RIPPED OFF BY EMPLOYERS NOT EMPLOYEES

Tax agency lacked tools to keep wage subsidy away from ineligible employers: AG

Catharine Tunney 

© Erik White/CBC As of March 21, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy had paid out $71.48 billion.

Canada's auditor general says the Canada Revenue Agency lacked controls and the up-to-date information it needed to properly assess applicants when the federal government launched its wage subsidy program at the start of the pandemic — putting the integrity of the program at risk.

In a new report released today, Auditor General Karen Hogan said CRA needs to bolster its tax compliance wing.

Hogan today tabled three performance reports in the House of Commons on the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of those audits looked at the Canada emergency wage subsidy (CEWS) — a program that, when it was first launched a year ago, subsidized up to 75 per cent of wages for workers who were kept on their employers' payrolls.

To get the program out the door as quickly as possible, the CRA was only able to conduct limited tests before approving payments, said the audit.

"Without effective controls for validating payments, the integrity of the program is at risk and ineligible employers might receive the subsidy," said the audit report.

The AG also said CRA did not have all up‑to‑date earnings and tax data when assessing applicants.

For example, 28 per cent of applicants did not file a GST/HST return for the 2019 calendar year.

"We noted that the subsidy was paid to applicants despite their history of penalties for failure to remit and other advance indicators of potential insolvency," said the audit.

"Indeed, the agency held no legislative authority to deny access to the subsidy on the basis of an employer's history of non‑compliance with tax obligations.

© Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press Auditor General Karen Hogan holds a press conference after releasing a report in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021.

"It is our view that this situation presented a risk that the subsidy program would not achieve its goal of maintaining the employee‑employer relationships needed to support economic recovery because it may have subsidized applicants that were operating non‑viable organizations."

Hogan wrote in a press statement that the sprint to get the program launched highlighted existing weaknesses within the CRA.

Her team reported that the 273 employees the CRA had enforcing GST/HST delinquent filer compliance earn about $27.7 million in total annual salary — but had a fiscal impact of $3.2 billion for the 2019–2020 fiscal year.

"These amounts represent a return on investment of more than 100 to 1," said the audit.

"The fiscal impact includes the federal tax, provincial tax, interest and penalties collected. Given the good return on investment, we encourage the agency to do more of this work."

The CRA has agreed to strengthen the unit.

Separate audit looked at CERB

The team of auditors also found the CRA didn't take steps to prevent Canadians from receiving both the wage subsidy — which as of March 21 has paid out more than $71 billion — and the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB).

"The agency decided that it would not ask employers applying for the subsidy to provide their employees' social insurance numbers, though this information could have helped the agency prevent the doubling-up of financial support," notes the audit.

In a separate audit, Hogan also looked at the CERB program, which paid $2,000 a month to millions of Canadians who were either out of work or had lost work due to the pandemic. The most recent figures show the program, which was wound down last fall, had spent about $74 billion as of 4 October 2020.

Hogan said that while the federal government will have to check up on Canadians who received emergency benefits during the COVID-19 crisis, it did well to get the money out the door and into Canadians' wallets quickly.

Federal departments relied on applicants' attestations — that they did not quit their jobs voluntarily and that they had stopped working because of the COVID-19 pandemic — when the emergency benefits were issued.

Hogan's team found that the government knew that relying on applicants' honesty and limiting the number of prepayment controls meant some payments would be issued to people who were not entitled to the benefit. She said accepting a degree of risk in order to get help to those in need was consistent with international best practices.

Employment and Social Development Canada and Canada Revenue Agency said they are working on collecting ineligible payments.

Neuroscientists discover 'zombie genes' that come to life in the human brain after death

IT'S TRUE 

JUST SHOOT THEM IN THE HEAD

Devika Desai

3/24/2021

Once a human dies so does their body, we might assume. All major systems shut down, muscles gradually atrophy and all organs, including the brain, are rendered obsolete.

© Provided by National Post A 'zombie gene' grows tentacles and busies itself with post-death clean up work in the brain tissue

Not quite so, researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered. Turns out some cells in the human brain don’t take kindly to being told their services are no longer needed and instead grow in size and ramp up their activity for hours after death.

Scientists studying samples of brain tissue collected during routine brain surgery, watched as these cells, aptly named ‘zombie genes’, sprouted tentacles and went on to clean things up in the brain for several hours post-mortem.

Only glial cells, inflammatory cells that support the neurons, were observed carrying out the post-mortem maintenance, the researchers wrote in their study.

“That glial cells enlarge after death isn’t too surprising given that they are inflammatory and their job is to clean things up after brain injuries like oxygen deprivation or stroke,” Dr. Jeffrey Loeb, a neurologist at the University of Illinois and corresponding author on the paper, said in a news release .

Most previous work on neurological gene expression and brain disorders has been done on brain tissues that have been dead for 12 hours or more.

However Loeb and his team, noticing differences between the global pattern of activity in fresh human brain tissue versus older tissue, decided to run a simulated death experiment to observe the level of activity in the brain immediately after it was declared dead to about a day post-mortem.

