RBA Unveils First Nations Theme for Redesigned A$5 Banknote
The design selection panel, which included First Nations representatives and officials from the Reserve Bank and Note Printing Australia, chose the theme, according to a statement. The new design will replace the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, with the reverse side still showing the Australian Parliament.
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Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
NDP government gives brush off to forestry industry's pragmatic, made-in-B.C. solutions
VICTORIA — The Council of Forest Industries wrote a letter to the New Democrats earlier this month, outlining more than a dozen proposals to rescue a struggling industry. 'B.C.'s forest industry is in crisis,' wrote COFI President Kim Haakstad in the July 14 letter to Forests Minister Ravi Parmar. 'Fibre availability is at historic lows, permitting systems are gridlocked, and investment is retreating in the face of prolonged uncertainty. The risk is not gradual decline — but accelerated facility closures, job losses, and the permanent erosion of forest industry capacity.' Haakstad was responding to Premier David Eby's announcement of a 'major project' to restore the industry in a speech to this year's COFI's convention. Plus, the premier has mandated Parmar to boost the annual timber harvest to 45 million cubic metres, up 50 per cent over last year's 30 million. To that end the COFI president offered 'pragmatic actions' to address problems of regulatory overload, paralysis in issuing cutting permits, bottlenecks in consultations with First Nations, inefficiencies in timber sales, and friction among too many ministries and agencies with oversight of forestry. She called for a pause on issuing new regulations, policies, reviews, or other changes 'that don't directly contribute to the path to 45 million cubic metres.' Instead, New Democrats should concentrate on 'implementing already announced actions effectively and simply.' Second, the government should expedite the promised makeover of the troubled B.C. Timber Sales agency. Third, the ministry should recruit a team of retired managers and officials to clear up the backlog in permitting and accelerate approval of new ones. Another proposal on the list called for stepping up funding for the Forest Enhancement Society, allowing it to do more thinning, fire protection and salvage in the forests. At the same time the government should fast track harvesting of insect-damaged and fire ravaged stands. 'These steps are not flashy,' wrote Haakstad. 'But they would send a serious signal to industry that government understands the urgency and core challenges faced today.' They would also protect jobs, restore the flow of fibre to industry, send encouraging signals to investors and create time and space for longer-term reforms. 'The forest sector fully supports the shift toward a more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable system,' she wrote in conclusion. 'But that future cannot be built on a collapsing foundation.' 'These interim actions are not about preserving the status quo. They are about keeping the doors open long enough to build what comes next together.' I asked the government last week for a response to the proposals set out in the COFI letter. I got back a general statement from Parmar, which pretty much brushed aside the notion of a crisis in the industry. 'B.C. is the second-largest exporter of softwood lumber in the world,' it read in part. 'That's a testament to the strength, resilience, and innovation of our forestry workers and communities.' Not that there weren't 'real challenges,' said Parmar. He cited 'unfair and rising softwood lumber duties, shifting market conditions, and the lasting impacts of wildfires, the end of the mountain pine beetle crisis and climate change.' The industry letter had also acknowledged the challenge posed by softwood duties. B.C. got whacked with them again on Friday of last week, with the possibility of more to come. But the focus of the COFI letter was that (as Haakstad put it) 'we really need to focus on what we can control (and) look at what we can do in British Columbia to make sure that we stop managing the decline in forestry and get back to thinking about our competitiveness.' B.C. is rated as the highest-cost jurisdiction for forestry in North America, along with one of the slowest to issue permits and deliver fibre supply into the hands of producers. Parmar, in his perfunctory response to the COFI letter last week, claimed to be 'focused on protecting jobs, supporting communities, and ensuring long-term sustainability. 'I'm working every day with First Nations, industry, and the entire sector to build a forestry future that delivers for people, protects our forests, and drives economic prosperity for generations to come.' This week the minister was back at the blame game, pointing fingers at the U.S. for the latest softwood penalty and at Ottawa for not rescuing B.C. from the tariff squeeze. 'As well, one of the things that I can't control right now, and I don't know if I ever will, is market conditions,' Parmar told Simi Sara on CKNW. 'We can do as much as we can. We can even harvest or, rather, permit 45 million cubic metres over the next year. But if the market conditions don't allow for companies to go in and harvest that and make money, that's an issue.' Those market conditions are shaped by B.C.'s uncompetitive nature, a function of high costs and over regulation. But when asked about permitting, timber sales and other obstacles identified in the COFI letter, the most Parmar would say is 'we need to speed things up.' Otherwise, the minister and his government accept little responsibility for pushing the B.C. forest sector to the brink. vpalmer@ Related David Eby threatens to step in if Metro Vancouver ducks external probe of huge sewage plant cost overrun Electoral flashback: B.C. MLAs mull proportional representation despite voters saying no three times
Hamilton Spectator
14 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Ottawa says it wants to improve income assistance program on First Nation reserves
The federal government says it is committed to working with Mi'kmaq First Nations in Nova Scotia to improve the income assistance program. The comments are in response to criticism that there is a gap of more than $25 million a year between what First Nations people on reserve receive from Ottawa and what they would get from Nova Scotia if they lived off reserve. Ta'n Etli-tpi'tmk, a group that represents 12 of 13 Mi'kmaq First Nations in Nova Scotia, says some people living on reserve who rely on income assistance from Ottawa are being kept in deep poverty. A spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada and for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada says Ottawa is working to make its income assistance program 'more responsive' to people in need. Anispiragas Piragasanathar says the government has been in talks with Maritime First Nations and Ta'n Etli-tpi'tmk since 2016 on improving income assistance for people on reserve. The spokesperson says Ottawa and the Indigenous groups are trying to come up with a 'culturally responsive' program, but didn't provide details. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
17 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Ontario officially cancels Starlink contract, won't say how much that cost taxpayers
TORONTO - Ontario has officially cancelled its $100-million contract with Starlink, but the province refuses to say how much it cost taxpayers to get out of the deal. Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce confirmed the cancellation, but did not answer numerous questions about the kill fee the province will have to pay Elon Musk's SpaceX. Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma announced the deal last year to deliver high-speed internet to 15,000 residents in rural and northern Ontario. The deal would have also included Starlink internet for remote First Nations. Lecce says the province is working on another high-speed internet solution. Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to kill the deal in February if U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods were imposed, and he ultimately pulled the deal in March when U.S. President Donald Trump implemented those tariffs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025.
