Ontario Youth Climate Lawsuit Relies on Charter of Rights:

The Energy Mix: We’ve seen several climate justice cases
in Canada rejected by the courts before they could be heard. Yours is
the first one to advance to a hearing. What makes it different?

Thomson: This
case is obviously historic. It’s the first climate lawsuit based on
Charter-protected rights to reach a full hearing in any Canadian court.
In 2020, when the Ontario Superior Court dismissed the province’s
attempts to stop this case, it made a landmark ruling
that fundamental rights protected under the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms can be threatened by climate change, and citizens have the
ability to challenge a Canadian government’s contributions to the
climate crisis under the highest law of the land. So for the first time
in Canadian legal history, a government’s climate record will be put on
trial. That’s a pivotal moment in the fight for justice.

In the
past, the Charter has been fundamental in securing rights to same-sex
marriage, abortion, and numerous other rights. We know that the climate
crisis will be one of the greatest threats of the 21st century, and our
clients’ case is the first time a court will determine whether
Charter-protected rights are violated by that threat.

Ontario Youth Climate Lawsuit Relies on Charter of Rights: The Energy Mix: We’ve seen several climate justice cases
in Canada rejected by the courts before they could be heard. Yours is
the first one to advance to a hearing. What makes it different?Thomson: This
case is obviously historic. It’s the first climate lawsuit based on
Charter-protected rights to reach a full hearing in any Canadian court.
In 2020, when the Ontario Superior Court dismissed the province’s
attempts to stop this case, it made a landmark ruling
that fundamental rights protected under the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms can be threatened by climate change, and citizens have the
ability to challenge a Canadian government’s contributions to the
climate crisis under the highest law of the land. So for the first time
in Canadian legal history, a government’s climate record will be put on
trial. That’s a pivotal moment in the fight for justice.In the
past, the Charter has been fundamental in securing rights to same-sex
marriage, abortion, and numerous other rights. We know that the climate
crisis will be one of the greatest threats of the 21st century, and our
clients’ case is the first time a court will determine whether
Charter-protected rights are violated by that threat.Read More

Is Oil sands consolidation a threat to Alberta Democracy? – AB Pol Econ:

For every dollar above this US$70 per barrel estimate, an additional $500 million in oil royalties will flow to the government. At US$100 a barrel, an additional $9 billion in bitumen royalties would be paid, but with oil prices averaging US$116 since April 1, an additional $23 billion in oil and gas royalties could roll in.

Using this conservative oil price forecast, Alberta’s budget estimated its total revenue will be $52 billion. In reality, its revenue will likely be much higher.

The Big Four contribute about 20 per cent of Alberta’s total revenue. At US$100 per barrel, the Big Four contribute about 30 per cent of the province’s revenue and, at US$116 per barrel, the contribution exceeds 30 per cent. This gives these companies an enormous amount of control over Alberta’s finances and, by extension, politics.

Is Oil sands consolidation a threat to Alberta Democracy? – AB Pol Econ: For every dollar above this US$70 per barrel estimate, an additional $500 million in oil royalties will flow to the government. At US$100 a barrel, an additional $9 billion in bitumen royalties would be paid, but with oil prices averaging US$116 since April 1, an additional $23 billion in oil and gas royalties could roll in.Using this conservative oil price forecast, Alberta’s budget estimated its total revenue will be $52 billion. In reality, its revenue will likely be much higher.The Big Four contribute about 20 per cent of Alberta’s total revenue. At US$100 per barrel, the Big Four contribute about 30 per cent of the province’s revenue and, at US$116 per barrel, the contribution exceeds 30 per cent. This gives these companies an enormous amount of control over Alberta’s finances and, by extension, politics.Read More

‘Large-scale extinction of tree species’ threatens ecological and economic collapse, scientists warn:

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), along with the
Global Tree Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation
of Nature’s Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC), detailed this
“warning to humanity” in a paper published last Wednesday in the New Phytologist Foundation journal Plants, People, Planet.

They say billions of people could lose their incomes, jobs and
livelihoods if more isn’t done to prevent tree species from going
extinct.

