Topic Environmental
N.W.T. says lack of notice on oilsands tailings spill goes against deal with Alberta
March 7, 2023 by Bob Weber - THE CANADIAN PRESSAlberta didn’t live up to the terms of a deal it has with the Northwest Territories to inform it about threats to its shared watershed after two major oilsands tailings spills, the territory’s environment minister said Friday. Shane Thompson said…
Major winter storm brings snow, thunder and lightning to parts of Ontario
March 6, 2023 by The Canadian PressTORONTO – A fierce winter storm has dumped heavy snow across southern Ontario, where strong winds, thunder and lightning were also reported. Environment Canada meteorologist Haizhen Sun says between 22 and 30 centimetres of snow fell on the Greater Toronto…
Oil well cleanup program listed as ‘key objective’ in Alberta’s pre-election budget
March 1, 2023 by Bob Weber - THE CANADIAN PRESSEDMONTON – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s last budget before an expected spring election gives strong support to a proposed tax break for energy companies to fulfill their legal cleanup duties but doesn’t tell voters how much would be spent on…
Federal disaster aid program being overhauled to include climate adaptation
February 27, 2023 by Mia Rabson - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – Canada’s overworked disaster assistance program is being overhauled so that future projects would only be eligible for aid if they take into account the need to adapt to climate change. Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair, who was in…
Frigid conditions should lift in B.C., but incoming system to bring heavy snow
February 24, 2023 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – Extreme cold, Arctic outflow or snowfall warnings cover most of northern and central British Columbia as an icy and powerful storm sweeps over the province. Environment Canada says the accompanying wind chill has made conditions in those areas…
Window for action on national flood insurance program is now, IBC says
February 24, 2023 by Jason ContantInsurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is applauding the federal government’s latest disaster assistance for flood recovery costs associated with British Columbia’s costliest severe weather event, but is stressing the urgent need for action on a national flood insurance program. The…
Government caps disaster assistance, lowers threshold for property buyouts
February 23, 2023 by Jason ContantAnother provincial government is changing the way it provides disaster financial assistance by capping assistance for claims related to the same type of disaster at $200,000. New Brunswick is increasing the maximum payout for structural damage to $200,000, setting a…
Thousands in Ontario remain without power after winter storm
February 23, 2023 by The Canadian PressTORONTO – Hydro One says tens of thousands of its customers in southwestern Ontario lost power after Wednesday’s winter storm and some might have to wait until Friday night for it to be restored. The utility says more than 33,000…
B.C. adds $180 million to help communities prepare for natural disasters
February 22, 2023 by Dirk Meissner - THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – Premier David Eby says he’s introducing more supports to better prepare British Columbia communities for natural disasters related to climate change before they happen. “The last few years have taught us a hard lesson about the impacts of…
Alberta, Saskatchewan methane emissions almost 4 times more than reported: research
February 21, 2023 by Jason ContantNew research using advanced technology suggests heavy oil facilities in Alberta and Saskatchewan are releasing almost four times the amount of a powerful greenhouse gas than they report to government. The research, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology,…
Rural Nova Scotians want power grid designed for a changing climate
February 17, 2023 by Michael Tutton - THE CANADIAN PRESSHALIFAX – Residents of a rural Cape Breton community that has lost power during cold and windy weather are looking for compensation from the utility – and a grid designed for the changing climate. Parker Donham, a resident of Boularderie…
Is Canada seeing more tornadoes every year?
February 14, 2023 by Jason ContantCanada saw 117 recorded tornadoes across the country during the 2022 season, tying 2021 for the highest-ever single season on record, according to the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP). As with 2021, 29 of the tornadoes reached up to EF2 on…