Canadian campers going 'elbows up' this summer amid U.S. trade war

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EDMONTON — Some outdoorsy Canadians are planning to build their tents with elbows up this summer as the season unofficially kicks off this long weekend.
Sally Turner says she and her husband plan to do their camping, canoeing and biking this year in Canadian national parks, including at Jasper National Park this weekend, because of the U.S. trade war and U.S. President Donald Trump's calls to make Canada a 51st state.

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The Province

26 minutes ago

• The Province

Opinion: Plastics threaten human health, but solutions are under political fire

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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The committee was established to develop an international legally binding instrument — known as the plastics treaty — to end plastic pollution, one of the fastest-growing environmental threats. Globally, 40 per cent of plastics production goes into the production of single-use plastic packaging, which is the single largest source of plastic waste and is a threat to wildlife and human health. Without meaningful action, global plastic waste is projected to nearly triple by 2060, reaching an estimated 1.2 billion tonnes. As the world prepares for another round of talks, Canada's own plastic problem reveals what's at stake, and what's possible for the future. Canada's plastic problem Canada is no exception to the global plastic crisis. Nearly half (47 per cent) of all plastic waste in Canada comes from the food and drink sector, contributing 3,268 million tonnes annually. Canadians use 15 billion plastic bags annually and nearly 57 million straws daily, yet only nine per cent of plastics are recycled — a figure that is not expected to improve. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Most of Canada's plastic — except for plastic bottles made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) — is uneconomical or difficult to recycle because of the complexity of mixed plastics used in our economy. As a result, 2.8 million tonnes of plastic waste — equivalent to the weight of 24 CN Towers — end up in landfills every year. This is not a trivial problem. Plastic pollution poses growing risks to both urban and rural infrastructure. In addition to landfill overflow, around one per cent of Canada's plastic waste leaks into the environment. In 2016, this was 29,000 tonnes of plastic pollution. Once in the environment, plastics disintegrate into tiny particles called microplastics (small pieces of plastic less than five millimetres long). Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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These health problems may be caused by chemicals added to plastics, including single-use plastics, of which 4,200 chemicals have been identified as posing a hazard to human and ecosystem health. It is for these reasons that the Canadian government introduced a ban on single-use plastics in 2022 as part of a plan to reach zero plastic waste in Canada by 2030. The decision was based extensive public and industry consultation, as well as decades of data on plastic pollution gathered from the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. This data shows the most common plastic litter items found in the environment across Canada, known as the 'dirty dozen' list. Six of these items were included in the federal ban. The politics of plastic Despite overwhelming scientific consensus, debates around plastic pollution are becoming increasingly politicized. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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As negotiators gear up for another round of talks to finalize a Global Plastics Treaty to end plastic pollution, the need for policies that are supported by scientific evidence is more urgent than ever. Future generations deserve a healthy and sustainable planet. The path towards a healthy and sustainable planet requires supporting action based on scientific evidence, not misinforming people with catchy phrases and political rhetoric. Tony Robert Walker is a professor in the School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University. Miriam Diamond is a professor of environmental science at the University of Toronto. This commentary is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.

Vancouver Sun

28 minutes ago

• Vancouver Sun

Letters to The Sun: Community services not keeping up with development in Vancouver

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A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Levi Higgs, east Vancouver B.C. Ferries announced on June 10 that the bidding process to replace four aging vessels resulted in contracts going to China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards. Since then, loud accusations have come from all corners and levels of British Columbia's political spectrum, with many incendiary comments from professional pundits and members of the public. Many declare that the vessels should be built in Canada, although no Canadian yard answered the invitation to bid. Then come claims that China is untrustworthy in trade tariffs and international politics. Some dissenters worry about the quality of steel used in Chinese shipyards, along with perceived lack of expertise of welders and other trades. 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Cision Canada

38 minutes ago

• Cision Canada

House of Commons passes One Canadian Economy Act Français

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