They used samples of recently collected brain tissues, which had been kept at room temperature to “replicate the postmortem interval.”

© Dr. Jeffrey Loeb/UIC The glial cell is observed coming back to life and growing in size hours after the human brain died.

About 80 per cent of the genes analyzed in the brain remained relatively stable for 24 hours, researchers reported, which include genes that provide the basic cellular functions of the brain. Another group of genes connected to human brain activity such as memory, thinking and seizure activity, quickly degraded after death.

However, as the neuronal genes slowed, the ‘zombie genes’ ramped up their activity, researchers found. This pattern in post-mortem changes continued for several hours, peaking at about 12 hours.

The discovery, Loeb said, could change the way research studies use postmortem brain tissues to research cures for mental illnesses such as autism, Alzheimer’s, and schizophrenia.

“Most studies assume that everything in the brain stops when the heart stops beating, but this is not so,” Loeb said. “Our findings will be needed to interpret research on human brain tissues. We just haven’t quantified these changes until now.”

“The good news from our findings is that we now know which genes and cell types are stable, which degrade, and which increase over time so that results from postmortem brain studies can be better understood,” he said.

Volcanic ash blamed as Biden envoys' Guatemala trip ditched


FILE PHOTO: Streams of red hot lava shoot into the night sky during an eruption of the Pacaya volcano, as seen from Los Rios

By Sofia Menchu

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - A delegation of senior Biden administration aides has postponed a trip to Guatemala because of heightened activity by the Pacaya volcano, the Central American country's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Juan Gonzalez, one of U.S. President Joe Biden's top aides for Latin America, and Ricardo Zuniga, newly appointed U.S. special envoy for Central America's Northern Triangle, were due to meet with Guatemalan ministers on Thursday.

"The mission decided to postpone its arrival in Guatemala because of the conditions with the Pacaya volcano," the foreign ministry said, adding that no new date had yet been set for the postponed meetings.

Shortly after the postponement was announced, Biden named Vice President Kamala Harris to lead U.S. efforts with Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to try and stem the flow of migration, amid a sharp rise in recent weeks.

Ahead of the scheduled visit, the envoys said the Biden strategy would include a focus on improving the rule of law and tackling corruption in the Northern Triangle.

"They can criticize us for trying to involve ourselves in internal matters, but when Guatemala's justice system works the United States benefits," Gonzalez told Guatemalan newspaper Prensa Libre.

Pacaya spewed ash and small rocks across Guatemala's capital on Tuesday, causing the temporary closure of the international airport. The airport was officially open on Wednesday morning, after soldiers armed with plastic brooms swept the runway clean.

"Foiled by Pacaya," Gonzalez wrote on Twitter. "We will be back."

(Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Rosalba O'Brien)

Guatemala City airport closed as volcanic ash coats planes

GUATEMALA CITY — A shift in wind blew ash from an eruption at the Pacaya volcano over Guatemala City on Tuesday, and authorities closed the airport as ash coated planes and planes parked at the terminal.

© Provided by The Canadian Press

The 8,373-foot (2,552 metre) volcano, just 30 miles (50 kilometres) south of Guatemala's capital, has been active since early February.

Civil Aviation Director Francis Argueta did not say how long the closure would last. Volcanic ash is highly abrasive and can damage airplane engines and other mechanical devices.

Tourists frequently hike up to visit Pacaya's peak, but those trips have been temporarily cancelled.

Pacaya has a clear view of the nearby Volcano of Fire, which erupted in 2018, emitting a fast-moving avalanche of super-heated muck that killed at least 110 people and left about 200 missing. Pacaya had an explosive blast in 2010 that killed a reporter and two local people.

The Associated Press

 

$5K incentive to buy EVs on P.E.I. will be game changer, says energy consultant

Wed., March 24, 2021,

A plan announced last week to have all cars on Island roads be electric by 2030 is not realistic, says industry expert Jeff Turner. (John Robertson/CBC - image credit)

A rebate for buying new or used electric vehicles announced in the P.E.I. provincial budget will make a significant difference for interested buyers, says an energy consultant.

Last week, P.E.I. Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action Steven Myers said he wants to see all Islanders driving electric vehicles by 2030 — just nine years from now — to meet P.E.I.'s net-zero emissions target.

He kicked off a $500,000 incentive program that will give Islanders $5,000 off any new or used electric vehicle purchased from an Island dealership. It's also offering $2,500 off plug-in hybrids and a free Level 2 charging station.

"That sounds pretty ambitious," said Jeff Turner, a senior research lead with Dunsky Energy Consulting in Montreal, in an interview with Island Morning's Laura Chapin.

He said he thinks P.E.I.'s incentives are going to be a game changer in convincing Islanders to adopt this type of transportation, because it will help with the higher up-front costs of these vehicles.

"Even though we know that EVs can save a lot of money over the long run, they can typically save somewhere in the order of $1,500 a year in fuel savings ... that up-front cost is really important, even if they're going to save in the long run," Turner said.

