| The federal government has announced an incentive plan designed to encourage Canadians to reduce their personal greenhouse gas emissions by one tonne, or about 20 per cent.
The plan is part of Canada’s overall strategy for meeting its commitment to the Kyoto treaty on greenhouse gas emission reduction, which the government signed earlier this year. Part of the $1 billion plan will see incentives offered to consumers to add energy-efficient retrofits to their homes, such as installing more efficient furnaces.
Money will also be earmarked to create partnerships between municipalities and provinces to reduce emissions, to encourage businesses to reduce emissions from buildings and transportation, and to finance new green technology.
Similarly, the City of Calgary has announced an incentive plan to encourage citizens to buy low-water-use toilets. Under the plan, about 4,000 people who purchase low-flow toilets will be eligible for a $50 rebate from the city. Details will be formalized in coming weeks.
Birth rate increases
The number of babies born in Canada increased in 2001 for the first time in a decade, according to a new Statistics Canada report.
More than 330,000 babies were born in Canada in 2001, an increase of 1.8 per cent over 2000, which set a record for the lowest fertility rate in history. The fertility rate measures the average number of children women aged 15 to 49 will have in their lifetime. In 2001, that rate increased to 1.51 from 1.49 in 2000.
The report says reasons for the increase cannot be determined from the statistics, but notes that the increase coincides with increased parental benefits from the federal government. Employment Insurance increased for new parents to 35 weeks from 10 weeks at the start of 2001.
Deregulation failure
Alberta opposition politicians are seizing a City of Calgary report as another indicator that the provincial government’s deregulation of the electricity industry has been a failure.
The report says the city is concerned about "increased cost, risk and volatility imposed on customers, both residential and commercial" that has come with deregulation. It also says red tape has increased greatly under deregulation – the city will spend as much time in regulatory hearings in 2003 as it did for all of 1993 to 1995.
"This system ensures that power companies make the maximum profit possible at all times, the customer always gets gouged," stated New Democrat MLA Brian Mason in a press release.
Bazaar for Iraq
A bazaar is being held by a local organization to raise money to send school supplies to Iraq.
The bazaar, organized by CANDIL (Canada, Democracy and International Law), will feature Middle Eastern entertainment, childrens’ entertainers, a rummage sale, a silent auction and food. All the money raised will help cover the costs of buying pencils and pencil sharpeners for Iraqi children.
The bazaar will take place on Sunday, August 17 at the Forest Lawn Community Centre.
Gay teachers
A University of Alberta professor has won an $5,000 education research award from the Alberta Teachers’ Association for a study looking at gay school teachers in the province.
Dr. Andre Grace’s project found that a number of school boards across the province make little effort to accommodate gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered teachers. His report recommends schools boards adopt policies to protect and support gay teachers and educate all teachers on the rights of same-sex teachers. |
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