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CityNews Halifax

Pensions need to step up on climate as political momentum wavers: Shift

TORONTO — An advocacy group is calling on Canada’s public pension managers to use their financial heft to more publicly work to reduce climate change as political efforts become less reliable. ...
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TORONTO — An advocacy group is calling on Canada’s public pension managers to use their financial heft to more publicly work to reduce climate change as political efforts become less reliable.

Shift Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health says in a report that Canada’s big pensions need to recognize the power and influence they wield and to more actively use it as U.S. President Donald Trump unravels momentum on climate action and a Canadian carbon tax policy looks to be on the way out.

The group’s executive director Adam Scott says political backsliding only increases the urgent need for financial leadership to fill the void.

Shift’s report assesses the climate commitments of 11 of Canada’s largest pension managers and finds most are making some progress but it’s concerned about the pace as well as the backsliding by some.

It says Quebec’s CDPQ is still the leader of the pack, including through its full divestment of coal and oil assets, while the Alberta Investment Management Corp. received a failing grade for its apparent politicization and failure to set climate targets.

The group also calls out the CPPIB, Canada’s largest pension fund, for its lack of interim climate targets and its growing portfolio of oil and gas assets without showing how the holdings have a decarbonization pathway.

CPPIB has pushed back against divestment calls, saying it is working with oil and gas companies to reduce emissions while maintaining needed access to energy.

The report card, which gave CDPQ a B+, CPPIB a C- and AIMCo an F, also gave high marks to the Investment Management Corp. of Ontario and University Pension Plan, while the British Columbia Investment Management Corp. and Public Sector Pension Investment Board came in on the low end.

The report says that while pension funds have tended to avoid controversy, it’s time to graduate from building capacity to leading the way.

Scott says pensions need to think long term as their funds require a stable climate to fulfil their mandates.

“The climate crisis is subject to the laws of physics and not to four-year election cycles.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 19, 2025.

Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press

2 hours ago

Prince George Citizen

Looking to identify and shop Canadian products? There's an app for that

TORONTO — If you catch Sasha Ivanov at the supermarket these days, chances are he'll be snapping a photo of something on the store's shelves.

2 hours ago

CityNews Halifax

Looking to identify and shop Canadian products? There’s an app for that

TORONTO — If you catch Sasha Ivanov at the supermarket these days, chances are he’ll be snapping a photo of something on the store’s shelves. His new app, Maple Scan, helps shoppers iden ...
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TORONTO — If you catch Sasha Ivanov at the supermarket these days, chances are he’ll be snapping a photo of something on the store’s shelves.

His new app, Maple Scan, helps shoppers identify Canadian products by analyzing photographs of products to provide details about where they were made and whether they meet the government criteria for being labelled “product of Canada” or “made in Canada.”

When the app detects a product from outside the country, it offers users a list of homegrown alternatives.

“Right now, when I go to the grocery store, ultimately, I don’t really know what is Canadian or not or even any information about the company and their backgrounds,” the Calgary-based computer science researcher said about the app’s inspiration.

“The question of what makes the product Canadian is actually kind of challenging and that’s what I was hoping to solve with this.”

The app he created joins a growing group of services that have cropped up in a matter of weeks with one goal: helping people support homegrown brands.

The impetus behind most of them was the souring relations between Canada and the U.S., which has been threatening to impose massive tariffs.

Under U.S. President Donald Trump’s current plans, all Canadian goods will face 25 per cent duties starting next month, while energy will also see a 10 per cent tariff. Around the same time, steel and aluminum originating from anywhere outside the U.S. will also rack up 25 per cent tariffs.

Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to retaliate, but many Canadians aren’t waiting for certainty before making changes. Instead, they’re eschewing American goods in favour of domestic alternatives starting now.

But figuring out what’s Canadian is both difficult and “nuanced,” said Christopher Dip, who co-founded the Montreal-based Buy Beaver app with Alexandre Hamila.

Some products, for example, are made in Canada but with ingredients from other countries. Other items were made by Canadian companies outside the country and many were produced by foreign-headquartered multinationals in Canada.

