Topic Environmental
Blizzard-like conditions expected in Newfoundland
February 15, 2024 by The Canadian PressSchools in Newfoundland’s capital are closed today, due to the threat of inclement winter weather. The head office for NLSchools in St. John’s will be open, but officials say not until 11:00 a.m. local time. This week’s hazardous winter conditions…
Are your clients adding water endorsements to home policies?
February 14, 2024 by Jason ContantAn increasing number of your clients are expressing interest in water endorsements on home insurance policies, according to data from rate aggregator Rates.ca’s home insurance quoter. The rate comparison website found 36% of all home insurance quotes on the tool…
Warm weather forces city in Quebec to cancel ice-fishing villages for first time
February 13, 2024 by The Canadian PressSAGUENAY, QUE. – There will be no colourful ice-fishing huts dotting the frozen water near Saguenay, Que., this year after mild winter weather forced authorities to cancel the popular tradition for the first time. The municipality about 200 kilometres north…
Regulator calls out Trans Mountain for ‘environmental non-compliance’ in B.C.
February 12, 2024 by The Canadian PressCALGARY – The company building the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has been cited for environmental non-compliance related to its management of recent flooding in B.C. The Canada Energy Regulator said Thursday its inspection officers found issues near Abbotsford, B.C., where…
Alberta to add firefighters for expected busy wildfire season: minister
February 9, 2024 by Bob Weber – The Canadian PressAlberta will field more firefighters, more volunteers and more high-tech gear as it braces for what it expects will be another busy wildfire season, the province’s forestry minister said Thursday. And as the province faces a summer of possibly severe…
When the national earthquake early warning system goes live
February 8, 2024 by Jason ContantCanada’s national earthquake early warning system is expected to go live in British Columbia in April followed by Ontario and Quebec this fall, a program manager for the federal government told delegates at CatIQ Connect Wednesday. The system works by…
Should the industry incentivize wildfire mitigation?
February 8, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatinoFor the insurance industry, Canada’s record-breaking wildfire season should raise the question: Can we blame people for where they live? Amid mounting wildfire risk, consumers need incentives from their insurers to apply retrofits that can protect their house from fire…
Do we need a Category 6 for hurricanes?
February 6, 2024 by Jason ContantTwo climate scientists are questioning whether the open-endedness of Category 5 hurricanes is sufficient to communicate the risk of hurricane property damage in a warming climate. Michael Wehner of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and James Kossin of First…
Disruptions continue as Nova Scotia emerges from under heavy snow
February 6, 2024 by The Canadian PressCleanup in Nova Scotia could take days after more than a metre of snow piled up in some parts of the province over the weekend. Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says Parks Canada will be sending snow removal equipment…
Emergency declared in Cape Breton as snowstorm leaves much of Nova Scotia paralyzed
February 5, 2024 by The Canadian PressHALIFAX – A local state of emergency remains in effect in parts of Cape Breton as Nova Scotia digs out from one of the heaviest snowfalls in 20 years. On Sunday afternoon, as a stalled low-pressure system continued to dump…
B.C. ski resorts shut as warm, wet weather strips mountains of snow
February 2, 2024 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – All three of Metro Vancouver’s local ski hills are closed for a second day at what should be the peak of the season, as a spate of warm, wet weather strips mountains bare. Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour…
Alberta fire chiefs want provincial wildfire plan released before season begins
February 1, 2024 by The Canadian PressEDMONTON – Alberta’s fire chiefs are “urgently” asking the provincial government to explain how it’s getting ready for the upcoming wildfire season and to release its preparedness strategy. “There is a growing concern among fire chiefs across the province of…