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

Most Albertans did not support Freedom Convoy, University of Alberta survey suggests | CBC News:

 The online survey was carried out in the spring, in partnership with the research firm Pollara, and received 2,224 responses.

“We
wanted to see … once people had time to reflect and digest what
happened, did they still support the objectives and the methods of the
convoy?” said Feo Snagovsky, assistant professor of political science at
the University of Alberta.

“We found overwhelmingly that they didn’t.”

Most Albertans did not support Freedom Convoy, University of Alberta survey suggests | CBC News:  The online survey was carried out in the spring, in partnership with the research firm Pollara, and received 2,224 responses.“We
wanted to see … once people had time to reflect and digest what
happened, did they still support the objectives and the methods of the
convoy?” said Feo Snagovsky, assistant professor of political science at
the University of Alberta. “We found overwhelmingly that they didn’t.”Read More

Why Are Oil-and-Gas Companies Developing Lesson Plans for Teachers? | The Walrus:

Teachers typically develop their own plans, drawing on a variety of resources as well as their expertise and creativity. In some cases, though, they may rely on material prepared by other organizations such as TD Bank, which offers financial lesson plans for students from kindergarten to grade twelve. For a teacher strapped for time, FortisBC’s kits might have seemed like a gift, but buried within them are subtle nods to the company itself and the wider fossil fuel industry. These indirect endorsements reveal the veiled tactics of a sector desperate to delay the climate action that could upend its business model.

“Earth is heating up,” reads a slideshow from a grade seven lesson plan produced by FortisBC on the causes of climate change. It touches on the greenhouse effect and the difference between various greenhouse gases. It explains that these gases are released when coal, oil, and natural gas are burned and then directs teachers to ask their students how they use fossil fuels in their own lives, how their homes are heated, and how they get to school. Then the lesson plan instructs teachers to “explain that natural gas is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel, with the lowest carbon emissions.”

Why Are Oil-and-Gas Companies Developing Lesson Plans for Teachers? | The Walrus: Teachers typically develop their own plans, drawing on a variety of resources as well as their expertise and creativity. In some cases, though, they may rely on material prepared by other organizations such as TD Bank, which offers financial lesson plans for students from kindergarten to grade twelve. For a teacher strapped for time, FortisBC’s kits might have seemed like a gift, but buried within them are subtle nods to the company itself and the wider fossil fuel industry. These indirect endorsements reveal the veiled tactics of a sector desperate to delay the climate action that could upend its business model.“Earth is heating up,” reads a slideshow from a grade seven lesson plan produced by FortisBC on the causes of climate change. It touches on the greenhouse effect and the difference between various greenhouse gases. It explains that these gases are released when coal, oil, and natural gas are burned and then directs teachers to ask their students how they use fossil fuels in their own lives, how their homes are heated, and how they get to school. Then the lesson plan instructs teachers to “explain that natural gas is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel, with the lowest carbon emissions.”Read More

Poilievre rejects responsibility for his toxic politics:

Poilievre’s style as a politician over the course of his career has
been one of a conservative attack dog. His campaign to become the next
leader of the CPC has been particularly toxic due to his attempts to use
disgraced former U.S. president Donald Trump as an example to follow.

During the course of his leadership campaign, Poilievre has stepped
up his personal attacks on not only his political opponents, but like
Trump, has chosen the media as a fertile field from which he can farm
the outrage of his supporters.

Also like Trump, he has made efforts to connect his campaign with
far-right extremists. Most recently, he had been photographed with
Jeremy MacKenzie, the de facto leader of the Diagolon cult. MacKenzie
has gone on social media calling for the execution
of Canadian Armed Forces personnel. He has encouraged his followers to
harass health care professionals, and is facing assault and weapons
charges in Sask., and weapons charges in N.S. in an unrelated case as
well.

Poilievre rejects responsibility for his toxic politics: Poilievre’s style as a politician over the course of his career has
been one of a conservative attack dog. His campaign to become the next
leader of the CPC has been particularly toxic due to his attempts to use
disgraced former U.S. president Donald Trump as an example to follow.During the course of his leadership campaign, Poilievre has stepped
up his personal attacks on not only his political opponents, but like
Trump, has chosen the media as a fertile field from which he can farm
the outrage of his supporters.Also like Trump, he has made efforts to connect his campaign with
far-right extremists. Most recently, he had been photographed with
Jeremy MacKenzie, the de facto leader of the Diagolon cult. MacKenzie
has gone on social media calling for the execution
of Canadian Armed Forces personnel. He has encouraged his followers to
harass health care professionals, and is facing assault and weapons
charges in Sask., and weapons charges in N.S. in an unrelated case as
well.Read More

COMMENTARY: Budget 2022 and Canada’s incredible disappearing deficits – National | Globalnews.ca:

What gives? Why is the deficit disappearing, both in dollars and in political importance? It seems that we’ve all learned a thing or two about budgets since the pandemic struck.

The first is that governments have virtually unlimited power to spend big when they need to. They did it before: like in the Second World War when no politician would dare to complain that Canada’s military effort was “too expensive.” And they did it again during COVID. Ottawa boosted spending $250 billion in one year to protect health, and keep Canadians working and in their homes; the provinces spent tens of billions more.

The second lesson is that infatuation with balanced budgets is misplaced and counterproductive. Economists have come to appreciate that deficits, even long-running ones, can play a vital role in supporting growth and jobs when other sources of spending (like business investment or exports) are inadequate.

The final and most pleasant lesson is that the best way to get rid of a deficit is not to slash-and-burn public programs – as Canada did in the 1990s, and Europe did in the 2010s. Apart from imposing avoidable harm on society (shrinking services and infrastructure), austerity also undermines the fundamental math of fiscal progress. By sapping the macroeconomy of so much spending power, austerity slows growth, causing self-inflicted damage to the government’s own budget.

The exact opposite dynamic is now occurring in Canada, to the delight of Ms. Freeland – and her provincial counterparts. Canada’s economy is firing on all cylinders. And government’s aggressive response to the pandemic is the main reason why.

COMMENTARY: Budget 2022 and Canada’s incredible disappearing deficits – National | Globalnews.ca: What gives? Why is the deficit disappearing, both in dollars and in political importance? It seems that we’ve all learned a thing or two about budgets since the pandemic struck.The first is that governments have virtually unlimited power to spend big when they need to. They did it before: like in the Second World War when no politician would dare to complain that Canada’s military effort was “too expensive.” And they did it again during COVID. Ottawa boosted spending $250 billion in one year to protect health, and keep Canadians working and in their homes; the provinces spent tens of billions more.The second lesson is that infatuation with balanced budgets is misplaced and counterproductive. Economists have come to appreciate that deficits, even long-running ones, can play a vital role in supporting growth and jobs when other sources of spending (like business investment or exports) are inadequate.The final and most pleasant lesson is that the best way to get rid of a deficit is not to slash-and-burn public programs – as Canada did in the 1990s, and Europe did in the 2010s. Apart from imposing avoidable harm on society (shrinking services and infrastructure), austerity also undermines the fundamental math of fiscal progress. By sapping the macroeconomy of so much spending power, austerity slows growth, causing self-inflicted damage to the government’s own budget.The exact opposite dynamic is now occurring in Canada, to the delight of Ms. Freeland – and her provincial counterparts. Canada’s economy is firing on all cylinders. And government’s aggressive response to the pandemic is the main reason why.Read More