As Dip and Hamila have learned, where something is made isn’t always clear from the packaging and who owns the company can change without the average shopper really noticing.

One example they stumbled across is Kicking Horse Coffee. The brand got its start in Invermere, B.C., but in 2017, Italian coffee giant Lavazza took an 80 per cent stake in the brand.

The Buy Beaver app aims to help shoppers sort through such confusion by relying on crowdsourcing. Scanning an item’s barcode through their app produces three ratings — one each for the company’s manufacturing location, materials and ingredients, and brand ownership.

The higher each score is, the more users there are who voted on it being Canadian.

“We know there are some errors but most of the time, it’s going to be right,” Dip said.

Maple Scan, which leverages artificial intelligence to infer and synthesize information about products, is also imperfect.

While the app got the details of several products right, it told The Canadian Press last week that a bottle of French’s ketchup was prepared in Canada, which is true, but by Swiss Chalet- and Harvey’s-owner Recipe Unlimited, which is wrong. French’s is, in fact, made by U.S.-based McCormick & Company.

Ivanov has since begun working to fix these issues by programming its AI to cross-reference supplementary online sources. He’s also mused about boosting the precision again by eventually building a curated database of products and allowing users to vote on the accuracy of each entry.

Edmonton software developers William Boytinck and Matthew Suddaby are relying on crowdsourcing to power their Shop Canadian app.

Users judge how Canadian a product is by doling out up to five maple leaves. An item with five maple leaves must be produced in Canada with all its parts coming from within the country.

Boytinck admits the method has its errors, but said, “the more people use it, the more accurate it gets.”

And so far, a lot of people are using it. The app recently crossed the 100,000 downloads mark as of last week.

“Our original goal was just to help a few keep a couple hundred dollars in Canada,” he said. “It’s a simple idea and we’ve just exploded.”

Ivanov has had a similar experience. Maple Scan had 2,000 downloads last week and the userbase is growing.

Most who have adopted the app are opening it several times a day and scanning everything from grocery store staples to electronics, makeup and even store fronts, he said.

What they’re learning may already be shaping their purchasing decisions.

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. CEO Per Bank said Friday that his grocery chains noticed a 7.5 per cent increase in sales of products prepared in Canada after the tariff spat intensified.

That increase reached double digits last week and is particularly pronounced in the dairy and frozen food categories, he wrote on LinkedIn.

While it’s unclear if the apps contributed to such sales, Ivanov is just pleased to see people’s interest in buying Canadian climbing.

“It’s been wonderful and I am just so excited that this is something that people are finding helpful,” he said.

— With files from Aaron Sousa in Edmonton.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2025.

Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press

2 hours ago

CityNews Halifax

Clean energy transition must be key for next Ontario government: report

TORONTO — The next Ontario government should take the lead in encouraging urgent expansion of interprovincial electricity transmission while ensuring it advances a transition to a clean economy, a n ...
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TORONTO — The next Ontario government should take the lead in encouraging urgent expansion of interprovincial electricity transmission while ensuring it advances a transition to a clean economy, a new report by the Pembina Institute said Wednesday.

Reducing interprovincial barriers could open up new markets for Ontario’s electricity that are insulated from ongoing trade uncertainty with the United States, the report said.

Ontario and the rest of Canada face a “new economic reality” highlighted by the threat of a prolonged trade dispute with the U.S., said the report published by the clean energy think tank. Yet, regardless of how those threats materialize, the report suggests a “major economic realignment” has started and Ontario must find a new path to ensure its economy is insulated against future shocks.

“The takeaway for Ontario is clear: developing a clean energy economy has the potential to make Ontarians’ lives more affordable and their homes and cities healthier and more comfortable, and to create new sectors and jobs,” the report said.

The report underlines some of the recent trends in Ontario’s electricity grid, electric vehicle manufacturing and purchasing, and building emissions before it offers a suite of recommendations on what reforms the next provincial government could pursue on a path to a lower-emissions economy.

There are some promising signs, the report said. Notably, the province initiated the largest ever battery storage procurement in Canada last year and recently approved a nearly $11 billion multi-year investment to help electricity consumers manage their use and costs.

