be a mild reduction in prices next year for some essential food items.

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New sub-hunter surveillance planes will replace Aurora fleet at 19 Wing Comox https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/95645/news/national/new-sub-hunter-surveillance-planes-will-replace-aurora-fleet-at-19-wing-comox/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 18:40:10 +0000 https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/?p=95645

The aging Aurora surveillance planes at 19 Wing in Comox are being replaced by new Boeing-made aircraft, the government announced today.

The federal government has struck a 6 billion dollar deal with Boeing to purchase 16 P-8A Poseidon multi-mission aircraft. The same type of aircraft are in service with the US Navy and other Canadian allies. They are earmarked to replace the 40-year-old Auroras in service in BC and Nova Scotia as maritime patrol aircraft.

In a statement, the federal government says the planes are needed "to defend Canadian interests in our maritime approaches, the Arctic, and internationally, the RCAF needs to be able to identify, detect, track and potentially engage advanced surface and sub-surface threats using an array of highly sophisticated sensors and weapons. The RCAF must have self-protection systems that afford our aviators a measure of survivability against known threats. The P-8A meets these requirements. It will protect Canadians, enhance our Arctic security and national sovereignty, and enable Canada to meet its NATO, NORAD and other obligations well into the future."

In total 16 planes will be delivered, the first arriving in 2026. All are expected to be in service within 10 years.

They will take over the Aurora’s role in protecting the longest coastline in the world by detecting security threats, illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and polluters along Canadian coastlines.

“In today’s complex global environment, Canada requires a military that is capable of protecting our country well into the future," said federal Defence Minister Bill Blair in a press release. "We are committed to ensuring that our current and future aviators have the most advanced equipment possible to do just that. Canada requires a multi-mission fleet to contribute to the safety and security of Canadians and protect the sovereignty of a country with the longest coastline in the world. The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is the right aircraft to fulfil this role.”

The aircraft aren't just for surveillance. The government says they can perform maritime and overland surveillance with integrated Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), anti-submarine and anti-surface capabilities.

"These aircraft are not just airplanes, but complex weapon systems capable of transporting and launching multiple sonobuoys, torpedoes, and anti-ship weapons to protect Canada’s water on all three coasts," says the government.

In a statement Boeing says the purchase "will benefit hundreds of Canadian companies, and bring decades of prosperity to Canada through platform sustainment delivered by our Canadian industry partners."

Boeing says the purchase brings benefits of nearly 3,000 jobs and $358 million annually in economic output to Canada, according to a 2023 independent study by Ottawa-based Doyletech Corporation.

"This is a very important day for the Royal Canadian Air Force and for Boeing," said Charles "Duff" Sullivan, managing director, Boeing Canada. "The P-8 offers unmatched capabilities and is the most affordable solution for acquisition and life-cycle sustainment costs. There's no doubt the P-8 will protect Canada's oceans and its borders for future generations."

Boeing says the P-8 has proven capabilities for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief response.

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US rules duties on Canadian softwood will stand; feds and province fire back https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/95638/news/national/us-rules-duties-on-canadian-softwood-will-stand-feds-and-province-fire-back/ Thu, 30 Nov 2023 22:37:21 +0000 https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/?p=95638

There’s no relief coming after all for BC softwood lumber exporters, after the US International Trade Commission ruled today duties will stay in place.

The trade commission published its decision today that revoking duties would be harmful to American lumber producers, who have complained for decades that Canada's Crown lands and stumpage systems give Canadian companies an unfair advantage in the marketplace.

Federal minister of trade and export Mary Ng says Canada is disappointed with the decision, and that duties on Canadian exports are unfair, unjustified, and harm Canadian businesses and communities.

She says the duties also hurt American customers facing housing supply and affordability challenges who need Canadian lumber.

Provincially, Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests, and Jagrup Brar, Minister of State for Trade, issued a statement condemning the duties, pointing out that a NAFTA panel ruled against them earlier this fall.

"These duties are hurting people on both sides of our shared border, creating uncertainty for forestry professionals and communities here at home, and making it more costly to build homes in the U.S. Both parties will benefit when we work together to make a stronger forest sector for Canada and the United States," they say. "B.C. will always defend the 56,000 hard-working people in our forest industry against these restrictions. In B.C., we are building a forestry sector focused on sustainability and we continue to provide markets around the world with the highest-quality timber.

"We will also always stand firm against any unfair actions taken against our forestry workers. This includes relentlessly pursuing our claims through all available avenues. We continue to work with the federal government, provincial partners and our forest industry, and we are determined to see a just outcome for B.C.'s forest sector."

The average duty faced by Canadian producers is currently just under 8%.

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One in four international students not attending public-funded school: StatsCan https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/95394/news/national/one-in-four-international-students-not-attending-public-funded-school-statscan/ Thu, 23 Nov 2023 00:31:07 +0000 https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/?p=95394

With the number of international students in BC returning to pre-pandemic levels, Stats Canada released a report today about where they are coming from and what they are doing when they’re not in class.

The report found at least 25% of all post-secondary international students are not attending a publicly-funded institution. Some are attending private universities, which don’t have data available. Others are working while in the country on study permits.

Most international students come from India and China. Indian students made up 35% of enrolled students, but nearly half of all permit-holders who aren’t attending classes.

The data also shows nearly half of students granted study permits who didn't study, left Canada.

Stats Canada cautioned the latest figures are from 2019, and may not represent the post-pandemic situation.

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