British Columbia

Unrelenting gas industry: FortisBC refuses to take no for an answer

01/08/24

Author:

Seth Klein

Link:

National Observer

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, speaks during a news conference for a housing announcement in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. Photo by: The Canadian Press/Ethan Cairns

July 30, 2024

Part 1 of a two-part series.

There is a universe in which the so-called “natural” gas industry reinvents itself, gracefully transitioning to alternative forms of genuinely renewable energy, aiding in our shared need to rapidly reduce emissions and supporting worker transition for the future.

Sadly, that does not appear to be the universe in which we live.

Read the full article.

Category:

Vancouver’s gas ban reversal betrays our values and health

01/08/24

Author:

Dr. Melissa Lem

Link:

Vancouver Sun

The view looking North from the Granville Street Bridge earlier this month PHOTO BY NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

July 31, 2024

As the first municipality in Canada to reverse a bylaw to build clean energy into new homes, Vancouver is no longer a climate leader — it’s a climate laggard

Last week, as Valemount was opening its homes to thousands of evacuees fleeing the Jasper wildfires, Vancouver was slamming the door on climate progress. In a 6-to-5 vote, city council abruptly reversed the city’s long-standing bylaw preventing natural gas heating in new homes.

Read the full article.

Category:

'Alternative' energy and less energy

Vancouver ditches gas ban for new buildings

28/07/24

Author:

Marc Fawcett-Atkinson

Link:

National Observer

Vancouver mayor Ken Sim and his ABC party have reversed Vancouver's much-lauded plan to phase out natural gas in new buildings. Photo by Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press

July 25, 2024

A group of conservative Vancouver city councillors have reversed the city's pioneering pro-climate measures restricting the use of natural gas in new buildings. Implemented in 2020, the rules made Vancouver the first Canadian municipality to restrict gas for climate reasons and inspired dozens of other local governments to do the same.

Read the full article.

Category:

In Case of Heat Domes (etc.) New West Pioneers Emergency Centre

28/07/24

Author:

Theresa McManus

Link:

New Westminster Record

Officials from the City of New Westminster and Fraser Health do a dry run of the emergency monitoring centre each year. From left: Ryan Weber (parks); Cory Hansen (New West Emergency Management Office); Brad Davie (fire); Tracey Demibras (Fraser Health Home Health); Nikki Paash (Fraser Health Authority); Stephen Minoza (FHA); Nana Anoh (FHA).

July 17, 2024

The 2021 heat dome inspired New Westminster to consider a new way of responding to extreme heat events.

New Westminster is pioneering a new way to respond to extreme heat events that overwhelm the resources of local first responders.

Read the full article.

Category:

Future of transit at stake in BC provincial election

25/07/24

Author:

Access for Everyone

Link:

Access for Everyone

July 25, 2024

As TransLink and the Mayors’ Council continue to navigate the ongoing financial challenges facing Metro Vancouver’s transit system, a new report sheds light on the catastrophic cuts to transit service that could come as soon as 2025 unless the B.C. Government works with TransLink to fix its broken funding model.

Read the full article.

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Will BC Fall off Its LNG Tightrope?

23/07/24

Author:

Amanda Follett Hosgood

Link:

The Tyee

In an interview with Bloomberg News, BC Premier David Eby told the American news outlet that he believes the province can expand LNG exports without them all ‘showing up on BC’s books.’ Photo via BC government Flickr.

July 23, 2024

The premier says we can expand fossil fuel infrastructure and meet our climate goals. A Tyee fact check.

Category:

'Alternative' energy and less energy

Patrick Condon Says This Is Why Housing Costs Are So High

19/07/24

Author:

David Beers and Patrick Condon

Link:

The Tyee

UBC professor of landscape architecture and urban design Patrick Condon discusses his provocative new book. Photos supplied.

July 19, 2024

The UBC prof and Tyee contributor blames runaway land speculation and offers fixes in his new book ‘Broken City.’ A Tyee exchange.

Read the full article.

Category:

Why Young Voters Are Backing Populist Parties

18/07/24

Author:

Stewart Prest

Link:

The Tyee

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not the only national leader threatened by a surge in support for populist parties by young and marginalized voters. Photo by paparazzza via Shutterstock.

July 3, 2024

They feel betrayed and ignored — including in BC and Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his federal Liberals are largely regarded to be running on fumes, particularly in the aftermath of the stunning Liberal byelection loss in Toronto-St. Paul’s. The upset is a vivid signal that Canadians are ready for change.

Read the full article.

Category:

B.C. Green Leader responds to provincial health officer's recommendation to expand safer supply

12/07/24

Author:

Charlie Smith

Link:

Charlie Smith

July 12, 2024

Sonia Furstenau has called on the government to prioritize evidence-based solutions over political maneuvering

B.C. Green Leader Sonia Furstenau issued the following statement on July11:

“These recommendations align with the 2022 all-party Health Committee report, which declared unanimous support for safer supply.

Read the full article.

Category:

British Columbia

Social

Government now expecting hydrogen market to be worth 16% of 2020 estimate

10/07/24

Author:

John Woodside

Link:

National Observer

July 8, 2024

Four years ago, Canada crafted a plan to capitalize on a global hydrogen market the government expected to be worth up to $11.7 trillion by mid-century. Billions of dollars of public money has been provided to seize the country’s share of the pie.

But there’s a problem: the global market is shrinking before their eyes.

Read the full article.

Category:

British Columbia

As the first municipality in Canada to reverse a bylaw to build clean energy into new homes, Vancouver is no longer a climate leader — it’s a climate laggard

The 2021 heat dome inspired New Westminster to consider a new way of responding to extreme heat events.

The premier says we can expand fossil fuel infrastructure and meet our climate goals. A Tyee fact check.

The UBC prof and Tyee contributor blames runaway land speculation and offers fixes in his new book ‘Broken City.’ A Tyee exchange.

They feel betrayed and ignored — including in BC and Canada.

Sonia Furstenau has called on the government to prioritize evidence-based solutions over political maneuvering

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