But the report warned of possible pitfalls. While Ontario’s coal phaseout helped drop electricity emissions, the trajectory flipped in recent years.

The province’s grid went from 94 per cent emissions-free in 2020 to 87 per cent in 2024. That trend is set to continue due to forecasted growth in gas generation as the province refurbishes its nuclear generating stations, the report said.

“Not only does this risk undermining the province’s clean-grid progress, it exposes Ontarians to the price volatility and energy security threats from an overreliance on fossil fuel imports,” the report said.

It suggests the next government should open up more areas of the province for possible solar projects, including prime agricultural lands, and ensure the provincial regulator and energy operator both have clear mandates to support the “rapid and ambitious electrification” of the economy.

While Ontario has made several major investments to help attract new electric vehicle manufacturers, the report suggests its domestic EV market still lags behind other provinces in the absence of more consumer-side policies. It has fewer chargers per capita than Canada’s national average and does not offer EV purchase rebates, unlike some other provinces.

Meanwhile, as people expand their search for affordable homes, they are facing longer commuters and higher transportation costs, the report said. It suggests EVs can save a driver thousands of dollars compared to a gas-powered vehicle on the full cost of ownership over a decade, despite the higher upfront cost in some cases.

“Helping consumers overcome that upfront cost is a key policy. Reducing the barriers to actually owning and operating an electric vehicle is really important and there’s a lot the government can do to encourage more infrastructure,” said Chris Severson-Baker, Pembina Institute’s executive director.

The report suggests the province could bring in income-tested purchase incentives for some EVs and develop a plan for a provincewide charging network. It suggests Ontario could also kick-start manufacturing of electric school buses to replace roughly 20,000 diesel-powered vehicles and capitalize on what could be a growing North American market.

Meanwhile, a major driver of emissions in Ontario comes from heating and powering homes, offices and other buildings. Nearly a quarter of Ontario’s emissions comes from space and water heating provided by fossil fuels, the report noted.

In response, it suggests Ontario continue to invest in programs that help people afford energy efficient home retrofits. It also recommended revising the Ontario Building Code to require parking spaces in new residential buildings be EV-ready.

It also suggests Ontario incentivize and regulate disconnection of gas infrastructure from new builds.

Yet, the government recently stepped in to block a decision by the regulator on who should pay for new natural gas connections. The government last year overruled an Ontario Energy Board’s decision to put building developers, not ratepayers, on the hook for costs of new gas connections.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 19, 2025.

Jordan Omstead, The Canadian Press

2 hours ago

Prince George Citizen

Crown seeking 10-year sentence for 'Freedom Convoy' organizer Pat King

OTTAWA — Pat King, one of the organizers of the 2022 convoy protest in Ottawa, is set to be sentenced in an Ottawa courtroom today.

2 hours ago

CityNews Halifax

Crown seeking 10-year sentence for ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizer Pat King

OTTAWA — Pat King, one of the organizers of the 2022 convoy protest in Ottawa, is set to be sentenced in an Ottawa courtroom today. Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland found King guilty on five ...
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OTTAWA — Pat King, one of the organizers of the 2022 convoy protest in Ottawa, is set to be sentenced in an Ottawa courtroom today.

Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland found King guilty on five counts in November, including mischief and disobeying a court order.

King was found not guilty on three counts of intimidation and one count of obstructing police.

The Crown is seeking a sentence of 10 years for King — the maximum penalty.

His defence is asking for time served and probation, since King spent about five months in jail after his initial arrest in February 2022 before being granted bail.

He spent another week behind bars last summer after the Crown alleged he breached his bail conditions.

The ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest saw hundreds of trucks and thousands of people gridlock downtown Ottawa for about three weeks in the winter of 2022 to protest public health mandates introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The protest spread to include blockades at Canada-U. S. border crossings at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., and in Coutts, Alta.

On Feb. 14, 2022, the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time ever to end the protest. The act gave law enforcement extraordinary powers to remove and arrest protesters and gave the government the power to freeze the finances of those connected to the protests.

The temporary emergency powers also gave authorities the ability to commandeer tow trucks to remove vehicles belonging to protesters.