'Big impact on the potential for sales'

"I think they're really going to have a big impact on the potential for sales in the province."

Turner said it's important for targets to be realistic, and that his company has done a lot of research to help governments try to get a sense of the likely pace of adoption of electric vehicles.

He points out the federal government has a target of 30 per cent of all new vehicle sales be electric vehicles by 2030.

"We think that target is definitely achievable, but something like 100 per cent of the vehicles in circulation by 2030? That's probably out of reach. In fact, I would say certainly that's out of reach," Turner said.

Currently there are about 100 electric vehicles being driven on P.E.I., Turner said, but he expects that to increase with the incentives.

EV plans elsewhere

Quebec and British Columbia have the most ambitious electric vehicle plans in Canada.

The Quebec government offers buyers an $8,000 incentive on electric vehicles, in an attempt to reach its goal of 100 per cent of new vehicles purchased to be electric vehicles by 2035. Turner believes it will likely be into the 2040s before all vehicles on Quebec roads are powered by electricity, both new and used.

Right now about 10 per cent of B.C.'s new vehicle sales are EVs.

The province will spend $500,000 on the new incentive program.(Nicola MacLeod/CBC)

The federal government has also set a target that 30 per cent of all new vehicle sales in the country be EVs by 2030, and is offering $5,000 in rebates.

The new provincial incentive can be combined with the federal government rebate — giving eligible Islanders up to $10,000 off the price of a newly purchased electric vehicle.

Rebate for used EVs 'really helpful'

Turner offered praise for P.E.I.'s plan to also offer the rebate on used electric vehicles, saying this should help increase the supply of vehicles to the Island.

"A lot of people just don't buy new vehicles," he said. "So I think it's really helpful that we have cash on the table for that portion of the market as well."

He points out that Quebec, where there are more than 90,000 electric vehicles on the road, could be a good source for used electric vehicles for P.E.I.

The P.E.I. government plans to double the number of charging stations on the Island, Minister Steven Myers said last week. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

How much does an electric vehicle cost? It depends mostly on how far the battery will take you. Turner said several plug-in hybrid models between $30,000 and $40,000 will typically take you 40 to 70 kilometres, enough for most daily commutes, and a gas engine that'll turn on automatically for longer trips.

A lot of people just don't buy new vehicles. — Jeff Turner

For non-hybrid electric battery vehicles, there are a couple options offering a range of about 200 kilometres for under $40,000, then a number of longer range options offering about 350 to 425 kilometres for around $45,000, he said.

The P.E.I. Automobile Dealers Association said it is also happy with the new incentive program, especially the fact that it is being offered through Island dealerships.

"It is important to buy local to support our local economy. The automobile industry is a large generator of retail tax revenue for the province," said Adam Toner, the association's vice-president, in a written release.

More from CBC P.E.I.

Environmental groups' hopes shaken by N.S. premier's about-face on biodiversity bill

Wed., March 24, 2021,


HALIFAX — Nova Scotia environmental groups are saying their hopes in the new Liberal premier have been shaken by his government's about-face on legislation aimed at protecting biodiversity.

Premier Iain Rankin made environmental issues a key part of his leadership campaign, and his government in its recent throne speech declared the environment one of three policy pillars.

However, Raymond Plourde, wilderness coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre, said Wednesday the government's plan to remove enforcement provisions from the proposed law shows the province caving in to what he calls a "misinformation campaign" by the forestry industry that stirred fears among private landowners.

The Biodiversity Act tabled two weeks ago originally allowed for enforcement measures on private lands, which comprise about 70 per cent of the province's land mass, to protect endangered plants and animals, combat invasive species and preserve at-risk ecosystems.

However, in a news release late Tuesday, the government announced it is planning to remove emergency orders, offences and fines from the act and limit its scope to Crown lands, with some voluntary measures possible for private properties.

The Concerned Private Landowner Coalition, a group that includes the forestry industry, has published statements stating, "Halifax activists want to be able to control what rural property owners do on their land."

The group also said on its website in reference to the biodiversity legislation, "Bill 4 will give activists a tool they have wanted for many years to harass landowners and stop all agriculture, recreational activity, forestry, hunting and fishing on private lands."

Plourde says such statements are not true and echo tactics used in the United States to demonize environmental lobbyists.

"The reality is they've gutted half the act, which has some penalties, which has been standard issue in these kinds of legislation such as the (federal) Fisheries Act," he said.

"There's no question this hurts (Rankin's) green credibility, and he'd better deliver something awfully solid and unequivocal for the environment if he wants to regain that credibility. This is a blow."

Gretchen Fitzgerald, a spokeswoman for the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, says the campaign against the legislation means her group will have to fight harder to protect public lands to preserve species such as hemlock trees, mainland moose, peregrine falcons and Blanding's turtles.

"I think it means that perhaps he (Rankin) didn't recognize the courage this biodiversity bill would take," she said in an interview on Wednesday.

