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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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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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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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 Trust of BC's "Estuary Resilience" website. 

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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 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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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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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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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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Canada’s independent environmental auditor says DFO remains in the dark when it comes to the data it needs to manage fisheries.

A report to Parliament this week by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development says the federal fisheries ministry has been slow to modernize how it collects and manages information. As well, DFO still hasn’t fulfilled commitments made during an audit seven years ago.

“Without dependable and timely catch data, the department does not have the important information it needs to support the sustainable management of fisheries, and it runs the risk that fish stocks are overexploited,” the report adds.

The audit found that because of information gaps, the fish catch information used by DFO managers was “to a large extent not dependable.”

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A coalition of environmental groups took the federal government to court Wednesday to protect endangered migratory birds.

Jens Wieting with the Sierra Club of BC says the groups will argue in court that Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault unlawfully limited the federal government’s protection of endangered birds by protecting only their nests, not the habitat they need to survive.

"In order to protect the habitat of endangered migratory birds like the marbled murrelet, we need a wider interpretation of habitat,” he says. “We have to protect... old growth forests where marbled murrelets are nesting.”

The Sierra Club, Wilderness Committee and Ecojustice are working the case together. They say the Species at Risk Act is being used in a way that fails to protect birds including the marbled murrelet, which has been designated as threatened since 1990. The birds live within 30 kilometres of the coastline, from Alaska to California. Most of the BC population lives in forests that are not protected from future logging.

“Under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the minister is required to ensure protection of critical habitat for at-risk migratory birds on provincial lands to which the Migratory Bird Convention Act (MBCA) applies. However, the Minister has taken the position that the federal government has no obligation to protect anything other than bird nests on provincial lands,” they say in a joint statement. “This is bad news for all at-risk migratory birds in Canada.”

Murrelets are at top of mind in the case because they are most at risk among threatened bird populations. They only have one offspring each year, and their numbers are in steady decline coast-wide.

“The birds only approach or leave their nests under the cover of darkness, making the nests nearly impossible to find and difficult to protect,” the groups say. “The main threat to the marbled murrelet’s survival and recovery is logging of their nesting habitat.”

Wieting says the case will hopefully put pressure on the provincial government as well as the federal.

“With a growing number of endangered species like the marbled murrelet slipping through the cracks in B.C., we’re depending on the federal government to follow through on commitments like those under the Migratory Birds Convention Act,” he says. “Until British Columbia enacts effective biodiversity legislation, marbled murrelets, and many other species need other levels of government to step up to the plate and act for their survival and recovery.”

The case has national implications. If the environmental groups are successful, the federal government will have to take steps to ensure protection of bird habitat and supporting ecosystems.

Meanwhile the Sierra Club gave credit to the BC government for a funding announcement last month which earmarks $300 million to protect old-growth forests.

“This is the beginning of a huge shift toward conserving our most endangered forests and reaching the goal of protecting 30 percent of land in B.C. by 2030. Seven years from now, people in B.C. could be looking back and celebrating this crucial milestone towards conservation, a stable climate and reconciliation,” says Shelley Luce, Sierra Club BC’s Director of Campaigns in a statement. “With this announcement, Premier Eby’s leadership is enabling greater investments in conserving forests and creating new economic activities to replace the industrial clear-cut logging that has decimated our forests.”

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A new stamp was unveiled at the Heritage Classic last weekend celebrating a groundbreaking athlete in the NHL. 

[caption id="attachment_78650" align="alignnone" width="300"] Unveiling Ceremony in Edmonton, Canada Post[/caption]

The stamp will honor the life and legacy of Willie O’Ree who was the first Black player in the National Hockey League.  

O’Ree played for the Boston Bruins in a game against the Montreal Canadians in 1958 and went on to have a long career in the WHL. 

He dedicated his life to promoting inclusion and diversity in Hockey and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame for his work with youth on and off the ice. 

[caption id="attachment_78649" align="alignnone" width="222"] The stamp will be sold in post offices from October 30th, Canada Post[/caption]

The stamp features a recent photo of O'Ree and an insert photo of him on the ice in 1960.

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Holidays are a time of giving for most, but the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is reminding the public that for scammers, it is a time of taking.

The agency shared a list of popular holiday scams for Canadians to recognize, reject, report, and be merry.

The CAFC is warning of counterfeit merchandise and flashy discount ads that direct you to websites that look like legitimate manufacturers. Romance scams are also popular, and the CAFC says some fraudsters play on their victim’s emotions to get them to send money for various convincing reasons. 

The CAFC also says being vigilant while online shopping is important. Some fraudsters also pose as genuine sellers and post fake ads for items that do not exist, adding that whenever possible, you exchange goods in person or use your credit card for payment. 

Phishing emails and texts are also popular this time of year. The agency says some people may receive messages claiming to be from a recognizable source (e.g. financial institution, service provider, etc.) asking you to submit or confirm your information. Officials warn these emails or texts may include a malicious link for you to click.

Emergency scams: Officials say scammers will pose as a supposed loved one reaching out to you because they need money now and you’re the only one they trust to keep it a secret. The agency says to resist the urge to act immediately and verify the person’s identity by asking them questions a stranger wouldn’t know.

The CAFC says charity scams are also popular during the holidays. Officials say these scams involve any false, deceptive, misleading or fraudulent solicitation for a donation to a charity, association, federation or religious cause. 

Other popular holiday scams include those involving selling and buying goods and services online, crypto Investments, contests or raffle prizes, gift cards, Identity Theft, and Fraud, as well as pyramid schemes posing as Secret Santa scams.

The agency says anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police and to the CAFC’s online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501, even if they are not a victim.

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Data from a recent poll says that some credit-card holders would stop shopping at major retailers if they are hit with a new credit card surcharge.