A four-day police operation began on Feb. 18, 2022 to end the protest that had taken over downtown Ottawa.

The emergency declaration was lifted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Feb. 23, 2022.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 19, 2025.

David Baxter, The Canadian Press

2 hours ago

CBC London

Cutting U.S. foreign aid funding will hurt world's poorest, London researchers say

Cutting off money for programs that help get medicine, food, and other necessities to the world's most vulnerable people could lead to thousands of deaths and allow destabilizing forces to gain contro ...
More ...Protesters hold signs outside of the White House.

Cutting off money for programs that help get medicine, food, and other necessities to the world's most vulnerable people could lead to thousands of deaths and allow destabilizing forces to gain control in volatile parts of the world, London-based researchers say.

2 hours ago

CBC London

In rural Ontario where health-care is hurting, voters decry PC candidates missing debates

Access to health care has been a headline-making issue in the rural ridings of Huron-Bruce and Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, leaving some to wonder why PC candidates in those ridings have skipped recent all- ...
More ...Residents of the Walkerton, Ont., region line up to register for a new family doctor at an event hosted by the Legion on Jan. 15, 2025.

Access to health care has been a headline-making issue in the rural ridings of Huron-Bruce and Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, leaving some to wonder why PC candidates in those ridings have skipped recent all-candidates debates on the issue.

2 hours ago

Canadian Affairs

EU lawmakers warn Europe cannot ‘rely on’ U.S.

Read: 2 minEU lawmakers on Tuesday demanded Europe “double down” on bolstering its defences and supporting Ukraine after the United States launched efforts with Russia to stop the war.&# ...
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President Donald J. Trump and
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EU lawmakers on Tuesday demanded Europe “double down” on bolstering its defences and supporting Ukraine after the United States launched efforts with Russia to stop the war.

“Europe can no longer fully rely on the United States to defend our shared values and interests, including continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said a statement from the European People’s Party, Socialists and Democrats, Renew and Greens.

“We must face this new reality and double down on our joint European effort in defence of Ukraine and European security as a whole by establishing a credible and strong deterrence against any aggression.”

The call for action came after top U.S. officials met Russian negotiators in Saudi Arabia to lay the ground for talks on ending Moscow’s three-year war on Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sidelined Washington’s allies and upended Western efforts by reaching out to Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Lawmakers said the EU must “ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible military position” and should enact legislation allowing it to seize over 200 billion € (US$210 billion) of Russian assets frozen in the bloc.

“There can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine and the European Union at the table. There can be no negotiation about European security without the European Union,” they said.

The head-spinning moves from Washington have been coupled with suggestions from U.S. officials that American troops could be redeployed out of Europe.

“The European Union and its Member States have no choice but to take immediate action, with NATO and likeminded non-EU allies, to invest in a more efficient and integrated European security and defence architecture,” the lawmakers said.

“Our Groups recognize the sense of urgency and the need to act swiftly to secure the necessary funding for our defence policy.”

European nations have ramped up defence spending since Russia launched its war on Ukraine in 2022 but admit they must move much faster to face the threat from Putin.

The EU fears that if Trump cuts a bad deal behind their backs with the Kremlin, then it will leave them facing an emboldened and heavily armed Russia.

The post EU lawmakers warn Europe cannot ‘rely on’ U.S. appeared first on CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

2 hours ago

Canadian Affairs

Energy prices push up Canada January inflation to 1.9%

Read: < 1 minCanada’s inflation rose 0.1 per cent to 1.9 per cent in January, led by higher gasoline and natural gas prices, said Statistics Canada on Tuesday.Although core inflation measur ...
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focused young woman refueling car
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Canada’s inflation rose 0.1 per cent to 1.9 per cent in January, led by higher gasoline and natural gas prices, said Statistics Canada on Tuesday.

Although core inflation measures were “a little stronger than anticipated,” commented CIBC Economics analyst Andrew Grantham, the overall prices hike was in line with forecasts.

Prices at the pump increased 8.6 per cent year-over-year while natural gas cost 4.8 per cent more.

These price increases were partly offset by lower prices for food and some consumer goods targeted by a recent temporary tax break, according to Statistics Canada.