"I'm shaken. I was devastated when I saw the news release. I know what courage this takes, and I hope he will gird himself against future miscommunication campaigns."

Chuck Porter, the provincial minister of lands and forestry, defended his government's actions during a telephone news conference Wednesday, saying it is responding to private landowners' concerns.

"We as members of the legislature received a variety of feedback. The premier thought it was worthwhile to make some changes, given that was his intent to begin with," Porter said. "When you look at the emergency order (provisions) in the bill, people thought that we could come on their land, and this idea of fines made people nervous." That was not the intent, he added.

The original bill tabled on March 11 had made it an offence for a person to engage in an activity that resulted in the killing or harvesting of a species beyond what was permitted in regulations. It also prevented the introduction, release or spread of an organism or pathogen prescribed in regulations.

In addition it said no person should engage in an activity that would result in the loss of "at-risk habitat or ecosystem prescribed by regulation." The maximum fines had been set at $500,000 for an individual and $1 million for a company.

It had also allowed for an emergency order to be issued if a conservation officer had grounds to believe provisions of the law would be violated in a way that would have "serious adverse effects to biodiversity."

Porter said he thinks some private landowners will participate in parts of the bill that allow to voluntarily improve biodiversity on their properties.

As for the premier's credibility, Porter said Rankin didn't campaign for the Liberal leadership on details of the Biodiversity Act. "He has an agenda that is important and this is a step in the right direction, and I don't think there's any issue of credibility," the minister said.

Specifics of the redrafted bill have not yet been released.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2021.

Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press

Petition Calling For A Halt To Coal Mining Presented In Parliament

Wed., March 24, 2021

(ANNews) – A petition with thousands of signatures from across the country is asking the federal government to intervene against the expansion of coal mining in Alberta.

Edmonton-Strathcona NDP MP Heather McPherson presented the petition, which was launched by Latasha Calf Robe of Niitsitapi Water Protectors and has amassed more than 18,000 signatures, in the House of Commons on March 23.

I SIGNED

The petition frames opposition in terms of Treaty rights and the duty to consult with Indigenous communities.

“It’s Canada’s duty to ensure that resource exploration and development proposals meet the highest standards of consultation and involvement with Indigenous peoples in accordance with section 35 of the Constitution Act,” it says.

“Alberta failed its duty to consult. Coal exploration and development on land formerly protected under the Policy threatens the environment, species at risk, water quality and infringes upon Aboriginal and Treaty rights of First Nations from Treaties 6, 7 & 8.”

While much of the coal conversation has focused on the Alberta government’s since-backtracked removal of the province’s long standing coal policy, McPherson says there are other projects which fall outside its scope that ought to be scrutinized, such as the Grassy Mountain project.

“These Canadians are urging the environment minister to ensure that there is a fulsome assessment of the impacts of all proposed coal developments and exploration activities in the Rocky Mountains,” said McPherson in an APTN interview.

The feds should pause the Grassy Mountain project “until the cumulative impacts of all mining activity in the region have been adequately considered,” she added.

The federal government needs to step in and commit to a regional assessment of coal projects because the province has already made up its mind, said Calf Robe.

“We cannot trust the provincial government to adequately look at all those areas,” she said.

Calf Robe says it’s heartening to see support for the petition resonate across the country, with 4,000 signatories from outside Alberta.

“Seeing people stand in solidarity for the protection of First Nations rights, it really was a great experience to see that collectiveness and that solidarity,” she told APTN. “It wasn’t something I was expecting.”

McPherson also tabled a piece of legislation that would require assessments for all coal projects, rather than just those whose emissions surpass a certain threshold.

“Grassy Mountain is the thin edge of the knife,” she told the Canadian Press.

As of writing, Ottawa is involved in joint regional assessments for five projects in southwestern Alberta and southeastern B.C. Two nearby First Nations have requested Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson to engage in a sixth assessment for the Montem Resources Tent Mountain project.


Jeremy Appel , Alberta Native News

B.C. to hire 1,400 laid-off tourism, hospitality workers to help run mass immunization clinics

CBC Wed., March 24, 2021

Dr. Penny Ballem, who is leading B.C.'s immunization program, said the 1,400 furloughed workers being hired will focus on non-clinical work, including managing the thousands of people who are expected to stream through mass immunization clinics. (Chad Hipolito/Canadian Press - image credit)

British Columbia is recruiting 1,400 furloughed workers in the province's hard-hit hospitality and tourism sectors to help launch mass immunization clinics in April.

B.C. Premier John Horgan announced Wednesday that the province will hire workers from 14 organizations to perform non-clinical work in the province's immunization centres.

The companies, which have suffered significant losses and laid off workers during the pandemic, include Air Canada, WestJet, Vancouver International Airport, the Vancouver Canucks and Tourism Whistler.

Workers to focus on logistical support

Dr. Penny Ballem, who is leading the province's immunization program, said the workers will focus on logistical support, including managing the thousands of people who are expected to stream through the clinics.