‘Large-scale extinction of tree species’ threatens ecological and economic collapse, scientists warn:
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), along with the
Global Tree Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation
of Nature’s Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC), detailed this
“warning to humanity” in a paper published last Wednesday in the New Phytologist Foundation journal Plants, People, Planet.
They say billions of people could lose their incomes, jobs and
livelihoods if more isn’t done to prevent tree species from going
extinct.Read More

Former Alberta teacher reprimanded, fined $4,000 for calling student homophobic slur | CBC News:

A former Alberta school teacher who used a homophobic slur against a
student in a Halloween costume three years ago will get a written
reprimand and $4,000 in fines.

Donald Lee, 63, a former band and
religion teacher at Glenmary Catholic School in Peace River, was found
guilty on two charges of unprofessional conduct at a three-day Alberta
Teachers’ Association disciplinary hearing last week.

The hearing
heard that in the fall of 2018, Lee used a homophobic slur when
questioning a male student who was wearing a female pirate costume for a
Halloween assembly.

The charges related to Lee’s disrespect for
his student in using the slur and his refusal to accept responsibility
for the remark. He had pleaded not guilty to both.

Alberta is putting up a website where students, teachers, and really, anyone, can say anything they want about a teacher. My friends said:

This is the homophobic disgraced teacher who isn’t on the UCP list.  2019 he tried to be UCP mla. Read his posts now – pro convoy, anti masks, spreading misinformation.  And was allowed to influence kids for years. https://www.facebook.com/Donald-Lee-Author-Speaker-107451400633288/

Former Alberta teacher reprimanded, fined $4,000 for calling student homophobic slur | CBC News: A former Alberta school teacher who used a homophobic slur against a
student in a Halloween costume three years ago will get a written
reprimand and $4,000 in fines.Donald Lee, 63, a former band and
religion teacher at Glenmary Catholic School in Peace River, was found
guilty on two charges of unprofessional conduct at a three-day Alberta
Teachers’ Association disciplinary hearing last week.The hearing
heard that in the fall of 2018, Lee used a homophobic slur when
questioning a male student who was wearing a female pirate costume for a
Halloween assembly. The charges related to Lee’s disrespect for
his student in using the slur and his refusal to accept responsibility
for the remark. He had pleaded not guilty to both.Alberta is putting up a website where students, teachers, and really, anyone, can say anything they want about a teacher. My friends said:This is the homophobic disgraced teacher who isn’t on the UCP list.  2019 he tried to be UCP mla. Read his posts now – pro convoy, anti masks, spreading misinformation.  And was allowed to influence kids for years. https://www.facebook.com/Donald-Lee-Author-Speaker-107451400633288/Read More

Global heating has caused ‘shocking’ changes in forests across the Americas, studies find:

Forests from the Arctic to the Amazon are
transforming at a “shocking” rate due to the climate crisis, with trees
advancing into previously barren tundra in the north while dying off
from escalating heat farther south, scientists have found.

Global
heating, along with changes in soils, wind and available nutrients, is
rapidly changing the composition of forests, making them far less
resilient and prone to diseases, according to a series of studies that
have analyzed the health of trees in north and South America.

Many
areas of forest are now becoming more susceptible to ferocious
wildfires, causing the release of further greenhouse gases from these
vast carbon stores that heat the planet even more. “It’s like humans
have lit a match and we are now seeing the result of that,” said Roman
Dial, a biologist at Alaska Pacific University.

Global heating has caused ‘shocking’ changes in forests across the Americas, studies find: Forests from the Arctic to the Amazon are
transforming at a “shocking” rate due to the climate crisis, with trees
advancing into previously barren tundra in the north while dying off
from escalating heat farther south, scientists have found.Global
heating, along with changes in soils, wind and available nutrients, is
rapidly changing the composition of forests, making them far less
resilient and prone to diseases, according to a series of studies that
have analyzed the health of trees in north and South America.Many
areas of forest are now becoming more susceptible to ferocious
wildfires, causing the release of further greenhouse gases from these
vast carbon stores that heat the planet even more. “It’s like humans
have lit a match and we are now seeing the result of that,” said Roman
Dial, a biologist at Alaska Pacific University.Read More