The agency said the cost of buying new passenger vehicles edged up for the first time in eight months. Mortgage interest costs and rents, as well as property taxes, also rose.

Canadians paid less for restaurant meals, alcoholic beverages, telephone services, air transportation, and toys and games.

The post Energy prices push up Canada January inflation to 1.9% appeared first on CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

2 hours ago

Canadian Affairs

Canada beat Finland to set up USA ice hockey grudge clash

Read: 2 minCanada set up another politically charged ice hockey grudge match against the United States on Monday by beating Finland 5-3 to reach the final of the NHL Four Nations tournament.Two days ...
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black and red framed eyeglasses
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Canada set up another politically charged ice hockey grudge match against the United States on Monday by beating Finland 5-3 to reach the final of the NHL Four Nations tournament.

Two days after suffering a bruising 3-1 loss to the U.S. in a chaotic clash in Montreal, Canada ensured they would have a chance to avenge that loss against the Americans in Thursday’s final in Boston.

Saturday’s first meeting between Canada and the U.S. descended into mayhem within seconds of the puck being dropped, with three fistfights breaking out in the first nine seconds.

That tumultuous opening came after Canada’s home fans had drowned out the U.S. national anthem with a cacophony of boos — reflecting the bitter political tensions between the two neighbours following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canadian goods.

Trump has also repeatedly called for Canada to become the “51st state” of the United States, and routinely refers to Canada’s outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau.”

Canada’s players meanwhile said Monday they are relishing the chance of another crack at the Americans after Saturday’s ill-tempered tussle.

“The last thing we wanted was to go home today,” Canadian centre Nathan MacKinnon said. “We’d love to play them [the Americans] again — we feel like we could beat those guys. We plan on playing a little better Thursday.”

Team-mate Sam Reinhart echoed MacKinnon’s comments.

“That’s what you want, you want an opportunity to play those guys again. Today that’s what we gave ourselves a chance to do,” Reinhart said.

“We expect the same atmosphere. You try and learn from what went well and what went wrong and hopefully we’ll come out on the right side.”

Canada needed a win in regulation against the Finns at Boston’s TD Garden on Monday to be certain of reaching Thursday’s final.

That outcome was all but guaranteed after first-period goals from Connor McDavid, MacKinnon, and Brayden Point fired Canada into an early 3-0 lead.

MacKinnon doubled his tally after scoring in the second period to put Canada 4-0 up.

Finland pulled a goal back from Esa Lindell before a quickfire brace from Mikael Granlund made it 4-3 to set up a nervy finale.

But veteran Canada star Sidney Crosby rifled a shot into an empty net in the final minute to give the Canadians a two-goal winning cushion.

The post Canada beat Finland to set up USA ice hockey grudge clash appeared first on CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

2 hours ago

Canadian Affairs

Dancing turtles show how animals use magnetic field as a map

Read: 2 minDancing turtles have proved for the first time that some animals use Earth’s magnetic field to create a personal map of their favourite spots, scientists said Wednesday.Some animals ...
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sea turtle swimming underwater
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Dancing turtles have proved for the first time that some animals use Earth’s magnetic field to create a personal map of their favourite spots, scientists said Wednesday.

Some animals that migrate across the globe — such as birds, salmon, lobsters, and sea turtles — are known to navigate using the magnetic field lines that stretch from Earth’s north to south pole.

Scientists knew the animals used this magnetic information as a compass to establish where they were. Now they increasingly believe the turtles are also able to plot a magnetic map featuring important places such as nesting or feeding spots.

This would require the migratory animals to “learn the magnetic coordinates of the destination,” according to a study in the journal Nature led by Kayla Goforth of the University of North Carolina.

The study said the research provides the first “direct evidence that an animal can learn and remember the natural magnetic signature of a geographical area.”

Exactly how they manage this remains unknown.

The researchers found that the turtles’ talent for map-making was separate from their inner compass, suggesting that the two forms of “magnetoreception” work in different ways.

For the experiment, the scientists put young loggerhead turtles in a tank surrounded by a magnetic coil that replicated the magnetic field of the Atlantic Ocean.