The province says it will also rely on the workers' language skills.

"We are extremely grateful to have them stepping forward and bringing their incredible skills around welcoming people," Ballem said.

People are pictured lined up to receive their COVID-19 vaccination at a clinic in the Fraser Health region of Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday.(Ben Nelms/CBC)

The companies have already started to call and train hundreds of staff to work in the immunization clinics, according to Ballem, who said she's heard from seniors who have received their vaccine and been "delighted" with their experience.

"They've been received with such compassion and such care," she said.

Other groups in the program include the B.C. Pavilion Corporation, Ceres Terminals Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, the Fraser Valley Bandits, Pacific Destinations Services, the Pacific National Exhibition and the Vancouver Giants.

Horgan said the workers will be paid by the companies, with the province topping up some salaries.

'Unacceptable rise' in cases

Horgan also urged British Columbians to continue following public health orders from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, citing the "unacceptable rise" in cases in the province.

"We have to continue following the directions of Dr. Henry," he said. "The public health orders are not there to be punitive. They are there to keep us safe."

Horgan said Henry will share more details Thursday on how the province intends to manage visits in long-term care facilities, where the majority of staff and residents have now been vaccinated.

The premier also said he received assurances from Ottawa on Wednesday that the province will continue to receive vaccine shipments.

It follows reports that the European Union is considering export restrictions for the next six weeks and India is temporarily holding back shipments of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine

"We're assured by the prime minister's office that it's full steam ahead," Horgan said.

"We're going to continue to take our direction from those who are procuring the vaccines for all Canadians and that's the federal government."

WATCH | B.C.'s provincial health officer says data shows AstraZeneca vaccine is safe: B.C. to hire 1,400 laid-off tourism, hospitality workers to help run mass immunization clinics (yahoo.com)

Horgan said Ballem and Henry are in regular contact with their provincial counterparts to ensure there's suitable vaccine supply in the province.

Ballem noted the province has set up more than 150 clinics and feels "confident" with the rollout.

Vaccine timeline accelerates

Health officials announced Tuesday that another 200,000 people who have serious medical conditions would be able to book a shot sooner than expected, starting on Monday.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says "tremendous progress'' has been made in the age-based vaccine program, allowing the government to move those who are at increased health risk up the queue.

People with various forms of cancer, transplant recipients, those with severe respiratory problems, kidney disease and other conditions will get a letter in the mail to take to their appointment.

The age-based schedule is also being accelerated, with those age 76 and older able to book appointments starting at noon Wednesday.

Horgan said B.C. was considering giving workers in the province paid time off to go and get their vaccine, just as they get paid time off to go vote in an election.

Saskatchewan is currently the only province offering employees paid time away to get their shot.

QUEBEC

Environmental risks outweigh potential gains when it comes to Saguenay LNG plant, report finds


 CBC Wed., March 24, 2021

The BAPE report concludes the risks associated with a plant in a region

 that is home to endangered species are too great. (Julia Page/CBC - image credit)

Quebec's environmental review board says the benefits of a multi-billion-dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in the Saguenay do not outweigh the environmental and social costs associated with it.

The 500-page report by the BAPE (Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement) states there is already significant global competition for LNG production and exportation, so the Saguenay project may not even be needed by the time construction is finished and the plant is up and running.

The report goes on to state the highly polarizing GNL Québec project has garnered the greatest response of any BAPE review, with more than 2,500 briefs presented at last year's hearings.

Two massive intertwined projects — the Gazoduc pipeline that will run from northern Ontario through the Abitibi and to the Saguenay, and the GNL Québec transformation plant in the Port of Saguenay — are being touted by proponents as an economic booster, job creator, and environmental innovator.

They say it will be one of the greenest LNG plants in the world, that it's possible to protect the region's endangered beluga whales from the effects of passing tanker ships through the Saguenay Fjord, and that the plant itself would be carbon neutral.

But the BAPE report is recommending the government take extra care to consider the risks to marine life, specifically the area's beluga whale population, before making any decision about the project.

It also states the company didn't provide any guarantees that exporting LNG from the Saguenay Fjord to international markets would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, and it questioned the global demand for natural gas in the coming decades.

GNL Québec interim president Tony LeVerger said the company plans to tackle the BAPE's recommendations and answer its questions.

"Even though you can see some conclusions that may be a bit harsh at the end, as you get into the details and the contents, you realize it's a lot more balanced," he said.

LeVerger added the BAPE is not rejecting the project, but rather giving the company a nuanced and fair list of homework.

"As a company, we are optimistic we will be able to do it," he said.

Company still has work to do: environment minister

Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette said there are three main criteria against which his department is evaluating the project: its social acceptability, its ability to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and its contribution to a worldwide transition toward green energy.

"The report does not allow for the conclusion that one or more of those three conditions will be respected, so the ball is really in the promoter's court," he said.

Charette said the report is an important step in the environmental review of a project, but pointed out that the BAPE does not approve or reject projects, it only makes recommendations. The government has the final say.