The non-profit Angus Reid Institute surveyed 2,638 credit card holders.

Twenty-eight per cent of holders who took part in the survey said that a one-and-a-half per cent surcharge would push them away from small businesses in their community, while more than 44 per cent say the surcharge would stop them shopping at major retailers.

When it comes to smaller local businesses, more than 13 per cent say they would take the surcharge, and 59 per cent would use a different form of payment.

Ten per cent say that if the business was major, they would absorb the cost, while fewer than half of holders would use either cash or debit.

Of the 82 per cent of holders connected to a loyalty program, 16 per cent say in the survey that the surcharge would not stop them from using their card, but 61 per cent say that this would make them reconsider and do away with their card.

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Canadian families face a financial chill as extreme weather caused by climate change increasingly affects the economy.

Last year, more than $2-Billion in insurance payouts were recorded — not counting repair costs for public infrastructure and uninsured losses.

The Canadian Climate Institute says households will be hit hard.

Everyday life will become even less affordable as economic growth slows while taxes increase to pay for climate disasters, job losses mount, and goods become more expensive because of supply chain disruptions.

Job losses could reach half-a-million by mid-century, and increase to 2.9 million by the end of the century.

Manufacturing, the services sector, and transportation will be particularly hard hit.

Regardless of how well Canada and other countries do at cutting emissions, annual disaster recovery costs are expected to reach five-Billion dollars in Canada by 2025 and 17-Billion by 2050.

The institute says governments should double down on aggressive reductions in emissions.

The institute says reducing emissions will result in major benefits after mid-century.

The low-emissions scenario would see damages reduced by more than half compared to the high-emissions scenario.

Proactive adaptation will bring major benefits regardless of the emissions trajectory, and over a shorter time horizon.

Every dollar spent on adaptation measures saves as much as $15.

The Canadian Climate Institute says a combination of proactive adaptation and global emissions cuts will be the most effective in mitigating damages, reducing Canada’s total real GDP losses by 75 per cent.

Among the report’s key findings:

• Climate-induced damages are already here and they’re adding up. By 2025, climate impacts will be slowing Canada’s economic growth by $25 billion annually, which is equal to 50 per cent of projected GDP growth.
• All households will lose income, and low-income households will suffer the most. Low-income households could see income losses of 12 per cent in a low emissions scenario and 19 percent in a high emissions scenario by the end of the century—markedly higher losses than the median income group.
• Climate change is a job-killer. Job losses could double by mid-century, and increase to 2.9 million by end-of-century.
• Adaption pays off big. Every dollar spent on adaptation measures saves $13-$15, including both direct and indirect economy-wide benefits.
• Limiting further warming, while adapting to the warming already baked in, pays off bigger. Taking proactive adaptation measures cuts climate costs in half, and if these are combined with global mitigation measures, then costs are cut by three-quarters.

 Damage Control: Reducing the costs of climate impacts in Canada

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Monday will be a holiday for only federal government employees to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The clarification comes from the Federal Minister of Labour. Seamus O’Regan tweeted earlier his hour that the day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth is only for government employees.

O’Regan says employers of federally regulated businesses are welcome to follow suit. Earlier, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday would be a holiday for all federally regulated employees.

Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will be held on Monday. The B.C. Government says a ceremonial procession and commemorative service will be held in Victoria.

The procession will start at the B.C. Parliament Buildings and walk to Christ Church Cathedral.

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The Canadian Forces Snowbirds’ wings are clipped after an accident last week in Fort St. John.

The accident involving a 431 Squadron CT-114 tutor aircraft on Aug. 2 prompted the commander of 1 Canadian Air Division to put an operational pause on the fleet.

The Department of National Defence says the aircraft had an emergency during takeoff. They say the pilot was able to land but the plane was damaged.

The pilot was uninjured and an investigation into the accident is being done by the air force’s directorate of flight safety.

Maj.-Gen. Iain Huddleston ordered the pause after talking with the directorate of flight safety investigators and with experts from the Technical Airworthiness Authority.

“Given that the cause of this accident remains to be determined by the Airworthiness Investigative Authority, I have ordered an operational pause on the CT-114 Tutor fleet as we continue the investigation and commence a thorough operational airworthiness risk assessment process,” said Huddleston.

“We will return the fleet to flying operations when it is safe to do so, and in accordance with our rigorous airworthiness program.”

The fleet will not fly until an operational airworthiness risk assessment can be completed, according to National Defence.

As a result of the accident involving a 431 (Air Demonstration) Squadron CT-114 Tutor aircraft on August 2, 2022 in Fort St. John, B.C. the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division has ordered an operational pause on the CT-114 fleet. pic.twitter.com/yTAEeiCYkU

— Royal Canadian Air Force (@RCAF_ARC) August 10, 2022

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Conference of major Ukranian-Canadian groups taking place in Ottawa

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland kicked off a conference of major Ukranian-Canadian groups Friday in Ottawa by explaining why Canada is so supportive of Ukraine.

She says the country is in the forefront of the fight for democracy. Ukraine has been invaded by Russia on its eastern flank and is struggling against the pull of the Kremlin as it tries to engage with the West.

Desjardins data theft worse than first thought

The Desjardins Group data theft is turning out to be worse than first thought.

It actually hit all 4.2-million members. Quebec-based Desjardins Group initially reported in June that 2.9-million customers had been impacted by the theft.

North Dakota Governor wants review of Keystone pipeline

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum wants Calgary-based TC Energy to review its inspection and monitoring of the Keystone pipeline.

He says he has spoken with company officials following this week's leak of about 1.4-million-litres of oil in the northeastern part of the state. Burgum says he received assurances the spill that affected some wetlands would be cleaned up as thoroughly and quickly as possible.

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