‘Turtle dance’

Every day over two months, the scientists changed the magnetic field of the tank between the North American coast and the Gulf of Mexico.

The turtles however were only fed when they received the magnetic information of one of the areas.

When the turtles anticipated food, they flapped around, opening their mouths and spinning in circles in the water.

The researchers filmed this behaviour, dubbed the “turtle dance.”

The turtles danced with the most enthusiasm in the tank they knew would give them food.

This was “strong evidence” that turtles can learn the magnetic signatures of “specific geographical areas,” the researchers said.

Even when tested four months later, the turtles still knew where they should dance.

No one knows exactly how animals tune into this magnetic information.

One theory is that some can detect the magnetic field’s influence during a chemical reaction between light-sensitive molecules.

But when the researchers tried to mess with this process by using what is called radiofrequency fields, the turtles kept on dancing on their spot, undisturbed.

A separate experiment testing the turtles’ inner compasses was more successful.

In a tank replicating the magnetic conditions of the West African archipelago Cape Verde, the radiofrequency emissions seemed to scramble the turtles’ compasses, sending them off in random directions.

The researchers concluded that “a reasonable working hypothesis is that the compass sense relies on chemical magnetoreception, whereas the map sense relies on an alternative mechanism.”

This hypothesis is backed up by signs that other migratory animals such as birds and amphibians may also have dual magnetic field receptors.

The post Dancing turtles show how animals use magnetic field as a map appeared first on CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

2 hours ago

Canadian Affairs

WHO facing ‘new realities’ as U.S. withdrawal looms

Read: 2 minThe World Health Organization on Tuesday wrapped up its executive board meeting, held against the backdrop of the United States — by far its largest donor — heading for the exit.The a ...
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woman in blue scrub suit writing on a notebook
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The World Health Organization on Tuesday wrapped up its executive board meeting, held against the backdrop of the United States — by far its largest donor — heading for the exit.

The agenda-setting eight-day gathering at the WHO’s Geneva headquarters wrestled with the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 decision to start the one-year process of withdrawing from the UN health agency.

“We are operating with twin strategic goals: to mobilise resources and to tighten our belts,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in his closing remarks.

“We regret the announcement by the United States of its intention to withdraw, and it was also sad to see them participating less this week,” he said.

“I think we all felt their absence. We very much hope they will reconsider and we would welcome the opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue.”

The United States is on the executive board, but made only fleeting contributions throughout the eight-day event.

The board is composed of 34 member states, who nominate a board member who is technically qualified in health.

The board agrees the agenda and resolutions for the decision-making World Health Assembly in May.

“We have had to face new realities, with the announcement of the withdrawal of the U.S. from the WHO,” said Barbados’s health minister Jerome Walcott, the board’s chair, as he closed the meeting.

“Despite the many challenges we faced, we have come together and found agreement on 40 decisions and seven resolutions, which aim to strengthen our work and to enhance good public health.”

Prioritizing funding

If anything, the U.S. move has driven home the need for more secure and reliable funding at WHO, which in recent years has relied heavily on voluntary contributions.

As part of a plan to swell membership fees to cover at least half of the organization’s budget by 2030, the board recommended a 20 per cent fee hike.

Boosting membership fees is seen as a way for WHO to reduce its reliance on a handful of major donors and ensure more predictable and flexible finances.

“This is a very strong signal of your support, and it’s a major step towards putting WHO on a more predictable and sustainable financial footing,” Tedros said.

“You said we need to prioritise based on realistic funding. We agree,” he added.

“You said we need to improve efficiency, enhance oversight and reduce unnecessary expenditures. We agree.”

Last week, the board also re-adopted a resolution on responding to the health conditions in the Palestinian territories.

The total planned costs required to implement the decision were given as US$648 million, including $275 million for emergency response and $265 million for early recovery and rehabilitation.

Other topics discussed by the board included non-communicable diseases, mental health, skin diseases, environmental health, air pollution, the global health workforce, substandard and falsified medicines, maternal and newborn health, health emergencies, and universal health coverage.