Energy expert Pierre-Olivier Pineau said the report was more negative than he'd anticipated, and that it does a good job of outlining the opposing views of the project.

But he added the BAPE should have limited itself to environmental analysis, instead of adding an economic one.

"I don't see a bright future for the project," he said. "And I think for politicians, the BAPE report will be a clear indication that it is too sensitive to give the OK."

But Pineau explained he agrees with GNL Quebec that natural gas could in fact play a role in the energy transition.

"In terms of the global greenhouse gas assessments, [the BAPE is] leaning on the extremely conservative side," he said. "So I wouldn't say it's entirely fair, because they are presenting the worst case scenario as the one that should be taken into account."

Environmental groups react

Adrien Guibert-Barthez of Coalition Fjord — a citizens' coalition working for ecological stability in the region — said he's "very happy" with the BAPE's summation of the project.

"The assessment confirmed all the claims and positions of environmental groups about greenhouse gases and the impact on whales, specifically," he said.

"We should not have to debate whether or not we should construct more pipelines," he added. "We should talk about how we can transition from fossil fuels to green energy."

The director of Nature Quebec, Alice-Anne Simard, called the report "devastating" for the LNG project and said she hopes it will give the government everything it needs to reject it.

"The quicker we can put this project aside and say 'no', the quicker we can start all working together to put in place the green transition that we need," she said.

Simard also said the project is a non-starter, and she doesn't believe there's any way for the company to fix it, because, in her view, it is an inherently bad idea.

"This is not a good project for Quebec, this is not a good project for the world, and the government doesn't need any more information, they can say 'no' to this project right away," she said.

This report focuses primarily on the $9-billion LNG plant and marine terminal at the Port of Saguenay, while the $5-billion Gazoduc pipeline will be evaluated separately.

52% of Quebecers reject planned natural gas project: poll

Wed., March 24, 2021

Opposition to a Quebec natural gas project is rising, according to a new poll, with 52 per cent of people in the province saying they’re against the GNL Québec project.

The multibillion-dollar plan includes three things: a 750-kilometre-long gas pipeline by Gazoduq; a gas liquefaction plant by Énergie Saguenay; and a super-methane ship export terminal. It would take fracked natural gas from northern B.C. and Alberta through already built pipelines to Ontario, ultimately sending liquefied natural gas to foreign markets, such as Europe and Asia.

Using the Saguenay Fjord, which runs through a national park in Quebec, the LNG tankers would put endangered beluga whales and other marine populations at risk, say environmental groups such as Greenpeace.

The Léger poll, conducted between March 19 and March 21, compared data from the same survey question asked in November: "Are you in favour or against this project?" In four months, opposition jumped six points, from the original 46 per cent opposed, the poll found. Opposition was strongest among 18- to 34-year-olds, with 59 per cent against. Six per cent of those surveyed across the province said they felt “very favourable” about the project.

Coalition Fjord, the Rouyn-Noranda Anti-Pipeline Coalition, Eau Secours, Équiterre, the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace, Nature Québec and the Regroupement vigilance hydrocarbures Québec commissioned the survey, which has a maximum margin of error for the sample of 1,002 respondents of plus or minus 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

“... There is no doubt that support for GNL Quebec continues to melt away and that the project does not meet the criteria of social licence,” said the groups in a statement.

“The survey results also show that the more people know about the project, the more they are opposed to it. The Legault government must take note of this and categorically reject GNL Quebec.”

It’s not just the public that’s speaking out against the project. The Quebec Liberal Party, the Parti Québécois and Québec Solidaire, representing 58 per cent of the electorate, have all voiced their opposition.

Public awareness of the project is also up. Now, 42 per cent of people in Quebec say they’ve heard of the project, compared to 31 per cent during November’s poll. That’s thanks to growing mobilization, says Alice-Anne Simard of Nature Québec.

“So for us, it's a clear sign that the project is not welcome in Quebec,” she said.

The poll comes before the release of an environmental assessment report from the Bureau d'audiences publique sur l’environnement (BAPE), which has been collecting feedback specifically on the liquefaction plant, set to be built in Saguenay. It’s Simard’s hope that the feedback from the report, combined with the results from the poll, will prompt the cancellation of the gas project.

“And for us, we want to send a clear message to the government that when the report is published, that they should quickly say no to the project,” said Simard.

Cloe Logan / Local Journalism Initiative/ Canada’s National Observer

 

 

David Suzuki on why climate change is a bigger threat than COVID-19

Wed., March 24, 2021, 8:30 p.m.

David Suzuki talks to Andrew Chang about climate change being a bigger threat to human survival than the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in anti-Asian racism.

