News 1. Bank of Canada acknowledges that climate change will impact the economy “For the first time ever, the Bank of Canada has released a report examining the threat climate change poses to the country’s financial system,” reports Karina Roman for the CBC. The report in question is the Bank’s annual Fiscal System Review, which […]
Treat your brain: get outdoors
News 1. Premier vs teachers, round 27 Premier Stephen McNeil returned from his latest trip to Europe and China yesterday, and pretty much immediately started in on the teachers’ union — this time, accusing them of spreading misinformation about cuts. A CP story in The Star Halifax says McNeil criticized the union Thursday for alleging […]
With increasing sea level rise, does it make sense to build a new Art Gallery of Nova Scotia on the waterfront?
In the last three months, it’s been reported that the Greenland ice sheet is melting faster than expected, which will mean a higher rise in sea-level than earlier projected; that temperatures in Canada are warming at approximately double the average global rate; and that more flooding is predicted for Atlantic Canada over the next 50...
A tale of two protests
While officials moved quickly to respond to student protests about the cancellation of high school rugby, they were quick to erect roadblocks when students wanted to protest climate change.
“In my view, kids should be in class.” Premier Stephen McNeil March 2019 “Something is happening here But you don’t know what it is, Do you, Mr. Jones?” Ballad of a Thin Man Bob Dylan (1965) One Friday. Two student protests. Two very different (immediate) results. On Friday at noon — less than 24 hours...
For Halifax council, a “climate emergency” means more roads
The nine-kilometre long Burnside Connector highway will cost at least $196 million, more than the entire Integrated Mobility Plan for active transportation and transit projects across the city. No one said the highway was too expensive, but councillors cry poverty when it comes to actually addressing the climate emergency.
On Friday, school kids will walk out of their classes and head out for another march around Halifax, visiting the various levels of government along the way, pleading for someone, anyone in a position of power to take seriously the realities of climate change. View this post on Instagram Hey everyone! Our route this strike […]
Oil industry-friendly politician objects to proposed strengthened environmental assessment rules
A federal bill to change the way environmental assessments of large projects are handled met with strong and mixed reaction at a Senate Committee hearing held in Halifax yesterday. Environmentalists like the fact assessments of new projects must include “climate change” as one factor. “The Bill is not perfect but it is a balanced and...
Despite warnings that burning biomass does not address climate change, Nova Scotia Power burned more biomass in 2018 than in 2017
Citizens concerned about the amount of wood harvested (mostly clearcut) to be used as biomass aren’t going to be happy with the numbers contained in the 2018 Fuel Adjustment Mechanism (FAM) report filed last month with the regulator. When used for generating electricity, the efficiency of biomass is only 21-23% efficient. Last year, the biomass […]
Living with crabs
Morning File, Wednesday, March 27, 2019
News 1. Street checks The Street Checks report is being released this morning, just as I’m writing this. 2. Provincial budget The Liberals released the 2019/20 budget yesterday and immediately spun it with a deluge of press releases. See if you can catch the bullshit word: If you guessed “invests” you win a pony! No […]
Hell, Let’s Talk
Morning File, Wednesday, January 30, 2019
News 1. Northern Pulp Mill “A permanent injunction has been granted preventing fishermen from blocking survey vessels from carrying out work for a contentious treated waste pipeline into the Northumberland Strait,” reports the Canadian Press: Justice Josh Arnold approved the injunction Tuesday after Northern Pulp and the fishermen agreed to a consent order last week. […]
Oil spills, protected areas, and the future of the planet
Morning File, Monday, November 19, 2018
November subscription drive I’m really bad at self-promotion, so I’m going to let Trevor Parsons give today’s plug for the November subscription drive: This @HfxExaminer travel mug won't help you survive in #WildNovaScotia, but it will keep your coffee warm on the way to the trail head. More importantly, subscribing to the Examiner helps to […]