The post WHO facing ‘new realities’ as U.S. withdrawal looms appeared first on CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

2 hours ago

CBC Toronto

'A miracle on that plane': Swift emergency response credited for no fatalities in Pearson plane crash

A swift response by flight attendants, crews and emergency workers was among the key reasons why no one died in Monday's plane crash at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, an expert and officials ...
More ...The wreckage of a Delta Air Lines operated CRJ900 aircraft lies on the runway following a crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada February 18, 2025. REUTERS/Cole Burston

A swift response by flight attendants, crews and emergency workers was among the key reasons why no one died in Monday's plane crash at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, an expert and officials say.

2 hours ago

CBC

From Coca-Cola to local Canadian brewers, the prebiotic soda industry is booming. Here's why

Coca Cola is introducing a line of prebiotic sodas, marking the legacy company's first foray into the "functional" soft drink market led by upstarts Olipop and Poppi — and further tightening c ...
More ...A person holds an orange soda can.

Coca Cola is introducing a line of prebiotic sodas, marking the legacy company's first foray into the "functional" soft drink market led by upstarts Olipop and Poppi — and further tightening competition as more Canadian brands launch their versions of the fizzy drinks.

2 hours ago

River Valley Sun

Nackawic-Millville council briefs: rezoning for new clinic, Big Axe Festival plans

Rezoning for medical clinic construction begins The Nackawic-Millville Rural Community Council will hold a public meeting on March 3 to review the zoning changes required to build a medical clinic. ...
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Rezoning for medical clinic construction begins

The Nackawic-Millville Rural Community Council will hold a public meeting on March 3 to review the zoning changes required to build a medical clinic. 

Capital Regional Service Commission planning staff presented the zoning requirements to council on Jan. 20, outlining the process to rezone a parcel of land at the corner of Otis Drive and Landegger Drive. 

They explained the lot — PID 01506559 — needs to change from the combined R2 (Multiple Family Residential) and C (Core Area Commercial) to the single zoning of C. 

The proposed development would house a more extensive medical clinic for the community’s growing healthcare needs, including direct access to primary care. 

The March 3 meeting will allow the public to share viewpoints supporting or opposing the plan. 

Setting plans for the 2025 Big Axe Beer Festival

The mayor and council discussed a letter from Big Axe Brewery owner Peter Cole on behalf of the Big Axe Beer Festival Committee outlining times and needs for the 2025 event. 

Cole explained the festival dates are July 11 and 12 at the baseball diamond next to the Nackawic Arena. 

He asked staff and council to provide the same level of support as in the past, which includes town staff support, help with set up and dismantling and the supply of stages, tables and chairs, electrical boxes, garbage and recycling bins and other items. 

Mayor Tim Fox and council members expressed full support for the festival, although the mayor suggested Cole make a full presentation before the council. 

He noted the in-person presentation, as he did in past years, allowed the council to question him and clarify all details. 

The post Nackawic-Millville council briefs: rezoning for new clinic, Big Axe Festival plans first appeared on River Valley Sun.

2 hours ago

CBC Edmonton

What's OK in our public spaces?

This week, This is Edmonton looks at some of the proposed changes to the public spaces bylaw.  ...
More ...Edmonton city hall appears in shade on a late fall afternoon.

This week, This is Edmonton looks at some of the proposed changes to the public spaces bylaw. 

2 hours ago

CBC Edmonton

Improvements coming to Edmonton's accessible transit service, following audit

Edmonton’s city auditor has made eight recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the city’s paratransit service, saying clients who rely on the service will benefit from the changes. ...
More ...A white and blue bus is parked on a street with door open.

Edmonton’s city auditor has made eight recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the city’s paratransit service, saying clients who rely on the service will benefit from the changes.

2 hours ago

CBC Ottawa

Striking Kanata nuclear workers say owner moved deal's goalposts

The owner of a Kanata nuclear facility whose workers have been on strike since last May scheduled negotiations last month. Then he cancelled a call with one union and began introducing new demands wit ...
More ...Striking workers on a picket line in the snow hold union flags

The owner of a Kanata nuclear facility whose workers have been on strike since last May scheduled negotiations last month. Then he cancelled a call with one union and began introducing new demands with a second union.