VIDEO

David Suzuki on why climate change is a bigger threat than COVID-19 (yahoo.com)

GREEN CAPITALI$M MUST BE A JUST TRANSITION 

Alberta's oil and gas workers wrestle with layoffs and an uncharted future

CBC Mon., March 22, 2021

About 15,500 workers in the oil and gas sector were actively looking for employment last month, according to PetroLMI, which compiles labour statistics on the industry. Reclamation of old oil and gas wells, like the work being done by Performance Energy Services in this 2019 image, could employ some energy workers in coming years. (Kyle Bakx/CBC - image credit)More

Growing up in Scotland, Jim Stirling chose a life in petroleum engineering rather than down in a mine, escaping the tumultuous decline of the British coal industry in the 1980s.

It led him to Canada, where he built a career tackling complex projects for major oil companies, from offshore exploration to carbon capture and storage. He took pride in being among the relative few able to do such work.

These days, however, Stirling is among the many oil and gas workers who've lost their jobs in the last seven years. He now runs his own consultancy while looking for work, but the job market has been rough.

"I was in my early mid-50s when I got laid off, and that's the wrong age to be looking for new employment," said Stirling, who was part of a wave of job cuts in the sector in 2015.

"And more senior positions had been more or less wiped out just because there was no real large-scale development ongoing."

Amid global efforts to transition away from fossil fuels, Alberta is not only being challenged to help put oil and gas workers back to work but to carve out a future in a low-emissions world that supports employment and communities for decades to come.

Calgary petroleum engineer and consultant Jim Stirling says the job market in the oilpatch has been 'very difficult.'(Jim Stirling)

Industry and workers in transition

At the end of 2013, before oil prices began a long slide the following year, more than 171,000 people in Alberta were directly employed by the oil and gas industry, according to labour force statistics compiled by PetroLMI. This past February, it was fewer than 135,000.

According to PetroLMI, there were more than 15,500 workers in the oil and gas sector actively looking for employment last month.

"We talk about them as statistics, but they're people; they're family members," said labour expert Janet Lane at the Canada West Foundation, a public policy think tank in Calgary.

At the end of 2013, before oil prices began a long slide the following year, more than 171,000 people in Alberta were directly employed by the oil and gas industry, according to PetroLMI. This past February, the number was fewer than 135,000.(CBC)More

Improving energy prices have raised hopes for the kind of spending that will put people to work, especially if fuel demand soars as the pandemic abates.

But the recent cancellation of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline cost a 1,000 pipeline workers, their jobs and there's ongoing consolidation within the sector. Cenovus's takeover of Husky Energy, for example, is expected to produce as many as 2,100 layoffs.

Advances in technology mean more can also be done with fewer people.

While the oilpatch remains an economic force in Alberta, it's an industry facing great change.

Janet Lane is director of the Human Capital Centre at the Canada West Foundation, a public policy think tank based in Calgary.(Canada West Foundation)

Lane said it's still taking some time for people to understand many of those jobs aren't coming back and, when they do, they may not be the same jobs or might come with lower salary.

While there's still going to be work in the oilpatch for a long time, she said, those who have been unemployed for a few years now are probably not returning.

So, what are their options?

Tech ambitions

Jobs in the technology sector are often touted as one possible answer, and there are opportunities for those who can make the transition, including with companies working in fields such as financial services, agriculture and energy.

It'll take not just opportunity but training, and it appears there's a big appetite for both.

When Calgary Economic Development launched a $1.5-million pilot program last year to train former oil and gas workers for the tech sector, it received 1,400 applications for 100 spots.

Many see government investment in upgrading skills and retraining as key.

When Calgary Economic Development launched a $1.5-million pilot program last year to train former oil and gas workers for the tech sector, it received 1,400 applications for 100 spots.(Marcio Jose Sanchez/The Associated Press)

But governments will also have to keep diversifying the economy to help create new opportunities, said Mark Kopec, a former oilpatch engineer.

Kopec chose to leave the sector four years ago in his 30s to pursue a career as a software developer, deciding to uproot from Calgary temporarily to immerse himself in training in Silicon Valley. It also meant going from being a senior engineer to starting fresh in the junior ranks.

He's glad he made the move, landing a good job shortly after returning to Calgary. Still, he agrees that such changes aren't going to be easy for everyone.

"A lot of people feel most comfortable in what they've done well at; it's tough to make that change," Kopec said. "And especially in your mid-30s, going into a tech career, which felt like a young person's game. It's scary."

Early days for emerging sectors

When reservoir engineer Januar Wirawan was laid off by a major oil company in October 2019, his first instinct was to find another job within the sector where he'd built his career.

It was the first time in his working life that he didn't "bounce back better."

"I was looking for another position like the one that I had," he said. "That's where I got stuck. I was looking for a reservoir engineering position in oil and gas. And I couldn't find anything."

Former oilpatch engineer Januar Wirawan now works in the hydrogen sector.(Januar Wirawan)

He had to learn to market the soft skills he'd developed, such as leadership and mentoring, and turned to an outplacement firm, Higher Landing, for help.

Wirawan ultimately found success — hired in February by a Calgary company that's working on producing hydrogen from oil fields while keeping the emissions below ground.

"I made the first step," said Wirawan, who'll be 55 this year. "I got this job, and now, the next phase is trying to contribute to this industry."

