Supreme Court to rule on constitutionality of genetic non-discrimination law | CBC News:

Canada’s highest court will issue a ruling today that could strike down a federal law preventing third parties, such as employers and insurance companies, from demanding genetic information from individuals.

The Supreme Court of Canada will decide whether the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act is an unconstitutional exercise of federal powers.

In a curious twist, the federal government itself has argued the legislation falls outside of federal jurisdiction.

Supreme Court to rule on constitutionality of genetic non-discrimination law | CBC News: Canada’s highest court will issue a ruling today that could strike down a federal law preventing third parties, such as employers and insurance companies, from demanding genetic information from individuals.The Supreme Court of Canada will decide whether the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act is an unconstitutional exercise of federal powers.In a curious twist, the federal government itself has argued the legislation falls outside of federal jurisdiction.Read More

P.E.I. potato farmers plant flower-filled ‘refuge fields’ for pollinators | CBC News:

The mix in Campbell’s field includes seven pollinator species: barley, timothy, alsike clover, yellow blossom sweet clover, bird’s-foot trefoil and phacelia.

The plants flower at different times over the summer, and provide a food source for honeybees, native bee species and other native pollinators.

After the first season, some of the annual plants such as barley will die down, but other plants will come back for a second year, making the fields low maintenance for the farmers.

P.E.I. potato farmers plant flower-filled ‘refuge fields’ for pollinators | CBC News: The mix in Campbell’s field includes seven pollinator species: barley, timothy, alsike clover, yellow blossom sweet clover, bird’s-foot trefoil and phacelia. The plants flower at different times over the summer, and provide a food source for honeybees, native bee species and other native pollinators.After the first season, some of the annual plants such as barley will die down, but other plants will come back for a second year, making the fields low maintenance for the farmers.Read More

Calgary hailstorm that caused $1.2B in damage ranks as Canada’s 4th costliest natural disaster | CBC News:

“We’re looking at the most expensive hailstorm, and I
think the residents on the ground are probably not surprised as they’re
going through the rebuild on this,” Celyeste Power, western
vice-president of the bureau, told CBC News Wednesday.

The storm hit northeast Calgary, Airdrie and Rocky View County hardest.

It
damaged at least 70,000 homes and vehicles, and destroyed entire crops,
as hailstones the size of tennis balls fell at 80 to 100 km/h.

The $1.2 billion is just a preliminary estimate and could rise, Power said, as total costs are finalized in the coming months.

Calgary hailstorm that caused $1.2B in damage ranks as Canada’s 4th costliest natural disaster | CBC News: “We’re looking at the most expensive hailstorm, and I
think the residents on the ground are probably not surprised as they’re
going through the rebuild on this,” Celyeste Power, western
vice-president of the bureau, told CBC News Wednesday.The storm hit northeast Calgary, Airdrie and Rocky View County hardest.It
damaged at least 70,000 homes and vehicles, and destroyed entire crops,
as hailstones the size of tennis balls fell at 80 to 100 km/h.The $1.2 billion is just a preliminary estimate and could rise, Power said, as total costs are finalized in the coming months.Read More

UN forecasts even warmer temperatures over next 5 years:

The last five-year period has been the warmest five years on record, said the Geneva-based United Nations agency, which counts 193 member states.

Temperatures over the next five years, 2020 to 2024, are very likely to be within the range of 0.91 C to 1.59 C above pre-industrial levels.

Almost all regions, except parts of the southern oceans, are likely to be warmer than the recent past, which is defined as 1981 to 2010.

“This study shows – with a high level of scientific skill – the enormous challenge ahead in meeting the Paris Agreement on Climate Change target of keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 C above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 C,” said WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas.

UN forecasts even warmer temperatures over next 5 years: The last five-year period has been the warmest five years on record, said the Geneva-based United Nations agency, which counts 193 member states.Temperatures over the next five years, 2020 to 2024, are very likely to be within the range of 0.91 C to 1.59 C above pre-industrial levels.Almost all regions, except parts of the southern oceans, are likely to be warmer than the recent past, which is defined as 1981 to 2010.“This study shows – with a high level of scientific skill – the enormous challenge ahead in meeting the Paris Agreement on Climate Change target of keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 C above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 C,” said WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas.Read More

Canadian Climate Groups Urge ‘Green Strings’ on Recovery Funding – The Energy Mix:

As Finance Minister Bill Morneau
prepares to release a fiscal update today, Canada’s leading
environmental organizations are calling for “green strings” on Ottawa’s
COVID-19 recovery funding package.

They say the government must limit
its financial support to companies that adopt a 2050 net-zero deadline,
ensure that funding pays for “jobs and stability, not executives and
shareholders”, and support a just transition that prepares workers for
green jobs.

Canadian Climate Groups Urge ‘Green Strings’ on Recovery Funding – The Energy Mix: As Finance Minister Bill Morneau
prepares to release a fiscal update today, Canada’s leading
environmental organizations are calling for “green strings” on Ottawa’s
COVID-19 recovery funding package.They say the government must limit
its financial support to companies that adopt a 2050 net-zero deadline,
ensure that funding pays for “jobs and stability, not executives and
shareholders”, and support a just transition that prepares workers for
green jobs.Read More