2 hours ago

CBC Montréal

Why your city is still waiting on e-buses — and how tariffs could make things worse

Transit agencies looking to go green are facing delays so long they're forced to return to diesel buses. It started during the pandemic, but kinks in the supply chain aren't the only problem. ...
More ...An electric bus during the production process

Transit agencies looking to go green are facing delays so long they're forced to return to diesel buses. It started during the pandemic, but kinks in the supply chain aren't the only problem.

2 hours ago

CBC Montréal

With Quebec independence a top priority, Parti Québécois struggles for relevance in Trump era

With U.S. President Donald Trump sucking up most of the political oxygen on both sides of the border, political parties at all levels of government are scrambling to adapt. The challenge is particular ...
More ...A closeup of PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's face in front of a Quebec flag backdrop at the National Assembly.

With U.S. President Donald Trump sucking up most of the political oxygen on both sides of the border, political parties at all levels of government are scrambling to adapt. The challenge is particularly acute for the Parti Québécois.

2 hours ago

CBC Montréal

Sudanese Quebecers wait in anguish after exclusion from program to rescue family members

Mayada Ageeb is one of a few hundred Sudanese Quebecers who have so far been excluded from a humanitarian pathway program to help direct family members escape to Canada. ...
More ...People hold Sudanese flags and signs while standing in a public square in winter.

Mayada Ageeb is one of a few hundred Sudanese Quebecers who have so far been excluded from a humanitarian pathway program to help direct family members escape to Canada.

2 hours ago

CityNews Halifax

Middle East latest: Netanyahu appoints advisor with Trump ties to lead ceasefire talks

An Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close confidant to lead negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire with Hamas. The U.S.-born Ron Dermer is a Cab ...
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An Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close confidant to lead negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire with Hamas.

The U.S.-born Ron Dermer is a Cabinet minister who’s widely seen as Netanyahu’s closest adviser. He previously served as Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. and is a former Republican activist with strong ties to the Trump White House.

Israel and Hamas have yet to negotiate a second and more difficult phase of the ceasefire, and the first ends in early March. Palestinians and Arab countries have universally rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to remove the Palestinian population from Gaza and take over the territory.

Since the war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, more than 50,000 people have died in Gaza and Lebanon and nearly 70% of the buildings in Gaza have been devastated, according to health ministries in Gaza and Lebanon. Around 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the Oct. 7 attack.

Here’s the latest:

Netanyahu appoints close adviser with Trump ties to lead ceasefire negotiations

An Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close confidant to lead negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire with Hamas.

The official says that Cabinet Minister Ron Dermer will head the Israeli team. Previous talks have been led by the heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet security agencies.

Talks have not yet started on the second stage, which is meant to include an end to the war, return of all hostages and Israeli pullout from Gaza.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the appointment has not been officially announced.

The U.S.-born Dermer is widely seen as Netanyahu’s closest adviser. He previously served as Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. and is a former Republican activist with strong ties to the Trump White House.

Dermer currently serves as Israel’s strategic affairs minister, where he has been a key player in relations with the U.S. as well as Gulf Arab countries.

— Josef Federman, Jerusalem

▶ Read more about the ceasefire in Gaza.

The Associated Press


2 hours ago

CityNews Halifax

Pakistan wants to expel all Afghan refugees from the country, says Afghan embassy

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan wants to remove all Afghan refugees from the country and their expulsion is imminent, the Afghan embassy in Islamabad warned Wednesday. The embassy issued a strongly worded ...
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ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan wants to remove all Afghan refugees from the country and their expulsion is imminent, the Afghan embassy in Islamabad warned Wednesday.

The embassy issued a strongly worded statement about Pakistan’s plans, saying Afghan nationals in the capital, Islamabad, and the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi have been subjected to arrests, searches, and orders from the police to leave the twin cities and relocate to other parts of Pakistan.

“This process of detaining Afghans, which began without any formal announcement, has not been officially communicated to the Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad through any formal correspondence,” it added.

Besides hundreds of thousands of those living illegally in Pakistan, there are around 1.45 million Afghan nationals registered with UNHCR as refugees.

Munir Ahmed, The Associated Press

2 hours ago

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