Wirawan is an example of someone who found work in one of the sectors focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels to other energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Significant wind and solar projects and geothermal energy development that are underway could provide job opportunities for traditional oil and gas workers.

But labour experts say when politicians or others suggest fossil fuel workers should simply move into "green" energy jobs, they misunderstand the complexities.

"We have huge potential with our oil and gas workforce to support the overall energy transition, but we're in early days, and that's going to have to mature," said Pat Hufnagel-Smith, a labour market consultant in Calgary.

Potential areas for growth include lithium, hydrogen development and helium. 

A $50-million geothermal power plant under construction near Estevan, Sask., in 2018. Alberta is also looking to grow its geothermal sector.(Submitted by Exergy)

While there are a lot of opportunities, she said, some of those sectors are still emerging, and it will take time to prove out which ones are going to be economically feasible.

"The economy is transitioning. The energy ecosystem is transitioning," Hufnagel-Smith said. " At the same time, we're trying to deal with a workforce that's transitioning [that] doesn't necessarily have the time or want to wait until those sectors get some traction."

Jobs are also expected to be created in the environmental sector, driven by investment in clean technology, emissions reduction and renewable energy.

Eco Canada, a national human resource organization based in Calgary, forecast in September that the net number of openings in that sector — including new jobs and replacement demand — could top 44,000 in Alberta by 2029.

Nationally, it expects there will be 233,500 net job openings in the environmental sector over that period.

The reclaiming of old oil and gas wells, in which Ottawa invested $1.7 billion last year, also offers job opportunities.

Hopes for the oilpatch

Some Albertans will continue to look to the oil and gas sector to drive both the economy and employment, much as it has done for decades. They'll say the oilpatch has had to reinvent itself before.

In addition to expectations for a post-COVID surge in fuel demand, there's optimism about export pipelines to the West Coast for both oil and liquefied natural gas.

Inter Pipeline Ltd.'s Heartland Petrochemical Complex just east of Edmonton. The roughly $4-billion project is designed to use propane to make polypropylene, a high-value plastic. The Alberta government has committed to growing the petrochemical sector, which could be a source of jobs for those in the oil sector who are now out of work.(Inter Pipeline Ltd.)

A number of oil and gas companies have pledged to reach net-zero emission by 2050 — promises that'll require the focus, money and people with the expertise to achieve it.

To that end, some are looking to investments in carbon capture and storage to be the game changer for the sector that Premier Jason Kenney believes it can be, though not everyone sees it that way.

Others see big potential in blue hydrogen from natural gas as well as the petrochemical sector, which the government wants to grow dramatically by 2030.

Planning for an energy transition

Talk of the energy transition, however, appears only to be growing more urgent, particularly as U.S. President Joe Biden joins efforts to combat climate change.

As part of an international panel discussion on the energy transition last Tuesday, Canada's natural resources minister said the global effort to lower emissions is underway. But Seamus O'Regan said the world won't become oil-free overnight and it's incumbent upon governments to make sure traditional energy workers aren't left behind.

"Our energy workers here in this country, out in Alberta and Saskatchewan, in two generations figured out how to get oil out of sand," O'Regan said. "We need that same ingenuity and determination and work ethic now to lower emissions."

Federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan says the world won't become oil-free overnight and it's incumbent upon governments to make sure traditional energy workers aren't left behind.(Mark Quinn/ CBC)

Economist Jim Stanford, director of the Centre for Future Work, a progressive think tank based in Vancouver, B.C., said what the government should do is make a plan to phase out the fossil fuel sector that prioritizes workers and communities.

"We aren't doing any favours for fossil fuel workers by pretending this [transition] isn't happening, and I think all Canadians owe a debt to the fossil fuel workers who have been working diligently in this industry," said the former policy director for Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union.

In a recent report for the advocacy group Environmental Defence, he suggested a series of focused support measures as part of a planned phase-out of the sector over 20 years, including incentives for early retirement, retraining and strong regional development and diversification strategies.

"If we identify the climate transition and the energy transition as a national priority, then we should be putting resources in it from all levels of government in Canada, and we can focus it on those communities that need the help the most," Stanford said.

Looking to the future

Thinking about his own future, engineer Stirling can spot the opportunity for better days in the areas he's targeting for employment, such as carbon capture and storage.

"In the same way that we're developing technologies to handle climate change, we need to be developing skill sets that do the same and skill sets that address future industrial needs."

In the meantime, he said it doesn't hurt to be a Calvinist Scotsman.

"I've kind of tended to be able to be careful with my money," Stirling said. "I'm just having to be a lot more careful with my money than I thought."

Alberta has seen growth in renewable energy generation, such as this wind farm near Pincher Creek, Alta., in recent years. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

WE PRODUCE THE MOST ALTERNATIVE ENERGY (PRIVATE WIND AND SOLAR, NOW GEOTHERMAL AS WELL)OF ANY PROVINCE IN CANADA